Colic in Babies and Chiropractic

We have all heard about colic in babies or have seen it in our children. But what is it and how can it be resolved?

Colic is a disorder that affects nearly 40% of breastfeeding babies. It usually appears around the first two weeks of life and resolves around 3 to 4 months.

During this time, babies experience prolonged crying that is difficult to soothe and irritability. You can identify it as episodic, different from normal crying with a higher pitch, and it gives the impression that they are flexing their legs with clenched fists. Additionally, they experience other digestive symptoms such as constipation or regurgitation.

What to do if your baby has infant colic?

We recommend that the baby undergo a check-up with a licensed Chiropractor. They will be able to verify the subluxations that the baby has and, through gentle adjustments, align the vertebrae and help the baby’s body function naturally to resolve the colic.

How does natural Chiropractic medicine benefit the baby?

In recent years, scientific studies on colic have focused on natural medicine.

There are several studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of specific chiropractic adjustments in the short term, reducing the hours of crying per day, improving sleep time, and without creating adverse side effects.

A study conducted with 73 chiropractors showed that of the 316 cases of colic they saw in 3 months, 94% had satisfactory results in a short period of time.

From the chiropractic perspective, it seems likely that many babies suffering from colic have compression in the first vertebra at the base of the skull, also called the “God’s mouth,” through which the nerve trunk accesses the rest of the organs via the nerves that exit from each vertebra of the spine.

The first cervical vertebrae also suffer from this compression due to the twisting that the baby undergoes during birth to exit the mother and/or birth with forceps, etc.

Therefore, chiropractic adjustments performed on the upper cervical vertebrae with very gentle movements lead to an improvement in colic symptoms.

Chiropractic care is indicated in cases of colic, gastroesophageal reflux, and many other common pediatric syndromes that appear in the first months of life.

It is the natural method free of side effects that can benefit your baby.

In addition to the use of Chiropractic, we recommend:

• Abdominal massage, helps reduce abdominal distension promoting gas expulsion and peristaltic movement. The combination of massage with aromatherapy, especially lavender oil, aids in vasodilation.

• Natural Feeding of the mother Breastfeeding babies: it is advisable for the mother to follow a low-allergen diet, avoiding cow’s milk and dairy products, and consuming vitamins and minerals from preferably organic foods. A period of at least 2 weeks is necessary to assess the effectiveness of the diet. Additionally, nighttime breast milk contains melatonin, which helps improve infant sleep and reduce colic. The WHO recommends breastfeeding. Bottle-fed babies: Consult your pediatrician.

• Probiotics: Several studies show that babies with colic have a different intestinal microflora compared to children who do not suffer from it. Children with colic have lower amounts of “good” bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Conversely, they have higher amounts of proteobacteria (bad bacteria) such as E. Coli, Pseudomonas, Yersinia, or Enterobacter. This alteration in intestinal flora could favor the onset of colic, affecting intestinal motility and immune response. Consult your pediatrician.

• Natural herbs: Fennel, chamomile, and lemon balm help calm babies and reduce abdominal distension. Care should be taken when administering the dosage as they may contribute to the baby feeling full and taking less milk; for this reason, we recommend consulting your pediatrician.

www.quiropractica1.com Sources: https://authoritynutrition.com/breastfeeding-diet-101/ Pregnancy and pediatrics. A chiropractic approach. Stephen P Williams.