As a new mom, dealing with a crying and upset newborn can be incredibly stressful. You’ve likely tried everything to soothe your little one, but nothing seems to work. And sometimes we hear that it’s typical and they will grow out of it. NOT TRUE! Emerging research now suggests that colic isn’t just normal fussiness that babies will outgrow on their own. Instead, it often indicates deeper issues such as discomfort, tension, and neurological dysfunction as possible root causes. And something they won’t grow out of, but grow IN to!
The True Underlying Causes of Colic
Colic is often attributed to gas or digestive issues, but what’s causing those problems? It’s important to understand that colic can stem from physical and neurological dysfunction, not just digestive discomfort. This dysfunction can make your baby feel uncomfortable, leading to excessive crying and fussiness.
Commonly Overlooked Causes of Colic:
Pregnancy Stress: High levels of stress and anxiety during pregnancy can create a dysregulated nervous system in your baby. This can lead to a heightened sensitivity to discomfort and stress, making your baby more prone to colic.
Birth Trauma: Medical interventions during labor, such as cesarean sections, inductions, forceps, vacuum extractions, epidurals, or other extraction methods, can impact your baby’s vagus nerve, which coordinates digestion and other critical functions. Birth trauma can also cause reactive tension in your baby’s body, leading to discomfort, especially in certain positions.
How Pediatric Chiropractic Care Can Help
Parents deserve to reclaim their life (and sleep), and babies deserve to be happy, healthy, and calm. A trained pediatric chiropractor can make a significant difference in achieving this balance. By thoroughly assessing your baby from head to toe, a pediatric chiropractor can identify and address the root causes of colic, helping to restore harmony and comfort within your baby’s body.
What Does a Typical Adjustment for a Colicky Baby Involve?
Releasing Muscle, Fascia, and Dura Tension: Colicky babies often experience increased tension in the muscles, fascia, and dura (the protective covering of the spinal cord) along their back. This tension frequently presents as excessive arching of the back, signaling discomfort. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate this tension, allowing your baby to relax and feel more at ease.
Addressing Pelvis and Lumbar Dysfunction: Issues in the pelvis and lumbar spine can disrupt nerve flow to the digestive tract, which may contribute to colic symptoms. By correcting these dysfunctions, a pediatric chiropractor can enhance nerve function and support healthy digestion, helping to alleviate your baby's discomfort.
Correcting Rib Cage Rotation: Misalignment in the ribcage can impact the diaphragm and vagus nerve, leading to difficulties with breathing, burping, reflux, and the brain-gut connection. These are crucial factors in calming and soothing your baby. Chiropractic care can realign the ribcage, promoting better breathing and digestion.
Relieving Hip Flexor Tension: Tension in the hip flexors, particularly on one side, can lead to impaction in the lower intestines, which may contribute to constipation and colic. A pediatric chiropractor can gently release this tension, supporting more regular bowel movements and improving your baby’s overall comfort.
The Benefits of Pediatric Chiropractic Care for Colic
A pediatric chiropractor can provide gentle, safe adjustments to help release the stress and tension that may have built up during pregnancy and birth. These adjustments support your baby’s optimal growth, help them reach important movement milestones, and get the restful sleep they (and you!) desperately need.
If you’re dealing with a colicky baby, remember that drug-free options are available to address the root causes of their discomfort. A pediatric chiropractor can be an invaluable partner in enhancing your baby’s health and happiness.
If you have questions or are interested in how pediatric chiropractic care could benefit your baby, feel free to DM us. And if you know a new mama who could use this information, please share this post with her. Remember, the crying and fussiness are not your fault—there are effective, natural solutions to help your little one feel better!
With love ~Dr. Liz
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