COLIC

When we first had our daughter in 2020, there were so many thoughts spinning around in our heads upon leaving the parking lot of the hospital. Even though we felt equipped with loads of knowledge about how to tackle all things newborn, it’s different once you’re actually experiencing it first hand, and walking through problem solving on the spot.

SO many first time parents have anxieties about all the things that can arise in the first year with our new additions. From non stop crying, to troubleshooting breastfeeding, and just simply understanding our baby’s specific cues and behaviors...it can be overwhelming! HOW do we know if something is truly problematic, and BEYOND that, what can we do about it?

One of the common things that arises in conversation between friends, on mommy blogs, or on the local Facebook mom groups, is colic. The all elusive, and all encompassing explanation for why my baby is upset. But there are so many different symptoms and signs that arise with each baby, that it’s hard to truly understand what colic even is.

That’s what this blog post is all about! Breaking it down, and explaining what colic is, and what you as a caring and loving parent can do about it!

When you do a quick google search, here's what will commonly pop up: 

So you, as a concerned parent, you see one or a few of these on the list, and it confirms your suspicion that your sweet little one may be experiencing colic. Let’s dive deeper. There’s two common threads that tie ALL of these symptoms together.

At the CORE of colic are these two things. Body tension and digestive upset are also very tied together. Meaning that body tension can cause digestive upset, AND digestive upset can cause body tension. It’s ALL connected, and solution wise, when we’re looking for tangible things that we can do, this is fantastic news!

Moving forward on the path of healing, here is a checklist you can go through to ensure that both body tension & digestive upset are being addressed, with the goal of relieving colic symptoms and bringing relief to your baby’s body.

Chiropractic ensures that the nervous system (the computer that runs the ENTIRE body) is functioning. When the nervous system is out of balance, muscles can be rigid, posture is affected, the nerves that control digestion can be under stress (causing bloating, constipation, and excessive gas), and the muscles and joints that are involved with breastfeeding can be stressed (leading to a less than optimal latch). Relieving this spinal tension through specific and gentle chiropractic adjustments, helps to restore balance to the nervous system, thus bringing balance to your baby’s bodily function. Finding a Gonstead practitioner who has extra training in pediatric chiropractic care is recommended! 

**Both of our Doctors (Dr. Jordan and Dr. Pete) have extensive training in pediatric chiropractic through GMI, ICPA, and Clauda Anrig**

Yes, tummy on the chest COUNTS! And likely at this stage of life is the most preferable for your little one. Increasing the amount of tummy time, and decreasing time laying on their back ensures that their muscle tone isn’t favoring a posture of flexion, which helps to open up the front of their body intrinsically relieving tension on their musculature and digestive tract.

Ensuring that your baby has the most optimal latch is a huge help when going down the road of healing. When our baby’s don’t have an optimal latch, they can be swallowing excessive air during feeds, which leads to gas build up and discomfort in their tummies. Optimal latch ensures that the transfer of milk from breast to baby is efficient and comfortable. Here is a video that Dr. Jordan used during her breastfeeding journey early on that greatly helped: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-OAr7Dr48)

The Guppy Pose (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Pvqbgitnw) and The Colic Hold (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgP3BtrA9Vk) are two ways to relieve pressure on your baby’s digestive system and bring some peace to their bodies. Warm baths can also help sooth muscle tension and digestive upset.

To the parent reading this, you are doing a GREAT job, and you are your baby's best advocate. When it comes to the newborn season, there are so many questions, worries, AND joys! Amidst all of the different seasons you’ll walk through as a family, we hope that you find value in these blog posts, that you find tangible help within them, and that they guide you forward in peace. Keep up the good work, and if this blog post was helpful for you, and you want to learn more, check out our other blog posts, connect with us at The Nest, or follow us on Instagram.