Understanding Colic in Babies

Your stomach hurts and you have a terrible headache. You can’t sleep. You’re cranky. You can’t ask for help because you’re only two weeks old, so you cry and cry and cry. Your parents feel helpless. Thankfully a chiropractor for babies with colic is extremely safe and effective in helping with colic and fussiness.

Many times, colic is caused by an upper neck injury from birth trauma. The sooner it is adjusted and corrected, the sooner the child can calm down, relax, and sleep. The impact this has on the family and the child’s future is immeasurable.

Indigestion?

Infantile colic was first thought to be merely indigestion or reflux. The most widely accepted definition of colic today is a fussy baby with “unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies from 0-3 months old, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for 3 weeks or more, usually in the afternoon or evening hours.”

Birth Trauma?

If your baby is inconsolable, it’s hard to know if it’s a digestive disturbance or just infants with gas. Consider another explanation. Upon examination, we often find spinal distortions in the baby’s upper cervical spine. These babies are probably suffering from head and neck pain. This is especially common if it was a difficult birth. Seeking help from your pediatric doctor is advised.

Chiropractor for Babies with Colic: Research and Case Studies

While large scale research results are lacking and colic is considered a condition that resolves on its own with the passage of enough time, there are many case studies showing improvement, sometimes dramatically, among colicky babies with vertebral subluxations.

• A 93% success rate: In a South African study by Mercer and Cook, 30 infants diagnosed with colic were randomly divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic care while the other group did not. Within a two-week period, the chiropractic care group saw a complete resolution of symptoms in 93% of infants.
• A 94% success rate: A Danish study (Klougart et al, 1989) looked at the effects of chiropractic care with colicky infants. Their published report indicated that 94% of parents saw improvement in their baby’s behavior within two weeks of beginning care.
• A 67% reduction in crying: A randomized controlled trial, published in the October 1999 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, tracked a small group of 50 infants. Half received the drug dimethicone and the other half spinal manipulation. At the conclusion of the two-week study, the babies being adjusted saw a 67% reduction in crying, and the drug therapy group saw a 38% reduction.

Effective, But Not a Cure

Chiropractic is not a treatment for colic. If vertebral subluxation is present, interfering with the proper function of any part of the body, restoring proper nervous system control often allows the body to heal and get them out of danger. This may happen regardless of age and what the particular symptoms are.

If we are near you, take action now by contacting our practice for a no-obligation consultation with a chiropractor for colic babies. Set up an appointment to put an end to the frustration and helplessness so many new mothers feel. Our team is here to help you and your baby living in Hinsdale, Willowbrook, and the surrounding areas of IL.