Colic and Chiropractic Care
You’ve fed, changed and comforted your baby, but he or she is still fussy and crying — and has been for hours. While it is completely normal for babies to cry, especially newborns, when crying lasts for a long period of time and happens a few nights a week, it could be more than simple crying. It could be colic.
What Is Colic?
In general, colic is defined as crying for three or more hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more weeks.
Symptoms of colic may include the following:
- Intense crying that may seem more like screaming or an expression of pain
- Crying for no apparent reason, unlike crying to express hunger or the need for a diaper change
- Extreme fussiness even after crying has diminished
- Predictable timing, with episodes often occurring in the evening
- Facial discoloring, such as reddening of the face or paler skin around the mouth
- Bodily tension, such as pulled up or stiffened legs, stiffened arms, clenched fists, arched back, or tense abdomen
Excessive, inconsolable crying may be colic or an indication of an illness or condition that causes pain or discomfort. Schedule an appointment with your pediatrician for a thorough exam if your infant experiences excessive crying or other signs or symptoms of colic.
What Causes Colic?
The cause of colic is unknown. It may result from numerous contributing factors. While a number of causes have been explored, it’s difficult for researchers to account for all the important features, such as why it usually begins late in the first month of life, how it varies among infants, why it happens at certain times of day and why it resolves on its own in time.
How To Help Babies With Colic
While many people equate chiropractic care as the solution only for neck or back pain, it is actually more than that. Chiropractic care treated the central nervous system, which controls all the functions of the body.
During both vaginal and C-section births, the baby’s head can be turned, resulting in spinal shifting and misaligning the vertebrae. While it is impossible to know if this results in colic, studies have shown that chiropractic care may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of colic, and that help can last for years to come.
Live Well Chiropractic Center’s Dr. Kimberly Muhlenkamp-Wermert is one of the few female chiropractors in the Cincinnati area that is certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association in the Webster Technique. A mother of 4, she specializes in chiropractic care in all phases of life, from pre-conception to pregnancy, post-delivery, infant and elder care. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kim, email us at info@livewellcc.com or call us at 513-285-7682. Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for our latest updates and tips!
