Reflux colic, and constipation may seem like completely different issues, but they’re not. They all result in uncomfortable, stressed babies, and are connected by the same system: the nervous system.

Uncomfortable and stressed babies are not normal, no matter how common they are. When helpless parents are brushed off and told “it’s just colic” it takes a toll on the family. Oftentimes, pediatricians assure parents that their child will “grow out of it” but in the meantime, here’s some Zantac, cut out dairy and gluten, and switch from breastmilk to formula. Desperately trying to find the right combo to keep reflux, colic, and constipation at bay, parents will try anything. We’re here to tell you to trust your gut and look at your child through a different lens.

There’s another way to get your baby more comfortable–eating, sleeping, and pooping the way they should be. While waiting for the baby to “grow out of it,” the stress and symptoms will grow and evolve. The discomfort in a two-week-old will become a stress in a three-month-old, then a 9-month-old.

An uncomfortable one-year-old becomes a five-year-old, then a 15-year-old dealing with the same symptoms amplified or brand new symptoms altogether because it was never addressed properly. That’s where we can help!

The golden thread that connects reflux, colic, and constipation is the nervous system. We don’t compartmentalize a baby’s nervous system – all these systems work together.

Infant – latch issues, slow weight gain, failure to thrive, not sleeping well

Up to Two Weeks – baby feels very stiff, lifting head right away (this is not necessarily a good thing, this is a sign of discomfort and locked and spasmed muscles)

4 Weeks – straining and nursing issues

6-8 Weeks – spitting up, uncomfortable and arching back

3-4 Months – colic and sleep regression

4+ Months – fussy, constipated, tense, evidence of cranial flattening and torticollis

All these unpleasant symptoms build on each other. Reflux is the first stage of digestion. It could be “silent” (gurgling) or full-blown spitting up. This can lead into colic (defined as crying for 3+ hours a day, 3 times a week for 3+ weeks). Colic babies are constantly stressed and uncomfortable, have witching hours, and require bouncing, pacifiers, car rides etc. to offer some kind of relief. Without addressing the nervous state as a whole, colic becomes a gateway to constipation and gas pain.

To tackle these issues, we must look at the nervous system as a whole–starting with the Vagus nerve (the calming nerve). The vagus nerve comes out of first vertebra, which is the most commonly misaligned area on an infant because of the birth process. The goal is to create balance in central nervous system. Babies who are struggling with reflux, colic and constipation are stuck in the sympathetic (gas pedal) side of the nervous system. This half of the nervous system is constantly in dis-ease, stuck in fight or flight mode, manifesting physical symptoms. To thrive, we want babies to pump the brakes! The brake-pedal side of the nervous system is called the parasympathetic side and it’s responsible for resting, digesting, growth, and development. That’s the sweet spot.

Physical Stress –This can be a result of birth traumas and interventions causing stress on baby’s neck and nervous system. In utero constraint could prevent baby from getting into proper position, or moving around with ease. Lip and tongue ties–sign of dural tension – are also a physical stressor.

Chemical Stress – Mom’s diet during pregnancy and nursing, sensitivity to formulas, gluten, dairy and other toxins.

Emotional Stress – A stressed Mama equals a stressed baby. Emotional stress during pregnancy or during a taxing birth process manifests in baby. Prenatal chiropractic care is so important because it pre-wires baby to be in the parasympathetic state.

When baby is overwhelmed with stress too soon, we see reflux, colic and constipation. At Truly, we adjust kiddos to help kick on the brake pedal, naturally decrease the gas pedal, and settle into rest, digestion, growth and development.

Adjusting a baby is not scary at all. Baby usually sleeps through the process, and if they’re irritable it’s a sign of the stress and tension in their nervous system – exactly what we’re trying to ease. You’ll see Dr. Morgan and Dr. Brooke lightly touch the baby, with little to no movement. It’s like they’re placing their fingers on a stick of butter and waiting for it to melt – areas may be a little hard at first (stress and tension) so they wait for it to melt away and relax. You can actually see a stressed baby settle in and relax during an adjustment, it’s the nervous system winding down.

Post-adjustment, babies often sleep for hours because they are finally able to kick into the healing side of their nervous systems. They tend to like their carseat better, are nursing and latching better, having more (easier) bowel movements, are less gassy. Adjustments calm the nervous system so it can function to its fullest degree.

What’s next? Contact Truly Chiropractic so we can get your baby scanned. Our in-house insight scan is completely safe for all ages and will detect any stress on baby’s nervous system, allowing us to best heal and the nervous system.

This is our mission at Truly – we want to change the trajectory of these infants lives, and turn things around instead of building on top of symptoms for life. “Growing out of it” is not the only answer, together we can set the stage for calm and adjusted nervous systems.