Birth related trauma is very common, even in a natural birth there is great amount of force produced through the newborn's spine, and therefore the nervous system. This birth trauma can lead to undetected nerve dysfunction known as 'Subluxations'. This nerve dysfunction can result in a variety of different symptoms. One of these is Colic. Chiropractic aims to improve this nervous system dysfunction and in doing so quite often can reduce the symptoms of colic.

Most people know of the effects of colic on both newborns and their parents. Incessant, unexplained crying and discomfort in a baby can take their toll on new parents trying to discover the cause of the complaint. It has been estimated that an average of 22% of all newborns will suffer from colic at some time.

The condition is regarded as self-limiting, as it often disappears spontaneously at three months of age. It is uncertain what triggers it but infantile colic was first referred to as indigestion. It is believed that cow's milk protein found in milk based formula and breast milk from a dairy drinking mother is a large cause of colic.

While different diagnostic criteria have emerged since then, there has never been complete agreement on what colic is, what causes it, or how to treat it. The most widely accepted definition of colic today is "unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies from 0 to 3 months old, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for 3 weeks or more, usually in the afternoon and evening hours. Regular bouts of crying are usually accompanied by bowel pain, stomach rumbling and wind.

Due to their recurring and persistent symptoms of colic, it can be difficult to treat. Some parents find help from wrapping, rocking, or singing to their child. Soft music and also low lighting will help to calm your baby. Slow rhythmic rubbing or light massage of the stomach by a chiropractor may help reduce wind. Diet has been noted to play an important role in colic.

When looking at a baby's diet, it is also important to look at the breast feeding mothers diet as well. Trial cutting out troublesome foods and also trial minimising cow's milk products to see if this has an influence on your baby's colic. It is important for a breast feeding mother to increase her water intake. Using correct breast feeding and correct burping techniques may also help reduce your babies' symptoms of colic.

For years, Chiropractors have cared for children with colic symptoms, and with good results. In fact, the benefit of Chiropractic for managing infantile colic was clearly illustrated in a recent study [1] that compared the short-term effects of spinal manipulation versus drug intervention. Results not only showed that Chiropractic adjustments were effective in reducing colic symptoms, most notably the average hours per day spent crying, but also that the use of drugs was not particularly effective, and certainly less effective than chiropractic care. Our chiropractors can evaluate your child's condition and recommend the best approach for maximising health and wellness.

As a family it is important that you work as a team; colic is tiresome and stressful for both babies and parents. Take turns to look after the baby so one of you can go out for a walk/listen to music and have a break from the crying. Ask grandparents or friends to help out even for a short break. Or take the baby for a walk outdoors, or a drive as it can help them calm down.

1. The Short-term Effect of Spinal Manipulation in the Treatment of Infantile Colic: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial with a Blinded Observer, Wiberg JMM, Nordsteen J, Nilsson N. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. October 1999; Vol. 22, No. 8, pp. 517-522.

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