Osteopathy and colic in children
What is colic in children?
A real pet peeve of parents, nearly 40% of babies suffer from it. Colic appears a few days after birth and fades after 3 to 6 months. Colic is now the most common cause of crying and pain in infants.
Making the diagnosis of infant colic
Colic according to the Wessel criteria is diagnosed with:
- Crying that lasts
- More than 3 hours per day
- More than 3 days a week
- for at least 3 weeks
More generally, colic can be diagnosed if your baby cries a lot, gets red from crying, and you can't calm him down. Don't panic, colic is not a serious condition even if it is difficult for parents to deal with.
What causes colic in infants?
The exact causes are still unclear, but here are some of the confirmed causes:
- Difficulty digesting lactose
- When drinking milk, the infant swallows too much air at the same time
- In cases of maternal breastfeeding, this may be due to medication and/or poor hydration and/or nutrition of the mother
- Presence of a restrictive tongue or lip lock
What are the solutions for colic?
Osteopathy
In cases of colic, an osteopathic consultation is one of the best ways to relieve your child.
Thanks to a precise interrogation and specific tests, your osteopath will try to establish the cause(s) of colic and give you the best advice (carrying, breastfeeding position, baby positioning, etc.).
Using gentle and specific techniques, your practitioner will work on the belly area and on the structure of the digestive system itself to help the transit. He will also work on the different structures in order to improve the function because it is well known that "the structure is related to the function and vice versa".
For example, he will work on the pelvis, the lumbar vertebrae from where the nerves responsible for the sympathetic innervation of the small intestine and the colon start.
Limit the use of hulls
Except for the car, you should avoid putting your child in a maxi cosy. This type of equipment is really convenient to go from the car to the stroller without much effort but inside the cosy, your child is slightly folded and this blocks his diaphragm.
The diaphragm is the muscle that allows us to breathe. It lowers when we inhale so that the air enters the lungs, it also has a pumping action on the viscera. By installing the baby in a shell, you limit the movement of the diaphragm and therefore its digestion is disturbed.
The sling
When the baby is carried in a sling, his belly is against your rib cage. It is the breathing movements of your rib cage that allow a massage on the baby's belly. This massage helps to limit colic by creating a simulation of intestinal transit. The warmth generated during the carrying process can also contribute to the improvement of the transit.
Avoid tight clothing or diapers
When a baby wears tight clothing or diapers, the diaphragm can be compressed and constrain the digestive system.
It is essential to close the diapers properly to limit leaks, but do not force them to be tight. It is also more comfortable to wear loose clothing when you have stomach pains.
Breastfeeding
Beware of sucking
The risk of swallowing air when breastfeeding is rare, but it can happen, so it is essential to ensure good sucking.
If your child is putting too much or squeezing too hard, it may be because of a sucking problem, it is advisable to make an appointment with an osteopath specialized in pediatrics.
Empty one breast and then the other
At the beginning of breastfeeding, it is necessary to alternate the breasts to stimulate them, after 21 days, it is no longer essential to alternate.
During this period, you should not just alternate them, you should empty one breast and then change to the other because the beginning of the breast is rich in lactose and therefore more difficult to digest.
A common diet for mother and child
When breastfeeding, all the mother's food is also ingested by the baby. You can therefore help your baby's digestion by drinking plenty of water and eating more easily digestible foods. However, be careful with alcohol, spices and medication!
Artistic breastfeeding
Preventing baby from swallowing air
When you give the bottle, it is important to lift the bottom of the bottle to prevent it from swallowing air.
Adapting your nipple and bottle
There are multi-speed nipples, so consider changing if your baby is drinking too fast.
Don't forget your burp
Burping is essential in formula feeding because it allows the baby to expel the air swallowed from the bottle.
Use of low lactose milk
Since cow's milk powder is difficult to digest, you can space out the bottles by at least 3 hours.
You can also change your milk, but for this you need to talk to your pediatrician.
Straightening up baby
To improve bottle swallowing, straighten your child to an upright position. Do not give your child a bottle lying down.
Grandmother's remedies
- Calmosine: it is a drink containing fennel. We advise a teaspoon before each meal.
- Codex lime water: the gastric activity will be buffered with a teaspoon before each meal.
Marie Messager
Osteopath D.O
2 rue Alexis de Tocqueville
78000 Versailles
