Natural Ways for Helping your Baby’s Reflux, Colic and Wind

You have the new addition to your family but somehow this new baby doesn’t seem very happy. There seems to be a lot of crying, straining to pass stools, and general irritability. Your baby constantly wants to be held and the days and sleeplessness nights seem never ending….. you can’t quite put your finger on it.  The words, ‘its probably colic, or reflux or just bad wind’ are banded about but no-one is giving you any real answers…. Sounds familiar?

This can be a really frustrating, distressing and upsetting time for the parents, hopefully this article will give you some answers or at least some understanding in what all these ‘tummy issues ‘are and some practical ways you can help your baby become more calmer and comfortable.

 Colic:

Infantile colic is pain in the abdomen, and it is generally thought to be caused by wind, however there is no international consensus among researchers about the cause of colic. Paediatricians often use the ‘rule of three’ to diagnose colic. ‘a baby that cries for three or more hours per day, seemingly inconsolable at times, at least three times per week, within a three month period’’ The peak period is classically between the times of 5.30pm to midnight.  Roughly 30 to 40% of babies suffer from colicky type symptoms most of which, it was believed , resolved by around 3 months. However there is one study which suggested that about 12% of infants suffering from colic continued to have symptoms after six months. 

There generally seems to be several contributing factors , when occurring in combination, are likely to result in colic pain and discomfort . The main ones are:

• The baby is three to 12 weeks old.

• Cries vigorously for long periods, despite efforts to console

• Symptoms occur around the same time each day or night, often after meal times, and usually ending as abruptly as they began

• Shows signs of gas discomfort and abdominal bloating

• Has a hard, distended stomach, with knees pulled to the chest, clenched fists, flailing arms and legs, and an arched back

• Experiences frequent sleeplessness, irritability and fussiness.

Baby massage can be something that you can do, that will offer relief and really help your baby when they are in such discomfort. Below is a short routine for babies to help relief of Colic /Gas

This massage routine can be used when problems like tummy pain, gas, constipation, or colic occur. Repeat this series of strokes 3 times, 2-3 times a day, for at least 2 weeks.  This takes about 5-10 minutes.

1.Begin by taking a few deep breaths to relax, rest your hands on your baby’s tummy.    

2. Water Wheel stroke (see attached image – titled water wheel stroke) - Place your hands or pads of your fingers and stroke with alternating hands/fingers from the belly button to the legs. Do this movement 6 times with each hand.

3.Bring your baby’s knees together and push them gently into the tummy. Hold for a slow count of 4.Sun and Moon stroke  (see attached image – titled sun and moon stroke)– Once hand draws a clockwise full circle. The other draws a partial clockwise circle(from approx. 10 to 5 on a clock)

5.Repeat step 3.

Other suggestions that may help are:

·       Cranial osteopathy. Cranial osteopathy involves the gentle manipulation of the baby’s skull, neck and spine. This stimulates the nerves that affect the digestive system, helping stop painful spasms.   The treatment also aims to relieve the pressures and tensions that are found in the cranium. It is done in a very gentle way – there is no pushing or pulling but rather the osteopath feels for tension in the tissues and then holds the tissue in a way that the body wants it to go until it releases. This allows the body to calm itself and become more relaxed. Because the technique is so gentle, it can be used on babies from birth.

• Offer a teaspoon of gripewater after each feed (main ingredient is fennel seeds)

• When your baby breaks off from the breast naturally during a feed, sit him/her up and gently rub in a circular movement around his/her back. Let him/her  latch on again, when he/she breaks off , sit him/her up and rub his/her side in circular movements, and the third break rub his/her tummy in circular movements (clockwise). During this, it helps relax his/her tummy and back muscles and allows the milk to properly digest.  With this technique you may not have to wait for a burp!

• If breast feeding, drink nettle or fennel tea an hour before feeding as it neutralises your breast milk. Steep one teaspoon of fennel in ½ pint of hot water for ten minutes. Then strain and drink

• Hold your baby in ‘Tiger in the Tree’ position to minimize crying and ease discomfort. Lay your baby face down on your forearm with your palm face up. Let your baby’s arms and legs hang on either side of your forearm. The bay’s head should nestle and be supported in the crook of your arm. Stroke and pat the baby’s back gently.

Reflux:

Reflux is simply defined when the stomach contents, mixed with a, travel back up the oesophagus, either part way (causing heartburn, and is given the term silent reflux) or all the way (causing posseting and vomiting). It is partly due to immature oesophageal sphincter, and the symptoms naturally lessen as the baby grows older and begins to spend more time upright.  There are lots of things you can try to help manage and lessen the discomfort for your baby:

• Try to keep baby in an upright position during and after feedings. Nurse frequently, smaller, more frequent feedings are easier to digest. Hold and burp in an upright position for about half an hour after feeding (i.e. wind, over shoulder rather than sitting on your knee, slumped over as this position puts too much pressure on the stomach.)

• Try abit of baby reflexology  - rub with your finger or thumb in a downward stoke. Along the side, from the top of the big toe down to under the ball of the foot. (the oesophagus reflex). Do the same stoke on both feet a number of times.

• Use a few drops of olive oil, with the fingertips on both hands, stroke the breastbone very lightly in a continuous downwards motion.  The finger tips of one hand should follow the fingertips of your other hand. Work straight down from the midpoint of the breastbone to a point midway between the end of the sternum and the belly button. Do this for about four minutes.

• If your baby chokes or gags when your milk lets down, try taking your baby off the breast when the milk first lets down, catching the excess milk  and then put your baby back after the initial flow of milk has passed.

• Avoid fruit juice or acidic fruits – offer your baby a dummy or his hand/fingers to suck as this helps your baby produce more saliva which is alkaline and can help neutralize the acid.

Finally, a book I’d highly recommend is ‘ Colic Solved: The Essential Guide to Infant Reflux and the Care of Your Crying, Difficult-To- Soothe by Bryan Vartabedian, ( a noted pediatric gastroenterologist and the father of two babies with acid reflux, who provides hands-on, practical advice about reflux and how to make your own baby happy again.