Distress in Infancy

Newborn babies are frequent sufferers of gastrointestinal complaints. That shouldn't come as a surprise when one considers that the digestive system had no job to do in those first nine months in utero but is asked to be responsible for the entire sustenance of the body after birth. Digestive system troubles can range from spitting up to projectile vomiting and reflux, from mild difficulty burping to the hours of daily crying of a colicky baby. Although these problems do lessen as the digestive system matures, waiting for relief can be very hard on infants and parents.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment, which improves body function through correcting body structure, can have a significant role in assisting in the resolution of the digestive system distress of infancy. The troubles often have their origin when a difficult birth experience irritates the vagus nerve which controls much of the digestive system. When the bony misalignment and tissue tensions affecting the nerve are removed, the baby can handle its feedings and resultant gas better. Osteopathic treatment can also address connective tissue tension present around the abdominal organs, especially in the umbilical area and near where the esophagus meets the stomach. In infants who suffer from spitting up, vomiting or reflux, the normal clockwise motion of the abdominal fascia may be impaired and need corrective treatment.

Occasionally the digestive distress of breat-fed babies can be traced to foods in the mother's diet. When these offending foods are removed from her diet, the improvements in the baby can be dramatic. In the same way, babies who are bottle-fed may find relief in switching to a different formula.