If you’re a parent, you know that one of the most stressful things can be trying to determine what your baby needs. They cry when they’re tired, hungry, or just want to be held. This can make it hard to know when your baby’s crying is a symptom of something more serious, like infant GERD. The symptoms of infant GERD can include vomiting, appetite changes, and excessive crying—all of which babies are prone to on a normal day. It can be hard to determine the proper care to seek for your child and what remedies they need. If your infant seems to be suffering from infant GERD, visiting Dr. Ronnie Bolar at Vital Life Chiropractic is the first step towards long-term relief that is both safe and effective.

What Is Infant GERD?

While GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is found across ages, infant GERD is very common in young babies. About two-thirds of infants will experience GERD symptoms, compared to one in five adults. GERD is caused by food getting backed up in the esophagus, rather than traveling to the stomach as it should. Because infants have underdeveloped digestive systems, doctors believe they are more prone to these symptoms and they will often resolve as children age. While testing can be done in severe cases, most infant GERD is diagnosed simply by recognizing symptoms in affected infants. In many cases, doctors will prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms for short-term relief, but many of these medications come with harmful side effects, effectively trading one ailment for another in many infants. Before going this route, visit a Lithia Springs chiropractor to explore chiropractic care for your child.

Stopping Infant GERD with Chiropractic Care

While infant GERD is concentrated in the stomach and esophagus, it is connected to the central nervous system. All systems of the body must work together to keep your baby healthy and their body functioning as intended, and proper function stems from the central nervous system. As a part of the central nervous system, the digestive tract relies on messages sent throughout the body via nerves. A spinal misalignment, especially one near the abdomen, can affect the efficiency of these systems and lead to severe reflux and other issues associated with infant GERD. Dr. Ronnie Bolar will examine your baby’s spine for any of these misalignments and correct them through gentle adjustments. Many babies that visit Vital Life Chiropractic experience lessened symptoms or even full relief from infant GERD.

Chiropractic Care in Children

At Vital Life Chiropractic, infants and children are some of the most valued practice members. Adjustments can be performed for a number of maladies that specifically affect infants. Chiropractic care is a safe method for managing infant GERD and is proven to be incredibly effective in infants. Many case studies indicate that babies who do not respond to medication for infant GERD will experience full relief from symptoms after regular chiropractic care is introduced. Chiropractic also played a role in these infants recovering from poor sleep schedules, overcoming difficulty breastfeeding, and reducing struggles with intestinal issues and vomiting.

If your baby is suffering from infant GERD or any of these symptoms, contact Dr. Ronnie Bolar and Vital Life Chiropractic for gentle, proven pediatric chiropractic care. Vital Life Chiropractic serves practice members in Lithia Springs, Mableton, Austell, Clarkdale, Powder Springs, and all of Douglas County.

 

Sources

Alcantara, J., Anderson, R. “Chiropractic care of a pediatric patient with symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease, fuss-cry-irritability with sleep disorder syndrome and irritable infant syndrome of musculoskeletal origin.” J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008 Dec; 52(4): 248–255. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597889/