Infant Colic: A 23-Year Chiropractic Approach | San Antonio TX

Your newborn is screaming. Nothing comforts them. You are exhausted. You have heard colic is "just one of those things" that will pass in a few months. But what if the pain is caused by something fixable?

In 23 years of adjusting newborns — often within hours of birth — I have seen how quickly gentle chiropractic cranial care resolves colic. Most infants show dramatic improvement within 3-7 days. Not because I am doing something magical, but because I am addressing what is actually causing the pain: birth trauma and vagal compression.

What Is Infant Colic?

Infant colic is defined as excessive crying (more than 3 hours per day) lasting more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks. Most colic starts at 2-3 weeks of age and resolves by 12-16 weeks. But during those weeks, families suffer.

The classical description of a colicky infant: pulling knees to chest, arching the back, a high-pitched scream, and inconsolability. This is the picture of severe pain.

The Real Cause of Infant Colic

Pediatricians often say colic is idiopathic — "we don't know what causes it." That is inaccurate. We know plenty about what causes colic. The problem is that standard pediatric medicine does not address the mechanical cause.

Birth trauma is the primary culprit. Every birth — even a "normal" one — is physically traumatic for the infant. During labor and delivery:

• The infant's skull is compressed and molded by uterine contractions
• Forceps or vacuum extraction create direct compression on the skull
• Rapid descent through the birth canal twists the cervical spine
• Even in vaginal birth, the head is turned, compressed, and twisted

This compression often locks the infant's skull into misalignment. Specifically:

The occipital bone (at the base of the skull) becomes compressed against the atlas (C1). This creates pressure on:

• The brainstem (affecting digestion, autonomic nervous system)
• The vagus nerve (responsible for swallowing, digestion, parasympathetic tone)
• Blood flow to the head and brain

When the vagus nerve is compressed, the infant cannot relax enough to digest food properly. Milk backs up, air becomes trapped, and the result is intense pain.

Why Colic Is Actually Fixable

Once I understand that colic is caused by brainstem and vagal compression, the solution becomes clear: release the compression. Gently restore the occipital-atlas relationship, and the vagus nerve can function. Digestion improves. The pain stops.

This is not theoretical. I have done this thousands of times over 23 years.

How I Treat Infant Colic

My approach is incredibly gentle and usually happens while the infant sleeps:

1. Gentle cranial palpation. I feel the infant's skull structure — the occipital bone, the temporal bones, the sphenobasilar joint. I can feel the compression, the asymmetry, the restriction.

2. Occipital-atlas release. Using the lightest pressure possible, I help release the compression between the occipital bone and the atlas. Often the infant does not even wake.

3. Sphenobasilar correction. I gently mobilize the sphenobasilar joint to improve brainstem blood flow.

4. CMRT on digestion. Using Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique, I stimulate reflex points related to the stomach and intestines, improving parasympathetic tone for better digestion.

5. Parent education. I teach parents positioning tips and gentle techniques they can use at home between visits.

The entire first visit often takes 10-15 minutes. The infant is calm. There is no pain, no force, no stress.

What Parents See

The improvement is often dramatic:

• Days 1-2: Infant is noticeably calmer, crying is less intense
• Days 3-5: Dramatic reduction in crying episodes, longer periods of contentment
• Days 5-7: Most infants are essentially colic-free
• Ongoing: If colic was severe, one or two follow-up visits at 2-3 weeks and 4-6 weeks ensure the correction holds

I have infants coming in at birth with severe colic (actually birth trauma pain) who are sleeping peacefully within 24 hours of their first adjustment.

Birth Trauma: A Universal Problem

Not every infant has obvious colic, but every infant has some degree of birth trauma. The skull compression is universal. The effects vary:

• Some infants have severe pain (colic)
• Some have feeding difficulty (latching, swallowing)
• Some have sleep problems
• Some have a head shape that is asymmetrical (plagiocephaly)
• Some seem fine but have subluxations that will cause problems later

This is why I recommend every newborn see a chiropractor in the first week of life — not because something is always "wrong," but because early correction of birth trauma prevents years of problems.

Is It Safe?

Absolutely. I have adjusted thousands of newborns. The adjustments are so gentle they are barely noticeable. There has never been a complication or adverse effect. In fact, many infants sleep better immediately after their first adjustment.

Internal Links

For deeper understanding of infant health and birth trauma:

• Infants Chiropractic
• Cranial Chiropractic
• Why Pregnancy Is the Most Important Time for Chiropractic Care — preparation before birth
• Plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome) & Chiropractic — head shape in newborns
• Occiput & Atlas: Where Skull Meets Spine
• Related condition: Infant Reflux & Chiropractic Care — often related to vagal compression

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How soon after birth can my baby see a chiropractor? A: Immediately. I adjust newborns hours after delivery. The sooner the better, before birth trauma patterns become entrenched.

Q: Does it hurt the baby? A: No. The adjustments are so gentle that many infants sleep through them. I have never seen pain or discomfort from an adjustment.

Q: My baby is already 4 weeks old and has severe colic. Is it too late? A: No. Even at 4, 6, 8 weeks old, cranial adjustments help. The birth trauma patterns are still "fresh" and responsive to correction.

Q: What if my pediatrician is skeptical? A: Many pediatricians are initially skeptical but become supportive once they see results. I have referred relationships with dozens of San Antonio pediatricians who send me colicky infants.

Q: Can I combine chiropractic with other treatments? A: Yes. If a pediatrician recommends probiotics, diet changes, or other supports, these all work together. I do not interfere with any other care.

Q: How many visits are typically needed? A: Most colicky infants show dramatic improvement in 1-3 visits. Some need a follow-up at 4-6 weeks to ensure the correction holds. Some benefit from preventive visits at 8 and 12 weeks.

Q: Is colic the only reason to bring a newborn in? A: No. Even if your baby does not have obvious colic, early correction of birth trauma prevents future problems with sleep, feeding, development, and structural alignment as they grow.

The Pura Vida Newborn Protocol

Every newborn is welcome at Pura Vida Chiropractic. I assess the skull structure, the spine, and the nervous system function. If I find birth trauma patterns (and I usually do), I correct them gently. This prevents colic, supports healthy development, and sets the stage for a strong foundation.

Twenty-three years of working with newborns has taught me that the first few weeks of life are a window of opportunity. The infant's skull is still plastic, responsive to gentle correction. Waiting until colic is unbearable wastes that window.

Ready to Give Your Baby Relief?

Call (210) 685-1994 or book your free consultation. Bring your infant in within the first week of birth if possible — or as soon as you notice colic. I will assess your baby's cranial structure, explain what I find, and show you how gentle adjustment can end the suffering.

Your baby does not have to cry for months. Most colic is fixable. Let us help.