Dr. Carole Keim talks about colic and reflux in this episode. She explains what they are and explores how different modalities can help alleviate your baby’s discomfort. There are supportive and alternative care options that Dr. Keim doesn’t often get a chance to address in the office but can present here.    

Dr. Keim defines a baby with true colic as one who cries for “three hours per day, three days per week, for three weeks”, or the rule of threes. The cause of colic is still largely unknown but common understanding links it to gas in the intestines. Dr. Keim lays out all the options for alleviating your baby’s colic distress. Reflux, or when stomach contents come up into the esophagus of young babies, is mainly treated with non-medicinal measures, a variety of which Dr. Keim explains.    

In this episode:

Colic (00:52)

• Symptoms: Rule of 3s: 3 hours per day, 3 days per week, for 3 weeks. Peaks at 4-6 weeks of age.
• Western -  Nonmedical: burp baby every 5 minutes if breastfeeding or after each 1oz if bottle feeding, tummy time, bicycle legs / up and downs, belly massage (clockwise) or back massage (counterclockwise). Medicines: probiotics, simethicone (OTC).
• Acu - both acupuncture and chinese herbs can help with colic; check with a pediatric acupuncturist
• Chiro - helps with colic
• Nutrition/supplements - probiotics, prebiotics (increase fruit/veggies if breastfeeding; formula and breastmilk have prebiotics in them), gripe water (not FDA regulated), chamomile/licorice/ginger/mint tea (mom can consume if breastfeeding; can make it 1/2 to 1/4 strength and give a spoonful 1-2x per day to baby).
• Homeopathy - chamomilla vulgaris, colocynthis, and lycopodium clavatum
• Aromatherapy - can use fennel, star anise, marjoram, ginger, roman chamomile, rosemary, and/or bergamot topically - mix the essential oil with a carrier oil and massage in a clockwise direction on the abdomen. Breastfeeding moms can consume 2-5 drops of peppermint, ginger, or chamomile oil in water and drink it; don’t give oral essential oils to babies

Reflux (09:19)

• Symptoms: spitting up (sometimes through the nose too), arching the back.  GERD is when the reflux is so bad that it causes other problems like severe pain, inability to gain weight / weight loss, or aspiration (choking).  All babies have reflux for 6-12 mos as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) matures.
• Western -  Nonmedical approaches: burp often, keep upright for 20-30 mins after feeds, avoid swinging/rocking/laying baby flat/belly massage for those 20-30 mins.  Can consider thickening feeds; check with your doctor first.  Medicine: ranitidine will decrease the acidity of stomach contents but doesn’t stop the reflux from happening, so still use supportive measures.
• Acu - both acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help
• Chiro - can help with reflux and spit ups
• Nutrition/supplements - thickened feeds, breastfeeding moms can decrease acidity by eating less acidic foods and avoiding chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods; ginger tea, chamomile tea, (only a spoonful of dilute tea for babies less than 1 year, or mom can drink the tea if she’s breastfeeding and it will get into breastmilk; can allow children over 1 year with reflux to drink ginger or chamomile tea, can use honey or sugar to sweeten it over 1 year of age)
• Homeopathy - antimonium crudium, chelidonium majus, nux vomica
• Aromatherapy - ginger, chamomile - mix in carrier oil, apply topically for babies under 1 year, can give a few drops of diluted oil orally for children over 1 year

Next week: vomiting/diarrhea!

Dr. Keim has extensively researched the information presented in this episode. Her insight and knowledge on alternative and holistic treatments come together in her new book, Holistic Mamas Handbook, launching on November 15, 2023. Pre-orders are available here. Her first book, The Baby Manual, covers the year one of baby’s life and is the subject of the first two seasons of this podcast. For additional tips and advice on babies and toddlers, follow Dr. Carole Keim on her TikTok and YouTube channels. And remember, it’s always okay to call your doctor or emergency services if you have concerns about your child’s health.   

Resources discussed in this episode:

• More like this in the Holistic Mamas Handbook. Pre-order the Holistic Mamas Handbook, launch date 11/15/23
• The Baby Manual is available on Amazon
• Supplement/vitamins link for 10% off
• Pediatric chiropractors: icpa4kids.com

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Dr. Carole Keim MD: linktree | tiktok | instagram