Your Baby Won't Stop Crying. Could It Be the Nervous System?

Okay momma (and dad, we see you too). You are running on zero sleep. Your baby has been crying for hours, sometimes days, and nothing you do seems to help. You have tried feeding, burping, rocking, swaddling, white noise, driving around the block at 2am, and you have Googled every single thing the internet has to offer. And yet, your sweet baby is still inconsolable.

First, take a breath. YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS. And second, we want you to know that you are not alone and there is a reason this is happening that most parents never get told about.

At Reissing Health in Knoxville, we work with colicky babies every single week. And what we see over and over again is this: colic is not just a digestion problem. It is not just gas. It is not just "a phase." In so many cases, it is a nervous system problem. And that changes everything about how we approach it.

So What Even Is Colic?

The classic definition of colic is crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks in a baby who is otherwise healthy. That is the "rule of threes" that most pediatricians use. And if your baby fits that description, you already know how exhausting and heartbreaking it is.

Here is what most parents are NOT told: colic is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It is your baby's body telling you that something is off. And in our experience, the most common "something" is tension and stress in the nervous system, often stemming from the birth process itself.

The Birth Process Is Intense (Even When It Goes "Well")

Think about what your baby goes through during labor and delivery. Whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, your baby's head, neck, and spine go through an enormous amount of force and compression. Even in a perfectly normal birth, the pressure on the cervical spine (the upper neck) can be significant. And when the upper cervical vertebrae shift even slightly out of their optimal position, they can put stress on the brainstem and the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve is a big deal. It is the main communication highway between the brain and the digestive system. When it is under stress, your baby's gut does not function the way it should. Digestion slows. Gas builds up. The nervous system gets stuck in a high-alert, fight-or-flight state. And your baby, who cannot tell you what is wrong, does the only thing they can do. They cry.

This is why so many colicky babies also have reflux, gas, trouble latching, and difficulty sleeping. It is all connected. The nervous system is running the whole show.

What Does a Colic Chiropractor in Knoxville Actually Do?

We know what you might be picturing. And we want to reassure you right now: chiropractic care for newborns and infants looks absolutely nothing like what you see for adults. There are no loud cracks, no big movements, no scary anything.

What we do is called a neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustment. For a newborn, the amount of pressure we use is about the same as what you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato. Seriously, it is that gentle. We use our fingertips to find areas of tension and restriction in the spine and gently encourage the nervous system to release that stress.

When we remove the interference in the upper cervical spine, the vagus nerve can communicate freely again. The digestive system calms down. The nervous system shifts out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-digest. And most of the time, parents tell us they see a difference within just a few visits. Some see it after the very first one.

What Parents in Knoxville Are Saying

We hear it all the time. "I didn't even know this was a thing." "I wish someone had told me sooner." "We tried everything and this was the only thing that worked." That is what makes us so passionate about sharing this message loudly. Because too many families are suffering through weeks and months of colic when there is help available right here in Knoxville.

We have worked with babies as young as a few days old. We have worked with babies who were diagnosed with severe reflux, babies who could not latch, babies who had not slept more than 45 minutes at a stretch. And we have watched them transform. Not because we did anything magical, but because we removed the stress that was keeping their nervous system from doing what it was designed to do.

Signs Your Colicky Baby Might Benefit from Chiropractic Care

Your baby might be a great candidate for neurologically-focused chiropractic care if they are experiencing any of these things alongside the crying:

• Difficulty latching or nursing on one side
• Arching the back during or after feedings
• Frequent spit-up or reflux that does not respond to positioning changes
• Gassiness and bloating that seems disproportionate
• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
• Preferring to turn their head to one side (this is called torticollis and it is super common after birth)
• Seeming uncomfortable in their body even when all their basic needs are met

Any one of these on its own can be a sign that the nervous system needs some support. Together, they paint a really clear picture.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe for My Newborn?

Yes. A thousand times yes. Neurologically-focused chiropractic care for infants has been studied extensively and is considered safe when performed by a trained provider. At Reissing Health, both Dr. Devin and Dr. Jeremy are CACCP certified, which means they have completed advanced training specifically in pediatric and prenatal chiropractic care. This is not a general practice thing. This is our specialty. This is what we do every single day.

We use our state-of-the-art INSiGHT scanning technology to assess your baby's nervous system before we ever do an adjustment. This technology is completely safe, non-invasive, and gives us a detailed picture of where the stress is and how your baby's body is adapting to it. We do not guess. We measure. And then we create a specific care plan based on exactly what your baby needs.

You Do Not Have to Walk This Alone

Here is the thing about colic that nobody talks about enough: it is not just hard on your baby. It is hard on YOU. The sleep deprivation, the helplessness, the guilt of not being able to soothe your own child. It is a lot. And you deserve support just as much as your baby does.

When you come to Reissing Health, you are not just another appointment on the schedule. You are part of our family. We will take the time to listen to your whole story, answer every question you have, and walk alongside you through this season. We have the best birth community tribe in Knoxville and we will connect you with every resource available to help you feel supported in every single area of your postpartum journey.

Because a calm baby starts with a calm nervous system. And a calm nervous system starts with getting the right care.

Ready to Get Some Answers?

If your baby is struggling with colic in Knoxville or the Farragut area, we would love to meet your family. Request an appointment at Reissing Health today and let us take a look at what is going on in that little nervous system. You were made for this. And we are here to help you thrive in it.

Learn more about our pediatric chiropractic care or read our related articles on torticollis in infants, SPD and the nervous system, and ADHD and chiropractic care.