Digestive Discomfort in Babies: How Baby Massage can Relieve Tummy Pain

Why do Babies Suffer So Much with Digestive Issues?

I remember those first few months when both my girls were newborn, it was so upsetting to see them crying with tummy pain & I found it so invaluable to have techniques I could turn to that helped my girls to be more comfortable. When our babies are upset all we want is to be able to help them and thankfully massage can provide an effective way to soothe and treat our baby’s tummy discomfort.

When babies are first born their digestive systems can be very immature & there are a number of ways in which babies can experience digestive discomfort:

1.       Their tummies are very small so they will need food little and often and are only fed milk either breastmilk/formula until their digestive system is able to mature enough to take on solid food. This does mean their tummies can be easily overwhelmed.

2.       The digestive tract is not fully toned at birth and so the depth of the smooth muscle in the bowel can be less developed in some babies which impacts the effectiveness at which wind and stalls are passed through the bowel and expelled. This is one of the reasons why trapped wind & constipation can be very common in new babies.

3.       The rate at which stalls are passed through the bowel is also controlled by the brain and when newborn the connection between brain and tummy can be intermittent as the nervous system is still developing.

4.       In modern western culture there are also things which we typically do, which do not always support a newborn’s digestive system, for example when babies are more static, so in car seats and spend less time upright this can slow the digestive system down, therefore, being carried or in a sling is great way to support digestion and allowing time for baby to move freely.

There are a number of ways in which babies can experience digestive discomfort when young due to the immature nature of their digestive system and other systems in the body and this is where massage holds so many benefits.

How does Baby Massage help?

Baby massage helps to support the newborn digestive system in 3 key ways:

1.       Firstly we can use massage strokes to mechanically support the work of the digestive system & encourage wind or stalls through the intestines or to help break down larger air particles or stalls within the digestive tract. The movement of wind and stalls through the digestive system is known as peristalsis. When we use strokes on baby’s tummy moving in clockwise and downwards motions we are working with the digestive system and supporting that process of peristalsis by encouraging with our hands the movement of food or wind through the intestines & bowel. Through massage strokes we can therefore provide more immediate relief from digestive discomfort. Colic massage routines can also be used routinely during the day to try & prevent the build-up of wind that can lead to colicky episodes later in the day or evening.

2.       When we massage we boost circulation in the area we are massaging. When we massage over a baby’s tummy it helps to bring all the oxygen and nutrients carried in the blood to the muscle wall and tissue helping them to get stronger and therefore, more effective at moving wind and stalls through the body. This is most effective when massage practice is continued & performed regularly over time rather than offering an immediate impact, it provides a longer term benefit.

3.       Every time we massage our babies we are providing them with tactile stimulation, which helps to support the development of the nervous system. In order to speed up the connections between the brain & the body a process of myelination needs to takes place. Myelination is the process through which a fatty coating called myelin covers the axons of each neurone which improves the speed at which connections between the brain and body occur as neurons send signals more rapidly. In newborns there is not much myelination that has occurred and therefore the connections between brain & body are intermittent and slower. The tactile stimulation provided by massage will also stimulate the nervous system which supports the process of myelination. Massage also improves circulation and so helps the body to bring the fatty acids carried in the blood to where they need to go in order to support myelination. This again represents a longer term benefit of baby massage in supporting effective digestion.

This illustrates the ways in which sustained, regular massage practice can be really beneficial to our babies & in particular the development of their digestive systems alongside the other systems in the body. It also illustrates how we are able to effectively treat & soothe digestive discomfort in our babies. It is important to remember that every time we massage our babies, this will also promote the release of endorphins, which have pain relieving properties. In this respect we are again able to bring comfort to our babies and help them to feel much more relaxed!

If you would like to learn baby massage & understand more of the benefits baby massage can have for your baby, please view my courses & get in touch!