Digestion, colic, and other tummy troubles can be an issue for newborns and babies while their sensitive little bodies adjust to life outside the womb. This period can be bumpy, exhausting and heartbreaking for parents and babies alike.

In Ayurveda, pain and wind have their roots in a Vata imbalance. Soothing Vata usually is the approach when helping babies with digestive troubles and gas. Some Western researchers are now linking colic to an underdeveloped or overstimulated nervous system, which does make sense from an Ayurvedic perspective as the nervous system is one of the seats of Vata. If your baby is in discomfort, restless and crying a lot, we recommend establishing a vata pacifying routine for yourself and your baby. Here are a few things you can do:

• Reduce excessive stimuli, stay at home or go into nature.
• Cover head and ears, especially when you are going outside (both mom and baby)
• Oil massage can do wonders in soothing vata. Learn how to massage your baby’s belly to soothe the winds and include daily baby oil massage into your routine. 
• We also recommend visiting a physio, osteopath or cranial osteopath experienced in working with babies. Often these visits do wonders for the little one. 
• Babies notice when mum is stressed, therefore try and get some relaxation for yourself. Anolum/Vilom Pranayam (alternate nostril breathing) is a quick and effective way to regulate your nervous system. Relaxing music, chanting mantras or other practices with positive effects on the nervous system and your baby will enjoy them too! Remember, not that long ago sound was the only way of connecting to the outside world for your baby!

Breastfeeding mothers have the advantage that they can influence their milk quality by changing their diet. A diet change can make breastmilk easier to digest for the baby and even pass on the positive effects of herbal medicine. Your breastmilk changes according to what you eat, and maybe your baby’s digestive system is not quite ready for some of these foods. 

Therefore, try to avoid heavy-to-digest and gas-producing foods like potatoes and other nightshades, cabbage, hard cheese, red meat, or beans. Favour soups, yellow split mung dhal or red lentils with basmati rice, and vegetables like courgette, avocado, asparagus, carrot or sweet potato. You can eat eggs once you have reached a few weeks postpartum. 

Milk is a wonderfully nourishing postnatal food, but it is worth testing whether it is negatively affecting your baby’s digestion. If you are wondering whether your baby is dairy-intolerant, look out for symptoms like mucus in the stool, reflux, diarrhoea or constipation. 

Only drink warm water, teas and infusions and abstain from fizzy drinks completely. 

Celery seeds (Ajamoda) are one of the star remedies during the postpartum period and for any issues with gas in the digestive tract. 

If you are breastfeeding, include them in your postpartum infusion. 

You can also get or make celery seed-infused belly oil for your baby massage. 

Another option would be to dry-roast the seeds and wrap them in a muslin cloth.  Now, rest the warm cloth (and a hot water bottle or warm towel) on the baby’s belly. 

Fumigation is another traditional home remedy. By burning the celery seeds on a piece of coal, you can release the essential oils into the air, which can help the baby on a more subtle level. An essential oil diffuser can also help if you are worried about fire safety. 

At Keyajee, we look after women throughout their entire motherhood journeys. Send us a DM or book an appointment via the make a booking tap, if you have any questions or feel you need support with becoming or being a mother.