Should I bring my newborn baby to the chiropractor?

Birth is tough work for both mothers and babies. There are a lot of pressures and forces that your baby will experience in the birth process. In fact, a study by Viola Frymann demonstrated that 90% of newborns suffered the effects of birth trauma that included associated strain through the neck and cranial areas following birth. Frymann, an American osteopathic doctor, studied more than 1,500 babies periodically across an 8 year period. She examined all babies within the first 24 hours to 5 days after birth.

The study revealed that 10% of the newborn babies had perfectly, freely mobile skulls or cranial mechanisms. 10% had severe trauma to the head, evident even to untrained observers. The remaining 80% all had some strain patterns in the cranial mechanisms. This is also known as KISS syndrome: Kinetic Imbalances due to Suboccipital Strain.

While each birth is unique, there is a high likelihood that the baby will suffer some sort of strain post-birth. Even the most natural births can result in undetected physiological stress. As researcher G. Gutmann has written, “The trauma from the birth process remains an under-publicized and therefore significantly under-treated problem.”

The following scenarios can have an impact on baby during the birth process:

1. Very short labor

2. Very long labor

3. The use of Pitocin to strengthen / induce uterine contractions

4. Pain medications

5. Restricted maternal birthing positions

6. Pulling or twisting on the head to deliver the infant’s body

7. The use of forceps or vacuum extraction

8. Cesarean birth

This can cause many health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented. Nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, and an inability to be soothed and settled are all potential signs of spinal nerve stress in infants.

Although all infants should be checked right after birth, here are just 3 clear indicators to bring your baby to a pediatric chiropractor:

1. Their head tilts to one side, even after you straighten it

2. They seem to have difficulty turning their neck to one side

3. They have difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly

65% of neurological development occurs in the child’s first year of life, so it is imperative to ensure that your baby has every opportunity to maximize their nerve function during this critical period in their development. The great news is that chiropractic care provides a safe and effective solution- without negative side effects- and correcting this stress early on will allow baby to achieve developmental milestones effectively with a highly-functioning nervous system.

At Lake Life Chiropractic, one out of every four patients are of the pediatric population. We love caring for families and supporting your child’s wellness early on so that they can grow up to be happy, thriving adults. Our chiropractors have both received advanced training in pediatric care and are working to receive their Certification by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP) through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.