CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN
The importance of chiropractic care starts at birth. Babies have hours of external pressures and compression being placed on them. Some births have forceps used or twisting and pulling of the babies neck in order for them to be released from the pelvic bones.
Dr. Viola Frymann, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, studied 1,500 babies across an 8 year period in the first 5 days of birth. The study found the following:
- 10% of the newborn babies had freely mobile skulls and cranial mechanisms they stated were perfect.
- 10% had severe head trauma
- All of the remaining 80% had strain patterns in the cranial mechanisms
Where can these strain patterns come from?
- Very short labor
- Very long labor
- Pitocin use which strengthen/induce uterine contractions
- Restricted maternal birthing positions
- Pain medication
- The use of forceps or vacuum extraction
- Cesarean delivery
What happens if these strained cranial mechanisms are not treated?
The trauma may continue to impact the babies spinal growth and development reducing healthy function of their nervous system. Nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, an inability to be soothed and settled are all potential signs of spinal cord stress in infants.
Although all infants should be checked right after birth, here are three clear indicators to find a chiropractor that cares for infants:
1. Their head leans to one side, even after straightening it out
2. They seem to have a difficult time turning their head to one side. Ex. Breast feeding on one side better than the other
3. They have difficulty settling down or sleeping
Dr. Richelle Demers (pictured above) has completed additional training in infant and child adjusting and performs specific, light adjustments to improve their movement and functions! If you have any questions about these adjustments or want to know more about pediatric adjustments, please give our office a call or email us at [email protected].
