Have you ever thought about what a tough journey birth can be for an infant? Contractions and birth exert tremendous pressures and forces on babies’ small bodies. Even though we know birth can be tough on babies, we find parents to be very skittish when we talk about chiropractic care for infants.
While parents are right to be protective of babies and children, they shouldn’t be concerned when it comes to taking a baby to a chiropractor. Many babies can greatly benefit from chiropractic care for infants.
In fact, American osteopath Viola Frymann studied over 1,500 infants within five days of birth over an eight-year period and found that 90% of them had some effects of birth trauma:
– 10% of the babies she examined had perfect, freely mobile skulls or cranial mechanisms
– 10% of the babies had suffered severe head trauma
– 80% of the babies had evidence of strain in the cranial mechanism
Birth trauma can happen even under the most optimal circumstances, and can be brought about by very long labors, very short and intense labors, labors that stall, and labors that are induced or augmented by Pitocin. Additionally, babies who are born by emergency Caesarean or those whose entry into the world is aided by forceps or vacuum can exhibit signs of strain in the head and neck.
Without correction, birth trauma can affect many functions of a newborn’s body, including respiration, spinal growth and development, and even the healthy function of the nerve and immune system. Fussiness, colic, reflux, difficulty sleeping, and delays in gross motor development can all have root in the nervous system’s suboptimal function.
What’s more, the first year of a baby’s life is a time of extraordinary growth and development. Did you know that in that rapid year of growth, a baby’s spine lengthens by 50% by age 1? Access to pediatric chiropractic care can help ensure your baby’s growth is symmetrical, and that the curvature of his or her back develops appropriately for future balance, coordination, and foundation. To picture this better, you can think about the difference between a child having a spine like an upright, strong oak tree and having a spine like a crooked tree.
Many parents, even those accustomed to receiving chiropractic care themselves, wonder if chiropractic care for infants is safe. The answer is yes: it’s estimated that babies will experience adverse effects in fewer than 1 in 250 million pediatric chiropractor visits, making it safer than any other medical procedure.
As skilled pediatric chiropractors, such as those at Sleigh Family Chiropractic, will use pressure equivalent to that you’d exert on your own eye. The baby or child is checked by hand while being held by the mother or father. Gentle pressure is applied—it’s simple, safe, and effective.
At Sleigh Family Chiropractic, we offer exceptional chiropractic care for your entire family, including its youngest member. With a warm and friendly atmosphere as our standard, we believe that what our patients encounter is different from that experienced in other doctors’ offices. What’s more, we strive to give our patients a path to optimal health with excellent chiropractic care as well as resources for home. Whatever your health needs and goals are, Sleigh Family Chiropractic will help you and your loved ones achieve them. We invite you to visit us and experience our standard of care. Call us at 847-788-0880
