Chiropractic care for the pediatric patient:
Your child’s spine is the housing and protection of their nervous system and, by the age of 2, has doubled in size. The brain, spinal cord and nerves are the master controller of all their body’s systems. Your child’s natural curiosity during this stage of his or her life will lead to many falls and tumbles. With these minor traumas spinal bones may lose your child’s normal position or ability to move causing interference to your child’s nervous system (vertebral subluxation). A child with this misalignment will not have back pain; however, the absence of pain does not mean an absence of trauma. Interference to the nervous system may take years to manifest symptoms.
Lacking language skills, your young child communicates with simple sounds: smiling, laughing and crying. Many parents respond to these signs with food, toys or a hug. Yet sometimes we get the wrong message. Parents should be aware that interferences to their child’s nervous system may results in a weaker immune system, difficulty with digestion and elimination, respiratory issues and more.
What can cause birth trauma in infants?
- Very short labor
- Very long labor
- The use of Pitocin to strengthen/induce uterine contractions
- Pain medications
- Restricted maternal birthing positions
- Pulling or twisting on the head to deliver the infant’s body
- The use of forceps or vacuum extraction
- Cesarean delivery
Left uncorrected, this trauma continues to impact a baby’s spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of her nervous system. 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 three clear indicators to find a chiropractor who cares for infants.
- His/her head tilts to one side, even after you straighten it
- She/he seems to have difficulty turning her/his neck to one side
- She/he has difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly
- She/he has difficulty latching on to breastfeed.
