The physical stress of the birthing process and delivery of a child can place significant pressure on a newborn’s delicate spine and nervous system. This pressure can lead to subtle or significant bio-mechanical challenges that cause interference to neurological and overall function of the infant.
Birth trauma can be a contributing factor to misalignments within the spine. These are also known as subluxations. A subluxation may impact your child’s development, nervous system regulation, and overall health from the very beginning.
Subluxations are commonly found even within healthy newborns. The severity and incidence of these bio-mechanical challenges within the spine can be increased following longer labour times and the use of birth interventions.
In England, approximately 42% of deliveries are by caesarean section. Beyond that, many births also involve other interventions like induction, forceps or vacuum delivery. As a result, these interventions can increase the bio-mechanical challenges within the spine and cranial bones and ultimately have an affect on the overall function of the child.
Sometimes, conventional medicine can dismiss symptoms as they appear normal or common within infants. However, these common signs and symptoms, may actually be indicating underlying neurological dysfunction that can be addressed by a chiropractor.
Why should your child get checked by a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors can detect a subluxation that may be contributing to the common symptoms including issues with latching and feeding, issues with digestion such as colic and reflux, troubles with sleeping and soothing.
The spine houses the brainstem and spinal cord. Subluxations can also begin to affect various aspects of growth and development as time goes on. Most commonly, interfering with gross motor development, fine motor skills, speech, and the ability to meet other developmental milestones. When the nerves and muscles of the upper neck and spine are compromised, motor development is negatively affected.
Chiropractors can detect subluxations and correct them to promote a well-functioning nervous system which is free from interference and positively aids growth and development!
The upper neck and brainstem houses the vagus nerve—the primary controller of your child’s parasympathetic “rest, digest, and regulate” nervous system. If there is a subluxation in this area, it can significantly disrupt vagus nerve function, leading to dysautonomia (imbalance in the autonomic nervous system). This disruption can affect virtually every major system in your child’s body: digestive function (colic, reflux, constipation), sleep regulation, immune response, emotional regulation, and th ability to meet developmental milestones.
At Top Chiropractic, our chiropractors focus primarily on the detection of an upper cervical spine subluxation, which after correction has significant impact on the functioning of the vagus nerve.
Common signs and Symptoms that we see in the clinic:
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- Colic and Excessive Crying:
- Are often manifestations of a stressed nervous system struggling to regulate itself.
- Feeding/Latching Difficulties:
- Commonly related to an upper cervical subluxation affecting the cranial nerves that control sucking, swallowing, and other precise movements.
- Reflux and Digestive Issues:
- Often occur when vagus nerve dysfunction disrupts normal digestive motility.
- Sleep Disturbances:
- Often happen when the nervous system stuck in a sympathetic state and makes it difficult for babies to relax into deep, restorative sleep.
- Early Developmental Delays:
- Can occur when subluxation restricts normal movement patterns that stimulate proper neurological development.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD
- The nervous system need to develop is as children grow. The spine plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment.
How safe is chiropractic care for children?
Unlike what you might picture for adults, newborn adjustments are incredibly gentle using no more pressure than you would to test the ripeness of a tomato or press on your closed eyelid.
These precise, gentle techniques are specifically designed to release tension patterns and restore proper nervous system communication, allowing your child’s body to function optimally.
All of our Chiropractors use advanced technology such as Infrared Thermography to identify precise areas of nervous system stress, and allowing for highly specific and individualised care plans tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Will chiropractic care benefit my child long-term?
The first year of a baby’s life is an extraordinary period of development. During this time, their brain will more than double in size and form more than a million new neural connections every second. These early patterns establish the foundation that will influence their health and development for years to come.
By ensuring that your baby’s nervous system is functioning optimally from the very beginning, you’re not just addressing immediate challenges like colic, reflux, or sleep issues, you are setting them up for a lifetime of improved health, stronger immunity, better regulation, and optimal development.
Moving past the early years, chiropractic care can help to maintain a healthy nervous system and ensure that your child has the best chance to be able to function at their best as they continue their growth and development.
What does the first appointment look like?
The chiropractor will undertake a comprehensive assessment that include a detailed health history, gentle physical examination, and advanced neurological scans to identify areas of nervous system stress.
Once the chiropractor has completed the examination, we will schedule a follow up appointment to provide you with a report of what we have found and a recommendation for care going forward.
