Why Should Babies See Chiropractors?
1) Stress on the Neck from Birthing Process
The birthing process is one of the most traumatic things a baby will go through, because it is a very complex procedure. The baby lives in a very warm and homeostatic state where everything is controlled and maintained. The baby is also use to a small space in the womb, but as labor begins, the space becomes more cramped. Along with that, if there are complications with the birthing process, then the gynecologist may have to use special equipment like forceps or a vacuum to help guide the baby out, and this can cause a lot of stress on the baby’s neck. Due to this force, it can cause misalignments in the neck since their bones are very soft and made up of mostly cartilage. With gentle chiropractic adjustments, this irritation can be resolved and giving your baby relief.
2) Relieve Colic Symptoms
Colic symptoms can also be relieved by chiropractic care in babies. The definition of colic is when a baby has prolonged and intense crying even when the baby appears to be healthy. The cause of colic is unknown, but some believe that it could be due to digestive system issues, imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract, food allergies, or childhood migraines. Commonly, it is due to digestive system issues, which can be addressed by gentle chiropractic adjustments. The gastrointestinal tract is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which consists of the parasympathetic nervous system (feed and breed) and the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). These areas are encased in the spine, and when there is pressure put on these areas, it can cause digestive issues.
3) Relieve Ear Infections
Ear infections are one of the most common conditions that can develop in babies. Since babies and children have narrow tubes, they are more prone to infections developing. It is typically caused from excessive fluid that builds up in the eustachian tube, because the tube is smaller and more horizontal than adults, which makes it more difficult to drain. This build up of fluid causes an increase in pressure, which is why they start experiencing intense pain. Another cause of ear infections can be from the birthing process putting too much stress on the neck, resulting in the muscles to become hypertonic, which means the muscles are contracting too much to protect the neck. Fortunately, chiropractic adjustments have been found to help relieve sore and contracted muscles, which can help with ear infections, because it dilates the muscles around the eustachian tube.
4) Immune System Boost
There have been several articles that have found that when the spinal cord is injured it will decrease the function of the immune system by decreasing lymphocyte production (cells involved in immunity), which puts the body at risk to develop infections. When considering babies, they can often be injured during childbirth, due to the force put on their neck as they are being guided during the delivery. Therefore, it is crucial to have your baby’s spine checked after the delivery. There have also been some studies performed that have shown a 200% increase in immunity after receiving chiropractic adjustments. So, not only will the baby feel better, but their body should also function at a much higher level.
5) Aid in Physical Development
Babies are born with very soft bones that are made of mainly cartilage. As they get older, their bones will enlarge, and their spines start changing. When babies are in the womb, they curl up in a ball into fetal position. This causes their spine to be one smooth curve in one direction called a kyphotic curvature. In adults, this curve is located at the base of your shoulders right before your neck. However, as babies start crawling, they start looking up to see where they are going, which causes a secondary curvature that is known as a lordotic curve. These curves are located in the neck and in the low back area. Whenever babies have a misalignment in the neck, it can stunt this natural process and cause issues like torticollis, issues with looking up, and trouble with breast-feeding. All these issues are routinely treated by chiropractors.