Embracing Gentle Touch: The Safety and Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Newborns
Understanding the delicate yet profound value of chiropractic care for newborns necessitates a deeper understanding of what chiropractic care truly entails. It isn't merely a collection of bone-cracking techniques but is an intricate healthcare profession that emphasizes the body's inherent ability to heal when gently guided to do so.
Chiropractic care focuses primarily on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including the spine (most commonly thought of) and extremities. Now, you may be wondering, why would a newborn need such care? Isn't it risky? Let’s delve into the details and understand the safety and benefits of chiropractic care for our most precious ones.
The Birthing Process and Newborn Spinal Health
The birthing process, regardless of its nature - natural birth or cesarean section, can induce significant stress on a newborn's delicate spine, musculature and nervous system. Even under the gentlest of deliveries, the pressure exerted can cause misalignments in the spine, tightness in certain musculature, compensation in movement patterns, tension, gas, constipation and more. Common conditions seen during this early phase of life are:
Torticollis
Tension
Colic
Constipation
Gas
Poor Latch
Poor Sleep
Is Chiropractic Care for Newborns Safe?
To answer this crucial question succinctly - Yes, chiropractic care for newborns is safe. Several research studies, including a 2009 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, have shown that chiropractic care is safe for children, including newborns. This safety is attributable to the gentle, non-invasive, and tailored approach taken by trained chiropractors.
The chiropractic adjustments performed on newborns are incredibly gentle, with the applied pressure being no more than you’d use to comfortably press your finger against your closed eyelid. Our chiropractors at Identity Chiropractic have extensive knowledge and understanding of the newborn anatomy and provide care with the utmost gentleness and precision.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Newborns
Having established the safety of chiropractic care for newborns, it's essential to highlight its significant benefits, which are:
1. Promotion of Healthy Development: A properly aligned spine allows for optimum nervous system function, thus enabling the body to grow and develop as it should. Regular adjustments can help ensure your baby is growing strong and healthy.
2. Improvement of Sleep Patterns: Discomfort from spinal misalignments and musculature tension can interfere with a newborn's sleep. Gentle chiropractic adjustments and massage can help alleviate these discomforts, leading to improved sleep patterns.
3. Boost in Immune System Function: The nervous system is intrinsically linked to the immune system. By optimizing nervous system health through chiropractic care, we can positively influence the baby's immune function.
4. Assistance with Digestive Issues: Many newborns struggle with digestive problems such as colic and reflux. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help manage such issues, providing relief for both baby and parents. It has also been shown to significantly help with constipation!
5. Support for Breastfeeding: Misalignments in a baby’s spine and tightness in musculature (particularly the neck, oral musculature and back) can make the breastfeeding process difficult due to discomfort or an inability to turn the head fully and create an effective latch. Chiropractic adjustments and massage can help alleviate these issues, making feeding times less stressful and more successful.
Ensuring Safe Chiropractic Care for Your Newborn
Given the sensitive nature of newborns, it's paramount to entrust their care to qualified professionals. Therefore, it's crucial to choose a chiropractor trained in pediatric care. We are lucky to have three incredible practitioners in our office with extensive personal and professional experience working with little ones.
When choosing a chiropractor, verify their qualifications and ask about their experience with newborns. Reputable chiropractors will happily share this information and will provide you with comprehensive details about the treatment approach and plans. If you are not in the Kansas City area, we would love to help you find a pediatric chiropractor in your area!
Our office emphasizes open communication regarding your concerns and expectations. We will provide a thorough explanation of the procedures and answer any questions you may have, ensuring a sense of safety and trust.
In conclusion, while chiropractic care for newborns may initially seem surprising, the science, research, and countless testimonials from satisfied parents substantiate its safety and efficacy. This gentle, non-invasive practice can be instrumental in promoting overall health and wellness in newborns, providing a solid foundation for their growth and development. Remember, as with all health care decisions, it's essential to do thorough research and consult with healthcare professionals to make an informed choice and we would love to help you do so. Your newborn's health and wellness are paramount, and ensuring they receive the best care should always be the top priority.
Follow this link to watch us work with little ones!
- IC