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Newborns and Birth Trauma: Why Chiropractic Care Is Essential
When it comes to newborns, there are a lot of things that parents have to worry about. One of the most important, however, is making sure that their baby’s spine is healthy and functioning properly.
Birth trauma can cause serious damage to a newborn’s spine, which is why it is so important to seek chiropractic care as soon as possible.
In this blog post, we will discuss the dangers of birth trauma and how chiropractic care can help ensure your baby’s health and well-being!
What is Newborn Birth Trauma?
Birth trauma is the result of a difficult delivery, which can cause a baby to experience physical and emotional distress.
During the birthing process, there are many different factors that can lead to birth trauma such as vacuum extraction, forceps delivery, or even just simply an abnormally large head size.
When these conditions exist during birth, it can cause trauma to the baby’s delicate spine, leading to misalignment or other damage.
Risks of Birth Injury
A difficult birth or injury to the baby can occur because of the baby’s size or the position of the baby during labor and delivery.
Conditions that may be linked to a difficult birth include:
- Large babies. Birth Weight over about 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4,000 grams).
- Prematurity. Babies born before 37 weeks (premature babies have more fragile bodies and may be more easily injured).
- Cephalopelvic disproportion. The size and shape of the mother’s pelvis is not adequate for the baby to be born vaginally.
- Dystocia. Difficult labor or childbirth.
- Prolonged labor
- Abnormal birthing presentation. An example of this is a buttocks first (breech) delivery.
- Maternal obesity
What Are The Effects Of Birth Trauma?
When a newborn experiences birth trauma, it can affect them in a variety of ways. Depending on the severity of the trauma, it can lead to musculoskeletal issues such as scoliosis, misalignment of the spine or neck, or even nerve damage.
In addition to these physical effects, birth trauma can also lead to emotional distress such as difficulty sleeping and irritability.
Why Is It Important To Seek Chiropractic Care After Birth Trauma?
Chiropractic care is essential for newborns who have experienced birth trauma. Chiropractors are highly skilled at assessing the spine and other areas of the body, and they can provide treatments that help to restore proper alignment.
This is especially important for newborns because misalignments in their spine can lead to serious health issues in the future if left untreated.
With regular chiropractic care, newborns can ensure their spinal development is progressing properly and that they are not suffering from any long-term effects.
Signs Your Newborn Experienced Birth Trauma
It can be difficult to tell if your newborn has experienced birth trauma due to the fact that many of the symptoms can be subtle. However, there are some signs that you can look out for such as excessive crying or difficulty nursing.
Babies often experience some type of physical stress due to the birth process and being confined in mom’s belly for 8-9 months.
Because of this stress, misalignments in the spinal column can occur and lead to compromising nervous system function. When babies experience tension and stress in their body, they exhibit different symptoms such as:
- Colic
- Reflux
- Torticollis
- Gas pains
- Constipation
- Ear infections
- Difficulty sleeping
- Breastfeeding difficulty
Because most neurological development occurs within the first year of life, we encourage getting your baby checked as soon as possible. Watch this video to learn more about how a pediatric chiropractor can help your baby!
How Chiropractors Can Help Newborns
Chiropractors have a variety of treatments and techniques that can help newborns who have experienced birth trauma. These include gentle manipulations, massage therapy, stretching exercises, and more.
All of these methods work together to help restore proper alignment and reduce any pain or discomfort associated with the trauma.
Additionally, chiropractors can also offer advice and guidance on how to provide the best care for your newborn in order to ensure their spinal health and overall wellbeing.
Newborn Chiropractor Care at Whole Family Chiropractic
At Whole Family Chiropractic, we specialize in providing effective and gentle chiropractic care for newborns and babies.
Our team of experienced professionals is committed to helping families ensure their baby’s health and wellbeing.
We understand the importance of addressing any issues that may have arisen from birth trauma, and our treatments are designed to provide safe and lasting relief. Contact us today to learn more about our newborn chiropractic care services!