Birth Trauma and Corrective Chiropractic
So many people who begin chiropractic, begin when they are past the ages of 20-30. They start to feel the wear and tear of their lifestyle and want to deal with the symptoms that have arisen. Many are very surprised to hear that I adjust many pediatric patients, as they do not consider that children would need chiropractic. This view point is understandable, however, it is a viewpoint that only sees chiropractic care as an avenue for pain management only. Pain management, as all of my patient’s find out, is just the tip of the iceberg. The true benefits of chiropractic care go beyond pain and symptoms, as it addresses structural problems that are affecting how our body functions and heals - which means it cannot be measured by symptom based care. This point is best understand when you witness pediatric patients undergo chiropractic care. They do not get care because of pain, but because structural issues have caused either noticeably restricted mobility or unending fussiness. Which brings us to our subject today.
Why would infants need adjustments?
Birth trauma can cause very evident injuries, such as Erb’s Palsy or fractures of bone or cartilage. Other traumas that occur are less severe, and are more typical. They can occur with:
C-Section
Very short or very long labor
Restricted birthing positions of the mother
The use of forceps or vacuum extraction
Pulling and twisting the head of the infant during delivery
These birth traumas can lead to misalignments in the spine of the infant, as well as strain patterns in their cranial mechanisms. Indicators for birth traumas that a would prompt a chiropractic examination would be:
An infant tilting their head to one side
An infant having difficulty turning their head to one side, especially during breast feeding
Having trouble latching
An infant having difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly
Colic symptoms
It is never too early to get checked for spinal misalignments.
Our first trauma begins in child birth. I encourage anyone to consider chiropractic care to promote proper mobility of their child’s spine as they grow and develop. As a house call chiropractor, I find it incredibly beneficial to treat women through their pregnancy, and afterwards for the entire family in the convenience of their home.
I always welcome emails, comments, and questions!
Thank you,
Dr. Katherine McCarty, D.C.