Prenatal Chiropractic Care: How Soon to Assess Baby After Birth
If you’ve spent nine months of your pregnancy receiving chiropractic care to enhance your nervous system and now have a newborn, you might wonder when you can bring your baby to the chiropractor’s office.
At Credence Chiropractic, we believe in holistic chiropractic care for the whole family, including your newborn. You may be amazed that newborns can receive chiropractic care just a few weeks after birth.
Learn more about bringing your newborn in for a chiropractic adjustment.
Why Should a Newborn Receive Chiropractic Care?
While the mother goes through a lot when giving birth, the process can also cause physical complications for the baby. If a newborn's spine is misaligned, it can contribute to many different problems, including asthma, digestive problems, and difficulty breastfeeding.
Your expert newborn chiropractor can make small adjustments using very soft pressure to release subluxation and align the baby’s spine. These adjustments help restore normal nervous system function and promote the body's healing ability.
Benefits of Newborn Chiropractic Care
In addition to the above benefits of prenatal chiropractic care, there are many other positives that your child can benefit from.
Physical Development Support
A newborn experiences many changes in a short period. Their lower back and neck curvatures form as they lift their head or sit up. If their spine is not properly aligned, their spinal curvature may not develop properly, potentially impacting physical development.
Boosts Recovery After Birth
The birthing process can affect a baby’s body. A chiropractor can correct nerve problems and ease strain and tension using soft pressure and gentle adjustments. With a properly functioning nervous system and aligned spine, a newborn is set up to avoid common nerve dysfunctions such as sleeping difficulties, breathing problems, reflux, and colic symptoms.
Improve Immune System
Because the nervous system runs through the spine, misalignments can irritate nerve pathways. These irritations can impact all areas of the baby’s body, including the immune system. Gentle spinal adjustments can help a newborn’s body release more disease-fighting cells and improve their immune system.
Reduce Irritability
We don’t always know why a baby is crying. Some fussiness can be caused by mechanical restrictions in the spine, which can cause sleeping difficulties and headaches. When their nervous system is stuck in “fight or flight” stress, it can be hard for it to calm down. Gentle adjustments can help reduce these problems and keep the spine aligned.
Deciding When to Bring Your Newborn to the Chiropractor
As a parent, you want to make the best decisions for your newborn’s health and well-being. Deciding when to bring your baby to the chiropractor can feel like a big decision, and having questions is natural.
Here are three key factors that can help you determine if there is significant subluxation that needs to be ddressed.
Observe Your Newborn’s Comfort & Behavior
Your baby’s behavior can tell you a lot about their overall comfort. If your newborn seems unusually fussy, has trouble sleeping, or cries more often than usual, it could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
While newborns cry for many reasons, mechanical spine issues could contribute to their discomfort. If you notice persistent irritability or difficulty settling, a gentle chiropractic adjustment will ease their discomfort and improve their overall well-being.
Look for Physical Signs of Discomfort
Physical signs are another important indicator that your baby might benefit from chiropractic care. If your newborn is having difficulty breastfeeding, shows signs of digestive discomfort like colic or reflux, or you notice they prefer turning their head to one side, these could be signs of subluxation and spinal misalignment.
A chiropractor can assess your baby’s nervous system and make gentle adjustments that could relieve these issues, helping your newborn feel more comfortable and content.
Consider Your Baby’s Birth Experience
The journey of childbirth is a significant physical experience for both mother and baby. If your baby’s birth was particularly challenging – long labor, use of forceps or vacuum extraction, or a C-section – it might be beneficial to have a chiropractor check your newborn’s spine.
These types of births can sometimes lead to subtle misalignments that may not be immediately noticeable but could affect your baby’s health over time. Early chiropractic care can help address these issues before they become more significant.
Every baby is unique, and the decision to bring your newborn to a chiropractor should be based on your observations and instincts as a parent. If you have concerns about your baby’s comfort or development, it’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional, including a chiropractor.
At Credence Chiropractic, we support you and your baby with gentle, holistic care tailored to your family’s needs.
Keep Your Children Healthy at Credence Chiropractic in Georgetown, Texas
As you’ve learned, spinal adjustments for newborns can have many benefits. The first five years of your child’s life can greatly impact the rest of their lives, particularly within the nervous system.
With Credence Chiropractic, we can help your children live healthier lives through spinal adjustments and holistic care. Give us a call today at 512-887-1477 or schedule an assessment appointment online!