Birth is tough work for both mothers and babies. There are a lot of pressures and forces being exerted onto your baby during their journey into the world. A recent study by Viola Frymann demonstrated that 90% of newborns suffered the effects of birth trauma:  associated strain through the neck and cranial areas following birth. Frymann, an American osteopathic doctor, studied more than 1,500 babies periodically across an 8 year period. She examined all babies within the first 5 days of birth; in fact, many were checked within the first 24 hours.

The study revealed that 10% of the newborn babies had perfectly, freely mobile skulls or cranial mechanisms. 10% had severe trauma to the head, evident even to untrained observers. The remaining 80% all had some strain patterns in the cranial mechanisms.

Birth in its many different forms can be quite traumatic. While each birth is unique, there is always a chance that the baby suffers some sort of strain due to a variety of reasons. Even the most natural births can result in trauma that goes undetected. As researcher G. Gutmann has written, “The trauma from the birth process remains an under-publicized and therefore significantly under-treated problem.”

Here is a list of some things that can cause birth trauma in infants:

1. Very short labor
2. Very long labor
3. The use of Pitocin to strengthen / induce uterine contractions
4. Pain medications
5. Restricted maternal birthing positions
6. Pulling or twisting on the head to deliver the infant’s body
7. The use of forceps or vacuum extraction
8. Cesarean delivery

Left uncorrected, this trauma continues to impact a baby’s spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of the nervous system. 65% of neurological development (development of the brain and nervous system) occurs in the child’s first year so it’s imperative to ensure that your baby has every opportunity to maximize their nerve function during this critical period in their development.

This can cause many health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented. Nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, and an inability to be soothed and settled are all potential signs of spinal nerve stress in infants.

Although all infants should be checked right after birth, here are just 3 clear indicators to bring your baby to a pediatric chiropractor:

1. Their head tilts to one side, even after you straighten it
2. They seem to have difficulty turning their neck to one side
3. They have difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly

When bringing your infant or child to a chiropractor, I firmly believe your chiropractor should have attended seminars offered through the ICPA. Again, of the 227 credit hours it takes to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, we take 4 credit hours (one class) on OBGYN and pediatrics. That’s it. That is not sufficient to be able to serve an infant or child with specific chiropractic care and a thorough understanding of how their bodies and neurology are developing every single day. They are not simply miniature adults.

You can check here to see if your chiropractor is listed on the ICPA database. Please note:  In order for a chiropractor to be listed on this database, they only have to pay an annual membership fee. It is up to you to dive into their website and ask the appropriate questions to gain an understanding of their level of proficiency in pediatric chiropractic care. For example, if you look at the website where I practice, it is obvious that we specialize in pediatrics.

The National Wellness Foundation is another great resource when finding a pediatric chiropractor. Please note:  The chiropractors listed on this database are all part of a practice management group called Epic. You will not find me listed in this database because I am not part of this — or any — practice management groups and I plan on keeping it that way.