Chiro Babies
Being born is tough work – there are a lot of pressures and forces being exerted onto your baby during their journey into the world. Newborns, regardless of whether they experience a vaginal or C-section delivery, may suffer birth trauma and associated strain on their the neck and cranial areas following birth.
If left uncorrected, this trauma may continue to impact your baby’s spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of their nervous system. This can cause many health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented.
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective means to help babies adequately develop as they should. Treatment involves very gentle spinal/manipulative techniques tailored to the age of baby to help relax stiff joints and stimulate the nervous and immune systems. No treatment will be prescribed without evidence of spinal subluxation or lack of mobility at a particular joint of the spine.
Chiropractic also plays a critical role in your baby’s ongoing development. Babies develop from completely dependent beings to walking, talking toddlers in a short space of time. Neural pathways in the brain are built as babies pass through each milestone. It’s important we help them build and develop their brains and their body strength symmetrically.
Our specialised team of doctors are all well equipped to ensure your baby is subtly and adequately supported in their development.
Not sure if your baby needs Chiropractic support in order to thrive? Contact us today and we will see how we can assist.
Chiropractic Care for Premature Babies
Chiropractic was founded on the knowledge that if we make adjustments to the spine and soft tissues, we can improve body functioning at any stage of life.
Because of the gentle approach used in Chiropractic care, it is never too early to support your baby’s transition into the world, leveraging Chiropractic care which could help your premature baby recover from a rough start.
Babies delivered before 37 weeks are considered premature and come with their own set of challenges and related milestones.
A study by Cerritelli et al., BMC Paediatrics 2013, provides evidence for the use of manipulative care that shows early intervention assists by reducing the length of stay in the neonatal ICU and improves general wellbeing and development.
It is estimated one in five children have a degree of head shape asymmetry, Plagiocephaly, Brachycephaly, also known as flat head syndrome. The skull bones in an infant are pliable, which can result in asymmetries brought about by in-utero positioning, birth trauma, prematurity / prolonged NICU stays, tight neck / torticollis or developmental delays (leading to excessive pressure on one side).
Early recognition and diagnosis is key to effective and positive change. If you notice flat areas on your child’s head you can try repositioning and “tummy time”, however anything asymmetrical remaining after 6 weeks of age should be assessed.
Head asymmetry is not just a cosmetic issue. It can cause developmental delays, may lead to facial asymmetry, jaw (TMJ) dysfunction, ear canal problems, headaches and even eyesight or visual issues.
During treatment, Chiropractic looks at any tightness or restriction in the skull and neck which may result in decreased range of motion to one side. Gentle pressure and safe techniques to encourage full neck range of motion, cranial motion and muscle control are applied.
Our interest in this condition has resulted in us forming a multi-disciplinary team to support treatment including Orthotist, Yovanka Torrente, who is certified and accredited to run the world-renowned American FDA approved treatment program. We are also able to assist with referrals to Paediatric physiotherapists and occupational therapists, depending on your child’s needs.
Contact us today to secure an appointment so we can do an assessment if cranial deformities in your baby are of concern.
Colic and Reflux and Chiropractic Care
Colic and reflux are both overwhelming conditions that could leave you feeling helpless soon after your baby is born.
Chiropractic care in supporting development milestone achievement
In a matter of months, babies develop from completely dependent beings to walking, talking toddlers. Their first months of development are marked with their first smiles, their fingers wrapping around yours, them learning how to roll, to sit, stand and cruise.
As much as watching them grow is amazing for you, each of their milestones paves a neural pathway for them. It’s important we help them build and develop their brains and their body strength symmetrically. We need to create the highway for nerve pathways, and we don’t want any miscommunication.
While each child is unique and develops at his or her own pace, there are certain loose guidelines of when your child might be expected to reach the fundamental milestones. If they miss a step, it may prevent them from reaching their developmental timeline.
If your child has missed a milestone, or if something about their milestone achievement doesn’t look right, give us a call and we can assist you in ensuring that the building blocks are falling into place as they should. Trust your mommy instincts, if something doesn’t look or feel right, it might be time to seek a second opinion.
