Chiropractic Care for Babies
Chiropractic exams during the first month of life can play a significant role on a physical and mental health and ability to develop to its full potential. Even during the gentlest and most natural of births physical pressure can force the baby’s neck to twist and bend, causing misalignment to the upper cervical vertebrae. Research shows that over 80% of newborn infants examined shortly after birth suffer from injury to the neck, causing all types of health problems. It was determined that the amount of force it takes to severely injure a baby's neck during delivery is 90 pounds. That is enough to cause still birth. The spinal joints can also be sprained with less force. Injury can be mild to severe which may go unnoticed and can result in:

• irritability
• frequent regurgitation
• inability or poor feeding ability
• sleeping difficulty
• cerebral palsy
• digestion problems
• colic
• reoccurring ear infections
• asthma
• chronic colds and flu
• headaches
• neck and back pain
• childhood bed wetting
• scoliosis
• hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder
• respiratory failure
• and more

Traumatic Birth Syndrome
Even if your medical doctor says your baby is fine, understand that medical doctors get no training in the detection and correction of the spinal joint misalignment and nervous system interference from what is called vertebral subluxation. Chiropractors, on the other hand are specialists trained in detecting and correcting issues from Traumatic Birth Syndrome.

In an article by chiropractic Dr. Peter Fysh:

“Brain injuries were found in one out of every 664 infants delivered with forceps; one out of every 860 deliveries by vacuum extraction and one out of every 907 infants delivered by c-section…”

Tremendous stress is placed on the baby’s neck and head during the birth process especially during the pushing stage of labor as the baby is compressed and pushed down the birth canal. As the baby is compressed, the small bones of the spine may be pushed out of natural alignment. Damage to the spine and delicate nerve tissue is also common.
Vertebrae are also easily pulled out of alignment by excessive and forceful extension of the infant's head with forceps. This causes the nerves to become stretched or twisted, and this vital communication system is then disrupted and can result in a wide variety of problems. These neurological disturbances are called subluxations, and may result in interference of the nervous system so that one or more parts of the body are affected, as well as health in general. Subluxations can also foster the onset of sickness and disease as the body weakens.

All body functions are controlled by the brain sending and receiving messages over nerves. During a natural birth, newborns frequently suffer injury as they are pulled, twisted, and compressed. These injuries are considered “normal” by birth attendants and are not typically evaluated. Damage may be more severe in a difficult delivery and infants may sustain skull fractures, intestinal hemorrhage, cord compression, brain damage, damage to the facial nerve and facial paralysis.

Spinal care affects internal organ disease, brain function, I.Q., the immune system, arthritis, colic, bed wetting, pregnancy, gynecological conditions, respiratory problems, learning disorders, sports performance, digestion, elimination, emotional well-being, vision, hearing, ear infections, disc problems, low back, TMJ, carpal tunnel, allergies, torticollis, headaches, migraines, crib death, trauma, muscular dystrophy, neurological problems and much more.

Dr. Abraham Towbin of Harvard Medical School and the Department of Pathology presented his research at the 18th annual meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy. He found that "the birth process, even under optimal conditions, is potentially a traumatic, crippling event for the fetus."

Traumatic Birth Syndrome (TBS) occurs when the spine is injured during or shortly after the delivery process resulting in nervous system damage or nerve interference. It is typically found in the infant's neck and occasionally in the mid and lower back.

TBS can come from:

• pulling or twisting the head, neck, spine or pelvis during birth
• prolonged labor
• difficult delivery
• forceps, vacuum extraction, or other extraction aids that are used during delivery
• caesarian section deliveries

Injuries can be painless in about 95%-97% of infants who may go up to adulthood with mild complaints they are told are “nothing” or “just growing pains”. An examination by a chiropractor is the best way to determine if nervous system damage or interference as occurred.

All babies should be examined by a chiropractor immediately after birth and through out childhood. It has been shown that they perform better in school and sports activities.