Could our Chiropractic Approach hold Answers to your Baby’s Breastfeeding and Latch Challenges?
“My son isn’t latching well.” “My nipples are sore; breastfeeding hurts!” “I don’t think my
baby is getting enough milk. “ “Why is my baby always fussing?” !
And even worse: “My doctor said my baby is failing to thrive.” “I give up.”
These are far-too-common common sentiments from moms with newborns: exhausted,
hormonal, and at their wits end in trying to follow through on breastfeeding their child. For a
mom who wants to breastfeed, these issues can be life-altering, deeply frustrating, and can
cause great emotional distress. As a matter of fact, the common feelings of guilt and failure
can undermine a woman’s confidence in herself as a mom, as well as her trust in her body and
it’s ability to provide for her child.
Does this sound familiar? (We wish it didn’t.)
But if it does, we want to tell you: 1 – You are not alone. And 2 – we just may have the
answer you are looking for.
Many parents enlist the help of their family doctors, pediatricians, and lactation consultants
without complete resolution, and feel that there is nothing else that can be done. !
The truth is, there is a gentle and effective solution that can have amazing results:
chiropractic care.
Many parents (as well as many health care providers) are unaware of the extensive training
chiropractors can have to work specifically with infants. A positive and very quick
improvement in latching is one of the most celebrated results that family chiropractors see in
their practices on a regular basis.
Why is this?
The co-ordinated movement between the jaw,
palate, base of the skull and first vertebra in the
neck are necessary for a successful latch. In an
infant these are all in exceptionally close
proximity to each other (an area no larger than a
quarter). Misalignment of these areas affects the
infant’s ability to open the jaw fully and can
result in an asymmetric latch.
Proper movement of the tongue is also
necessary for an effective sucking action. The
cranial nerve that controls tongue movement may become compressed between the base of the
skull and the first vertebra in the neck. Compression of the ear’s eustacian tube can result in
congestion & difficulty breathing through the nose. All of these can interfere with
breastfeeding.
What else might a parent notice?
Very often, parents do not only complain of breastfeeding or latching difficulties, but rather
have complaints that are related to this problem: excessive crying, colic, excessive spitting,
preferring to nurse on one side, pulling off the nipple frequently, fussing right after feeding, or
noticing that the infant’s head is frequently turned to the same side. Visual indicators of cranial
issues can be asymmetric facial features, or an asymmetric shape to the head (or flat head). All
of these are possible indicators of structural imbalances and/or an irritated nervous system.
These imbalances are called subluxations, which alter cranial and spinal mechanics, cause
varying degrees of tension, and result in interference to the underlying nerves. As the nerves
are responsible for carrying messages from the brain to the body, this balance is essential to
normal function and healing, as well as its link to breastfeeding. In an infant, this function is
also necessary for optimal neurological development.
Why would an infant have imbalances in their spines and heads?
Imbalances in an infant are most commonly related to the pregnancy and birth history, as the
delicate structures of an infant’s skull and neck are the areas most likely to be strained or
injured during birth. In one study done on 1000 infants, it was determined that 80% of
newborns had structural imbalances in the upper neck immediately following birth.2 Possible
contributing factors may include a breech fetal position, a prolonged or difficult labour, the use
of interventions such as vacuum or forceps, and excessively short/excessively long pushing
phase, or cesearean section.
Why wouldn’t my family doctor or paediatrician assess for this?
It should also be stated that these injuries may not be detected by hospital staff or
paediatricians, as the specific assessment required is not a part of their general training.
Many chiropractors have undergone
specific training for providing care to
pregnant women, infants and children. In
our office, Dr. Amy Robinson has taken
care of hundreds of newborns. In fact,
most babies remain in their parent’s arms
during the visits, and may even sleep
through them. Correction of spinal or
cranial imbalances are made through
gentle and specific chiropractic
adjustments, which are performed on a
newborn using only fingertips, and with
no more pressure than you could press on
your closed eye.
Issues with breastfeeding & latch tend to resolve quickly with chiropractic care – along with
other related concerns – as structural and neurological balance is restored in the infant’s body.
In the very least, the simple and gentle assessment could offer you a solution to your concerns.
We’d love to help.
