Pregnancy & Infants

Every level of human performance & function is governed by your nervous system. Where else in your life-cycle could this be more important than when you're pregnant supporting 2 lives!

The brain and the nervous system control all other organ systems in the body.  When the nervous system is not functioning optimally, problems can therefore arise in any of the following systems.

Respiratory (breathing)

Gastro-intestinal (digestion & elimination)

Uro-genital (urination & reproduction)

Cardiovascular (blood flow to and from the heart and brain)

Musculo-skeletal (muscle and joint function)

Vestibular (balance & spatial awareness)

Special sensory systems (vision & hearing etc.)

With pregnancy come hormonal changes, a shift in body weight and a laxity of connective tissues. New stresses are experienced by the lower back and pelvis.

Many women report that their pregnancies were easier and their delivery times shorter when they received chiropractic care.

Growing evidence points to direct communication between the nervous system and many immune tissues. The Autonomic Nervous System is very important in regulating the Immune System due to direct connections between sympathetic nerves and organs such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, tonsils, gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and bone marrow.

PAEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CARE

As a concerned parent, you no doubt wonder if your child is as healthy as possible. Many factors contribute to your child's overall health. A major component is the communication between your child's brain and body ... the most vital link controlling the growth, repair, and function of every tissue and organ in the body.

Every parent understands that diet, exercise, rest, emotional and spiritual support are important factors.

You would agree that every one of the "health-components" just listed would work more OPTIMALLY if the nervous system is free to direct and guide every living cell in your body and your child's body.

Chiropractic recognises the importance of each of these factors as they contribute to your child's health.

By having subluxations corrected throughout childhood, your child will have a better opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Make sure your child has the best chance to be all that he or she can be by being subluxation-free.

When should your child be checked for subluxations?

Newborn infants ideally should be checked within hours after birth. The birth process, even under natural and controlled conditions, is potentially traumatic.

During the pushing stage of labour, the spine, particularly the neck, may be injured as the baby is compressed and pushed down the birth canal. The most frequent subluxation experienced by newborns results from the pulling, twisting, and compression of the infant's spine during birth.

Common Childhood Conditions:

Many childhood illnesses may be manifested in the paediatric patient due to abnormal body function caused by subluxations . And while the injury from forceps deliveries may be less common today, vacuum extraction and eager hands can do even more damage by pulling, forcing and twisting the baby's young spine.

Without the language to explain, many newborns experience colic, unexplained crying, lack of appetite, frequent ear infections or other signs of poor health. A chiropractic examination is essential to determine if birth trauma to the spine is involved.

Paediatric Chiropractic Adjustments for Infants

If indicated, a gentle, life-affirming adjustment is given. With no more pressure than you'd use to test the ripeness of a tomato, nerve-compromising subluxations can be reduced. Almost miraculously, many parents see instant improvements in the well-being of their child.

Later, regular chiropractic checkups are helpful to monitor spinal development as infants:

•  sit upright,

•  support their head,

•  learn to crawl, and,

•  take their first brave steps.

These milestones correlate with the development of their spinal curvatures.

Many experts believe that uncorrected spinal problems during this early stage of development cause the chronic, hard-to-correct subluxations seen in adults.

Although birth subluxations may cause immediate symptoms, such as respiratory depression, there may be far-reaching effects that are manifested for the future of their childhood.

The child's ability to fight against disease, for example, may be lowered. Colds, ear infections, colic, and other illnesses may result. Bedwetting and many childhood aches and pains are passed off as "growing pains" or "just a phase they're going through." These symptoms need to be dealt with caution!

Aches and pains at any age are a sign that something isn't right. Subluxations may be involved.

See our Research page for summaries of articles on infant & child troubles

More information about CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS can be found at www.icpa4kids.org