Chiropractor for newborn

blessitBee

Was just wondering if any stm have taken there newborn for spinal alignment or any ftm that plan on it? Heard it was beneficial after birth due to all the pressure that is put on the baby while coming out.

LauraFi

FTM but I have been going to the chiropractor since I was a newborn and plan on taking our kids starting when they are a babies

jeanbug12

Absolutely not! I am anti-chiropractor in general, but there is no way I would let one near my newborn baby's spine! Babies have really flexible spines and thay are made to pass through the birth canal. It is 100% natural and I feel there no reason they should need to be adjusted afterwards.

DaphneMoon1

I've never even heard of this and honestly it sounds dangerous. I agree with @jeanbug12.

I'm not completely anti chiropractors, but some of it seems a little out there to me. Like, a back alignment to cure the flu? This falls into that category. I see no reason a baby would benefit from one.

MamaGooGoo

My first thought is WTF? No way!!! Admittedly, I know nothing about this, but babies have been born the same way forever and we've all turned out fine, for the most part. I will most definitely not be doing this.

Paige6410

Nope. I've never even been to one, I'm not taking my infant.
I know that the Amish do this a lot.

Yiggle09

@jeanbug12 My cousins child needed to have a chiropractor adjust them at age 6 months or so. It was suggested by their pediatrician. Apparently he either came out from birth or prior to birth with a spine that was out of alignment. They did not realize he only rolled to one side and eventually he had a depression on his skull from rolling the one way all the time. They needed to get him aligned and he had to wear a helmet to fix the depression in his skull. I am not saying go to the chiropractor immediately after birth or anything like that but I am saying that there is merit in chiropractic care for infants

jeanbug12

Yiggle09 said:

@jeanbug12 My cousins child needed to have a chiropractor adjust them at age 6 months or so. It was suggested by their pediatrician. Apparently he either came out from birth or prior to birth with a spine that was out of alignment. They did not realize he only rolled to one side and eventually he had a depression on his skull from rolling the one way all the time. They needed to get him aligned and he had to wear a helmet to fix the depression in his skull. I am not saying go to the chiropractor immediately after birth or anything like that but I am saying that there is merit in chiropractic care for infants

Sounds like he would have benefited more from physical therapy. Usually there is a muscular imbalance that causes things like that and chiropractors rarely address the root of the problem, or do any type of imaging which means they can cause serious damage. So you go for your adjustment, a few months later you are right back where you started...and back for another adjustment.

monaclemere

I'm not a fan of chiropractors in general- I think it's a BS practice that only leads to more issues, thus necessitating more chiropractic care. I can not imagine this could in any way be beneficial to a newborn or infant, and I would side-eye a pediatrician who suggested it. 

@Yiggle09 the issue you're describing sounds like the baby needed some type of physical therapy to correct a side preference or tortocollis. 

ccoleeman

Agree 100% with PPs. Babies are made to come out of the birth canal.
And ALWAYS , physical therapy>chiropractors

mamaksweez

I actually know a lot of people that take their little ones to chiropractors. We did not take our dd as a new born, but we were in a car accident when she was 7 months old and I took her then. I did a lot of research because I believe that not all chiropractors are created equally... I ended up at a place where my friend took her kids and they were so so gentle. Basically the chiropractor just runs his fingers up baby's spine (as she's laying on my lap) and if he finds a spot that's not quite inline then with 2 fingers he just pushes gently and she's back to normal. I think there are a lot of benefits to it actually.

mollyj931

Ditto to what most people said. I do know people who stop at the chiro on the way home from the hospital to get their newborn adjusted. :-/
The local mommy website I'm on is always advising chiropractic care for sleep issues, ear infections, colic.
No thanks. It all makes me shudder.

Snoopylovesbelle

Newborns are flexible and meant to come out of the birth canal. I would not want to risk the chiropractor doing additional harm that starts a cycle of continuous adjustments.
Physical therapy all the way

RepeatPostPolice

I've never taken DD to chiro, and I don't plan to. I will not be taking this LO either.

jrouge12

Never would even consider it. My experience is that once someone starts alignments the problems increase and the chiropractor just gets more business. Babies don't need chiropractors to align their spine after birth. I knew someone who insisted that the baby needed it, but they were also anti-vax, so that really sealed the deal for me as wacko medicine.

Mamabeagle

monaclemere said:

I'm not a fan of chiropractors in general- I think it's a BS practice that only leads to more issues, thus necessitating more chiropractic care. I can not imagine this could in any way be beneficial to a newborn or infant, and I would side-eye a pediatrician who suggested it. 

@Yiggle09 the issue you're describing sounds like the baby needed some type of physical therapy to correct a side preference or tortocollis. 

I have had torticollis since birth. My neck was strained and my head was stuck crane to the right like I was posing for a picture for 3 months. In that instance, yes you may take your infant to the chiropractor. But, to do it just for funsies is silly. Most reputable chiropractors won't touch infants, let alone young children.

When I have flare ups and can't turn at all and my back seizes up, I go to my chiropractor for immediate relief and follow up there or elsewhere as needed.

mamaksweez

jrouge12 said:

Never would even consider it. My experience is that once someone starts alignments the problems increase and the chiropractor just gets more business. Babies don't need chiropractors to align their spine after birth. I knew someone who insisted that the baby needed it, but they were also anti-vax, so that really sealed the deal for me as wacko medicine.

The chiropractor I took dd to after our car accident did classes about anti vaxing and how through chiropractic adjustments you get the same benefits of vaccines!!! Total wack job thinking in my book! Come to think of it, my brother is way into going to the chiropractor (and taking his kids) and they are anti vaxers...

RepeatPostPolice

mamaksweez said:

jrouge12 said:

Never would even consider it. My experience is that once someone starts alignments the problems increase and the chiropractor just gets more business. Babies don't need chiropractors to align their spine after birth. I knew someone who insisted that the baby needed it, but they were also anti-vax, so that really sealed the deal for me as wacko medicine.

The chiropractor I took dd to after our car accident did classes about anti vaxing and how through chiropractic adjustments you get the same benefits of vaccines!!! Total wack job thinking in my book! Come to think of it, my brother is way into going to the chiropractor (and taking his kids) and they are anti vaxers...

Oh FFS.

ChipMonster

I would not be opposed to taking a child if it was absolutely needed. And not all chiropractic work is meant to have you come back repeatedly. I went to the chiro last pregnancy to help with my spd. I went from having the hardest time walking to being mobile (still with moderate pain). She was honest and told me that it wouldn't go away until either I gave birth or stopped breastfeeding. But she helped me immensely. I think that extreme caution should be exercised when we're talking about babies but I don't think it's fair to dismiss all chiropractic work.

skfg

Personally, I wouldn't take my newborn unless there was a reason such as baby crying in pain when you touch spine/neck or b'feeding issues after working w/LC that were not resolved. I took my son at 7 months bc he was moving backwards w/milestones and he screamed in pain when we lightly touched his neck and would cry in pain on the changing table. My ped thought I was neurotic and couldn't find anything. It turns out that he had some neck/spine/hip issues that are most likely hereditary. It turns out that my intuition was spot on. It also explained why b'feeding didn't work out. A few weeks after starting chiro, he started rolling over again.

blue**eyes

I guess I'm the odd man out. I took my son when he was a couple of months old for reflux. We were desperate to get him some relief. I knew the chiropractor well and she assured me it was a safe and gentle adjustment (which it was). I laid on my back and baby laid on my stomach and chest. I felt the pressure she used and it was super light. It made a difference for him, he stopped screaming every time he was in the car seat and just generally improved as far as the reflux goes. I was certainly skeptical but would do it again if needed. For me, on the other hand, I never found chiropractic to be helpful (with migraine at least).

blessitBee

Thanks for all the feedback. I have only been myself once after a accident so it benefited me very much. I'm in a mommy group that women are doing and and recommended it. So I guess I'll wait and see , if something seems off then I'll go.

giraffesiheart

I will be taking my LO to get adjusted once a month starting around 8 weeks old. I myself get adjusted regularly and it stopped my migraines. I also believe the reason I had zero symptoms during my 1st trimester was because I regularly got adjusted. I have watched my chiropractor adjust children and it is very gentle. My friend was told by a doctor that her son had asthma and that he needed to be on medication daily for the rest of his life. She started getting him adjusted and he hasn't needed any asthma medication for 2 years .

babybluu

This was a good post for me to read. Glad you asked. My question is, my friends baby was born upside down (i forgot that that's called), and they had to use the vacuum to get him out. She took him to the chiropractor to get realigned. Thoughts on that? Would being born upside down and with the vacuum damage anythingv

kyliejoymccoy

Heck yes. I took DD1 once a month after she was born. Some chiropractors are trained to do pediatric care as adults so just do your homework. I'd highly recommend it before doing PT or taking your kiddo to the doc every time something comes up. Getting her adjusted took care of 75% of her colds, ear aches and other respiratory stuff that happens to kids.

I first got her adjusted when she was 4 weeks old, was struggling to nurse well on both sides and would only look one way. Rather than make a doctor trip, I asked my Chiro about babies, her background in pediatrics and so on and was shocked at the immediate difference- especially with nursing!!!

My Chiro is crazy awesom, so gentle and just uses her fingers to adjust ever so slightly. The results are awesome and DD1 hardly ever gets sick compared to other kids her age and her cousins who are constantly sick with something. I get some have better immune systems but having a healthy spine also doesn't hurt.

ChipMonster

While I am necessarily pro chiro when needed, I would like to add that you probably have no 1st trimester symptoms because that is the type of pregnancy you are having regardless of chiropractic care! I am sure that there are many women that suffer from symptoms that visit the chiro. Also, my baby is rarely sick and had never been adjusted. Not sure that the chiro has an effect on the immune system. Let's not forget that correlation isn't necessarily causation.

LauraFi

I just wanted to add that not all chiropractors are created equal. My chiropractor (in Canada) uses massage (including trigger point release) to loosen up muscles and fix problems in conjunction with other typical chiropractic methods, and I have exercises/stretches to do to help prevent future problems. I tend to go to the chiropractor once or twice a year as needed, my main issue is that office work can put a strain on the neck and upper back. I'm not sure if I would take a newborn to the chiropractor but have heard many benefits to taking babies to the chiropractor (though never anything about being anti vaccination, that is just crazy). My parents started going after my mom and older brother (who was a toddler) were in a car accident, and then when I came along my mom began taking me too but I'm not sure exactly how old I was.

mrhargr

babybluu said:

This was a good post for me to read. Glad you asked. My question is, my friends baby was born upside down (i forgot that that's called), and they had to use the vacuum to get him out. She took him to the chiropractor to get realigned. Thoughts on that? Would being born upside down and with the vacuum damage anythingv

My daughter was born sunny side up and had no spinal issues.

sbeara25

Personally no but I know someone who has and the process to make it happen needs to be thorough.
She had been to her chiro for years and asked her ob what she thought about it before the chiro. OB said to talk to the chiro and get the run down on if he was comfortable with it, if he'd done it, what would be done, the reasoning for each part, etc. etc.

She ended up happy with the answers she got but he wouldn't touch baby until 1 month.

If I were to go I'd be researching every chiro very intensely and doing meetings until I was completely satisfied. But in my mind babies are pretty sturdy and we've survived pretty long as a species.

Figure out what you are comfortable with and I hope you get what you're looking or for LO

zg49

I took DD in a couple weeks after she was born and also the two times she had an ear infection. Both times worked wonders! No I don't believe Chiropractic care should take over vaccinations, that seems a bit hokey. I know our chiropractor really well and I always felt comfortable going to him. 

bishoplmb

I was told by several lactation consultants to take my daughter at 1 week old to the chiro to adjust her jaw because the force of labor and delivery had given her a really tightly clenched jaw making it difficult/extremely painful to breastfeed. At the time we decided to try and wait it out to see if it would loosen up on its own but looking back i kinda wish I would have just taken her right away.  

Mamabeagle

Tbh I'm side eyeing everyone who is planning ahead of time to take their infant to the chiropractor without knowing if they even have a reason to, ya know, because the baby isn't even here yet.

cyanope

I wonder if some of the people on here who think that chiropractic care is BS or that chiros are "whack jobs" have ever even been to a chiropractor??

Just a question.

Because I have personally experienced huge, positive changes in my life due to my chiro. That doesn't mean that I subscribe to all things chiropractic. I just have a healthy balance between treatment done through my MD's and my chiro.

I will not personally take my newborn to the chiropractor, but to dismiss the entire field of chiropractic seems a little hasty to me. It's not all about "cracking" bones, and twisting your neck. Especially in this day and age.

I know my opinion is not the norm in this thread, but I still had to put it out there.

And FYI...I have seen alignments done on newborns, and the process is more gentle than what is done to a baby in the delivery room.

Edit: words

mollyj931

cyanope said:

I wonder if some of the people on here who think that chiropractic care is BS or that chiros are "whack jobs" have ever even been to a chiropractor??

Just a question.

Because I have personally experienced huge, positive changes in my life due to my chiro. That doesn't mean that I subscribe to all things chiropractic. I just have a healthy balance between treatment done through my MD's and my chiro.

I will not personally take my newborn to the chiropractor, but to dismiss the entire field of chiropractic seems a little hasty to me. It's not all about "cracking" bones, and twisting your neck. Especially in this day and age.

I know my opinion is not the norm in this thread, but I still had to put it out there.

And FYI...I have seen alignments done on newborns, and the process is more gentle than what is done to a baby in the delivery room.

Edit: words

I'm one of those people who has never been to a chiropractor and who not necessarily side eyes them, but I question people who respond to every sleep issue, eating problem, infections and illness with "just go to the chiropractor!!
I was actually just discussing this the other day with a friend and I'm not a person to say never say never. There may come a point in my life where I would consider it.
I think there are legit chiropractors out there who know their scope of practice but just like in every profession there are some who have no business doing what they are doing and I definitely don't agree with those that are pushing the no vaccine/"natural" approach.

Eta: I admit just the sound of cracking knuckles makes me want to throw up so that is another reason why I have always been leery…

cyanope

Totally agree, @mollyj931. I go to my GI for my colon issues (lucky me, I have ulcerative colitis). I go to my OB for my yearly paps. I go to my primary care doctor when I'm sick. I go to the chiropractor for neck/back issues. I respect both the medical world and the chiropractic world.

I definitely don't think chiropractic care is a cure-all. I do, however, see benefits in my spine and neck health. DH would agree. He has a HORRIBLE back (he's been a skateboarder his whole life and has struggled with back pain since adolescence), and was given painkillers to address the problem by his doctor (not saying all medical doctors would use this approach). He started seeing a chiropractor three years ago, and has seen amazing results.

I guess my message is, don't knock it until you've tried it!!

And for the record, I am NOT on the anti-vax bandwagon. My children will get all of their recommended vaccinations.

TinyDancer51510

I have scoliosis and have been going to a chiropractor since I was a child. I have never heard of someone taking their newborn. I can't imagine it being necessary.

Also, to the people who are skeptical because you have to keep going back, I also have to take anti-depressants regularly. Does that mean they don't work or that the treatment just has a limited time frame? I know there are psycho chiropractors out there that give the others a bad name but those aren't the people I go to. Nor do I go for the flu or anything not spine related.

jeanbug12

I have never been to a chiropractor and don't like them. I work in the medical field and have seen way too many people end up with spinal cord injuries when their back pain was really something serious and they went to a chiropractor first. A chiropractor who did no imaging and adjusted their back. Granted, I have only seen this a handful of times, but it is way too many in my opinion and enough to make me swear off chiropractors forever!

cyanope

My chiropractor does imaging...regularly. Not all chiropractors are amazing. Some suck. Just like not all doctors are amazing. Some of them suck too. You have to do your research and do what works for you. But, to each their own I always say!!

Karenin

bishoplmb said:

I was told by several lactation consultants to take my daughter at 1 week old to the chiro to adjust her jaw because the force of labor and delivery had given her a really tightly clenched jaw making it difficult/extremely painful to breastfeed. At the time we decided to try and wait it out to see if it would loosen up on its own but looking back i kinda wish I would have just taken her right away.  

I get that you are concerned for your baby, but a lactation consultant, while very valuable and highly trained in BF issues, is not a pediatrician, or any kind of doctor, and if anything I would think they should refer your baby to his/her pediatrician if they have concerns about the jaw or any health issues. I have never been to a chiropractor so I'm not an expert on them but would not take a baby to one. I'm not trying to be mean but I honestly opened this thread assuming it was a joke. If you have concerns I'd talk to a licensed MD.

dcbissett08

My mom friend takes her 1yr old and swears by it. He's been sleeping through the night since she brought him to his first visit. It def makes sense with the trauma infants go through to being born.... I personally am thinking of bringing my this baby to a chiropractor around 6-12 months.

Ckh1234

I am a chiropractor. There is no harm, only benefit to the baby. The adjustments performed on an infant are very different than adjustments to an adult. It is a light pressure on the spinal segment while pressure is added. There is no "crack." Birth is a traumatic experience and even a single adjustment will set the baby up for proper spinal development. Adjustments help with digestion, proper feeding, sleeping, baby's overall comfort and much more.

Some of these commenters need to do a little research on the topic before stating certain things. Not every chiropractor is anti vaccines or a "whack job." There are extremes in chiropractic just like almost every other profession. We go through a very rigorous education and certification process to get to the point of treating patients. Research!