Babies and Chiropractors (long)

Manda+panda · May 2014

I have never been to a chiropractor...I have always thought they were full of shit, quite frankly. DH had gone a handful of times in high school for sports related injuries. He swears by them.

Imagine my surprise when my lactation consultant, the RN working above her, and the doctor all said I should take DD to one. They say she needed craniosacral therapy for her latch problems. So, I looked into it. I'm willing to try anything. (We use a shield, and until we can get a correct latch I cannot wean her off the damn thing!)

Our insurance covers it, so I made an appointment with a chiropractor who specializes in babies. The first appointment they did some minor adjustments, no pain involved, but it still worried me, she was screaming the entire time (to be fair, she was screaming before ). He told me she would sleep for a long time after (she did), he said she would be much less fussy (nope), we would see some latch improvement (eh...maybe?) and that her reflux would be better (yes, but only one night)

Still willing to do anything to help correct her latch, we went back today. She was very fussy the entire time, right up to the end, when he adjusted her neck...and suddenly, she was calm. She's been sleeping well since. He's still promising the moon, but we will see.

It makes me nervous taking such a small baby in for adjustments. Does anyone else take their baby or young kids to the chiropractor? Does it REALLY help, or am I wasting my time and money? Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: just adding that I would NEVER make my daughter do something I wouldn't do, I have an appointment with a chiropractor next Friday to see what it's like.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

I have not personally done it for my kids but I love it for me and I've heard lots of success stories for colicky kids in particular. Craniosacral is a different thing, though.

Ashleypixie · May 2014

A lot of people do it and nothing bad happens but it scares the hell out of me. I don't think you are wasting time and money, it seems like you have had good results so far. I have seen so many moms on TB who say it's so great and helpful for pretty much anything, but then again, you can't ask a baby if they feel better after doing it. I don't feel any different when I leave the chiropractor but I go anyway and still feel it's worth it.

hordol · May 2014

I feel like a lot of times when it comes to chiropractors you fall into one of two camps: you really love it or you don't think it's worth it at all. Personally I've had some good experiences with chiropractors so I think they are worth it, though I can understand why it would make you nervous with a baby and I think it would make me nervous too but I would trust a professional opinion from your doctor, so that's awesome he suggested it. It seems like you've had some good results so far, I hope that with continued appointments it only gets better!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

They're super gentle with babies and it's not like the adjustment an adult gets.

cd92007 · May 2014

I always thought chiropractors were full of it, too. But then in my 3rd tri I had debilitating back pain that prevented me from working and was desperate for something. I went to a chiro and it helped sooooooo much! I could walk after just one adjustment and then went every week after that and didn't have any back pain. I hope it helps your LO!

selina1113 · May 2014

Rrrrrachel said:
They're super gentle with babies and it's not like the adjustment an adult gets.

This.

RocksInTheWater · May 2014

My niece had chiropractic adjustments when she was just a small baby too. My sister-in-law took her there for constipation and said it really really helped. She never had any problems after that.

Manda+panda · May 2014

I will say, she's sleeping better, hasn't been feeding for hours on end and isn't constipated anymore.

Chirop75 · May 2014

I am a chiropractor in Chicago and have been practicing for 14 years. I treat children with a lot of success everyday and help a lot of parents where they thought the babies could not be helped. Chiropractic for babies is very safe and effective. The adjustment is very light and gentle almost like massage. It is a very real and scientific procedure and does wonders for all kinds of aliments for babies and adults. Every baby from being confined in the womb can possibly have nerve or crainal irritation which can cause latching problems, colic, constipation, ect. Just make sure when picking a chiropractor to bring your child they are proficient in pediatric chiropractic. Good luck!

alittlelibrary · May 2014

I'm not sure about chiropractors, but our pediatrician does OMT/cranio sacral work on LO. He has a cephalo hematoma and the therapy has helped speed recovery and mitigate his pain (related to adjacent damage). He is more relaxed and comfortable after sessions, it's been a godsend.

avidkeo · May 2014

Personally I wouldn't as I don't believe in them at all, but Im with you as well, if it seems to help then why not.

Just please ensure they are properly trained and have experience. Not wanting to scaremonger, a chiropractor in Australia broke a baby's neck during an adjustment. When the case was looked into it was determined that the chiropractor did not have adequate training and experience with babies. Yes I imagine a very isolated experience but its the sort of thing that would make me question the professional.

homediva · May 2014

I've never been to one or had any experience and have a similar attitude as you, OP! But my friends sister had her baby adjusted and only had to go once and it fixed the baby's latch immediately. She couldn't turn her head to one side after the way she was born or something. Good luck!

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