Breastfeeding or Bottle feeding can sometimes be challenging for babies and mums. Paediatric Chiropractic care focuses on ensuring proper spinal and cranial alignment, which can improve nervous system function and feeding mechanics.
Why would Babies have difficulty feeding?
- During birth, especially in prolonged labor, assisted deliveries (like vacuum or forceps), or C-sections, babies can experience stress on their head, neck, and spine.
- These minor misalignments (called subluxations) can create discomfort, reduce the baby’s ability to turn their head comfortably, and interfere with a sealed latch and the suck-swallow-breathe reflex needed for effective breastfeeding.
- If a baby has restricted neck movement, they may struggle to latch properly on one or both breasts. Subluxations in the cervical spine (neck) or tightness in the jaw muscles can make breastfeeding painful for both the baby and the mother.
- Your paediatric chiropractor will check for subluxations, tightness of fascia (which includes lip or tongue ties) of baby, as well as any reasons feeding may be difficult for mum.
- Chiropractic adjustments focus on gently realigning the baby’s spine, improving their ability to turn their head and open their mouth fully for a proper latch.
How do I know my baby isn’t latching properly?
- Clicking and gulping sound while baby is drinking
- Leaking milk out of the side of the mouth
- Lips curled into the mouth
- Feeding blisters on the lips