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| Infants, Babies and Chiropractic |
All infants need a healthy spinal column. All babies need to have their spines checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic for the presence of vertebral subluxations or spinal nerve stress.
Why is this important? It's important because an unhealthy spine can interfere with the normal function of the nervous system and may cause serious health problems in infancy and later in life.
With all you do for your newborn child, please ensure his or her spinal health with a chiropractic spinal check-up.
Infant Spinal Trauma
Many studies have shown that the majority of newborns have spinal nerve stress that is threatening their health and in some cases, their lives! But how can that be? The answer will surprise you: spinal trauma!
A newborn's spine traumatized? How?
Birth Trauma
The newborn that knew only the warmth, softness, darkness, quiet and comfort of the womb is suddenly exposed to a cold, noisy, hard, harsh, blinding world. Separated from mother, often dangled from its heels and struck on its rear, these procedures can cause permanent physical trauma and emotional scarring.
As one expert has stated:
"The birth process, even under optimal controlled conditions, is potentially a traumatic, crippling event for the fetus… mechanical stress during the final extraction of the fetus, mechanical stress imposed by obstetrical manipulation-even the application of standard orthodox procedures may prove intolerable to the fetus. The view has been expressed clinically that most signs of neonatal injury observed in the delivery room are neurological..."1
Why do they do that? Medical Doctors are trained to intervene. As Robert Mendelsohn, M.D. one of America's leading pediatricians, says:
"...(Obstetricians) constantly interfere in a natural physiological process that they insist on treating as though it were a disease. In a shocking percentage of cases this medical interference with a normal bodily function adversely affects the physical or intellectual capacity of the child for the rest of his life. Sometimes it even ends that life before it really has a chance to begin.
"If you have your baby in a hospital, you will be exposed to an array of obstetrical hazards. . .Having your baby at home is less risky than going to the hospital because much of the most dangerous technology employed in hospitals is not available to doctors or midwives who deliver babies at home. Procedures such as ultrasound diagnosis, internal fetal monitoring, excessive use of sedatives, pain relievers and anesthetics, Pitocin-induced labor, and the temptation to resort to delivery by Caesarean section, are largely avoided when you play it safe and have your baby in your very own bed."2
Many studies have shown home birth to be safer for both mother and child. The following study conducted by Lewis E. Mehl, M.D., of the University of Wisconsin Infant Development Center reviewed 2,000 births, nearly half of which had taken place at home.
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There were 30 birth injuries among the hospital-born children and none among those born at home. |
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Fifty-two of the babies born in the hospital required resuscitation versus only 14 of those born at home. |
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Six hospital babies suffered neurological damage compared to one born at home.3 |
The best way to avoid hospital horror stories is to consider home birth as an alternative to hospital birth.
The Chiropractic Approach
Chiropractic is a health care system that removes distortions and stress from the spinal column and the nervous system to allow the body to work as naturally as possible. Chiropractic is founded on the premise that our bodies possess an inborn natural wisdom that works best without interference. This means delivering in the most natural position by which to give birth without drugs or intervention of any kind unless absolutely necessary. This means bonding and breastfeeding. This means birth without violence.
For these reasons, you'll find natural childbirth, home birth, breastfeeding and similar practices very common among chiropractors' families.
Research
In the German Medical Journal Manuelle Medizin the authors Gutmann and Fryman examined a random group of 1250 babies 5 days after birth. 211 suffered from vomiting, hyperactivity and sleeplessness. Manual examination revealed spinal abnormalities in 95% of this group. Spinal adjustment "frequently resulted in immediate quieting, cessation of crying, muscular relaxation and sleepiness".4
The authors noted that spinal nerve stress in the upper neck area "cause many clinical features from central motor impairment to lower resistance to infections-especially ear, nose and throat infections".5 Over 1,000 infants with upper neck subluxations were examined.
One case history given was of a boy 18 months old who suffered from tonsillitis, frequent enteritis, therapy resistant conjunctivitis, frequent colds and earache and increasing sleeping problems. After the first spinal adjustment the child demanded to be put to bed and slept peacefully until morning. His health returned to normal.
According to the authors a spinal check up "...should be obligatory after every difficult birth" and if any spinal stress exists the area "should be... specifically adjusted...the success of adjustment overshadows every other type (of care)."6
Neurological Dysfunction And Crib Death
Various studies have confirmed that spinal damage in infants can cause disease and even death.7
Abraham Towbin, a Harvard University Pathologist found evidence of spinal injury in many cases of unexplained crib deaths, hyaline membrane disease, pneumonia and respiratory depression. But there are others:"...there must exist a large number of instances with mild injury, with minimal neurological symptoms, going unnoticed clinically or being relegated to the category of cerebral palsy."8
In 1984 the Academy for Research in the Chiropractic Sciences (ARCS) concluded an 18 month study on the relationship of Crib Death and spinal structure and found that babies that had died of Crib Death had abnormal spinal alignment in the upper neck area.9
Testing procedures are not refined enough to completely assess all the damage spinal nerve stress may cause to the baby. Gross learning and behavioral problems are more easily seen but the damage may at times be too subtle to be tested. Perhaps the loss of a few I.Q. points? Perhaps average rather than above average abilities? There can be rather small, yet significant differences between the average and exceptional child. Less oxygen at birth? A minor pull on the neck at delivery? A small spinal misalignment? Since we don't know let's play it safe and do our best to avoid dangerous procedures and promote natural, safer infant and newborn care.
Conclusion
Do all you can to give your baby the best possible chance to have a healthy life. That includes childbirth without violence, breastfeeding, and avoidance of drugs and medical procedures (except in emergencies).
We urge you to respect your child's, as well as your own, natural healing mechanisms and make sure you are all under chiropractic care.
You have your baby's eyes checked, heart checked, hearing checked-why not include a Chiropractic spinal check-up?
References
- Towbin A, Latent Spinal Cord and Brain Stem Injury in Newborn Infants, Develop. Med. Child Neurol. 1969, 11, 54-68.
- Mendelsohn R, How to Raise A Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor, Ballantine Books. 1984. Chapter 4, pp.31-32.
- "Statistical Outcomes Of Home Birth in the United States". Safe Alternative in Childbirth, by David Stewart, Ph.D. Published by NAPSAC, Marble Hill, MO 1976.
- Gutman G, "Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome in Babies and Infants", Manuelle Medizin (1987) 25:5-10.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- St. Louis Post Dispatch (AP) May 3rd, 1984.
- Gilles et al, Infantile Atlantooccipital Instability, Am J Dis Child 133:30-37,1979
- Towbin A, Latent Spinal Cord and Brain Stem Injury in Newborn Infants, Develop. Med, Child Neurol. 1969,11, 54-68.
Suggested Readings
Mothering Magazine, published quarterly by John McMahon and Peggy O'Mara, P.O. Box 1690, Santa Fe. NM 87504 (505-984-8116),
How To Raise A Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor, Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D. Ballantine Books, New York, 1984.
Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms, Bantam Books, New York, New York, 1975.
Medical Self Care Magazine, published six times a year by Medical SelfCareMagazine, P.O. Box 1000, Pt. Reyes, CA 94956 (415.663-8462).
Birth Without Violence by Frederick Leboyer, M.D.
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