Chiroblog

Babies are born soft, squishy and incredibly adaptable! There are plenty of reasons for that. A baby’s cranium, which encases the brain, is made up of multiple bones that have not fully fused yet. This adaptation allows for the baby’s head to be flexible as momma and baby dance through birth. This adaptation also allows for providing the space for the rapid growth and development that occurs in the first few years of the infant’s life.

During those early newborn weeks, you might notice that your little one naturally turns their head to one side, snuggling into the same cozy spot, or preferring one direction while they sleep or play or sit in their car seat. This might be due to a what Dr. Heiner Biedermann calls KISS syndrome, or “Kinematic Imbalance Due to Suboccipital Strain”.  That ‘strain’ can also be accelerated by a slight flatness on one side of the baby’s head, which over the course of a few weeks can worsen into what is known as positional plagiocephaly, commonly referred to as flat head syndrome. This is a relatively common occurrence (studies show 25% of newborns develop some form of head malposition). The good news? Early recognition provides opportunities to support healthy movement and head shape development from the beginning.

Certified pediatric chiropractors focus on assessing the baby’s overall movement pattern, strength, musculoskeletal tension, and total nervous system functioning. Gentle chiropractic care, including working with the cranial bones (the bones of the head), along with individualized home exercises, can help improve range of motion and help balance movement patterns. The goal of care is not to force anything, but rather support the baby’s optimal ability to grow, develop, and thrive. And ultimately, the goal is not just how well the baby turns its head but how well the newborn interacts with its environment.  Children with a flatter head usually have less fluid movement of their neck, which can affect their eyes, their reflexes, and many other seemingly unrelated parts.  When a child can move better they mature better and their brain and nerve system are stronger because of it!

References:

Pastor-Pons, I., Hidalgo-García, C., Lucha-López, M.O. et al. Effectiveness of pediatric integrative manual therapy in cervical movement limitation in infants with positional plagiocephaly: a randomized controlled trial. Ital J Pediatr

Ellwood, J., Draper-Rodi, J. & Carnes, D. The effectiveness and safety of conservative interventions for positional plagiocephaly and congenital muscular torticollis: a synthesis of systematic reviews and guidance. Chiropr Man Therap

Biedermann H. Manual therapy in children: proposals for an etiologic model. J Manipulative Physiol Ther.

There is something absolutely incredible happening long before you can feel that first little flutter. Before you can feel a kick, see a tiny foot pressing against your belly, feel a hiccup, or recognize your baby’s movements as their own. Your baby is already developing their intricate systems that will make movement possible. In the earliest weeks of pregnancy, the foundations of the brain and nervous system are rapidly taking shape, while the developing spinal cord is forming alongside them. Even though your baby is still incredibly small, their body is already laying the groundwork for the dazzling amount of brain and nerve growth.

As development continues, something begins to happen; your baby begins to move. Long before those movements become something you can recognize, your baby is already making small movements as the nervous system and body continue to grow. As things progress, these movements take on different forms, reflecting the incredible coordination taking shape between your baby’s developing brain, spinal cord and body. What may seem like a tiny movement is part of a much bigger story; the developing nervous system is learning to communicate with and coordinate a changing body.

Finally, comes the moment mama gets to experience what her baby has been doing all along: the first flutter. It may feel like a tiny flicker, a little bubble, or a gentle “did I just feel something?” Behind that little sensation there is something much bigger…they have been swimming around the placenta for weeks. What you feel at first is simply the beautiful moment when you finally get to experience a small piece of what has been happening all along.

As a chiropractor who cares deeply about the perinatal journey, we believe that mama’s nervous system deserves just as much attention during this incredible season as the growing little one.  Supporting nervous system function may help the body communicate, adapt, and respond to the many changes of pregnancy. Creating space for mama and baby to grow together as their remarkable relationship between their two developing systems begins its own beautiful dance.

One of the most common side-benefits of mom’s getting adjusted during their pregnancy is not only better birth outcomes but an overall healthier baby.  We’ve seen this hundreds of times over our 37+ years in practice…even yesterday we saw a 4-week-old newborn whose mom was adjusted during pregnancy and the resilience and adaptability of her and the baby was remarkable.  Happy healthy moms create happier healthier babies!

References:

-Ohmura Y, Morokuma S, Kato K, Kuniyoshi Y. Species-specific Posture of Human Foetus in Late First Trimester.

-Santos C, Marshall AR, Murray A, Metcalfe K. Spinal neural tube formation and tail development in human embryos.

-Vasung L, Abaci Turk E, Ferradal SL. Exploring early human brain development with structural and physiological neuroimaging.

-Zeng B, Liu Z, Lu Y, Zhong S. The single-cell and spatial transcriptional landscape of early brain development.