Taking Care of an Ill Loved One

When Should You Schedule Your Infant's First Chiropractic Adjustment?

If you're a regular patient at your chiropractor's office, you may have increased the frequency of your visits after becoming pregnant, taking advantage of your chiropractor's skilled adjustments to ease pain and pressure on your lower back and other joints. While chiropractic treatment during pregnancy can offer many benefits, having adjustments performed shortly after birth can also be beneficial to your infant. How soon is too soon to schedule his or her first chiropractic visit? Read on to learn more about chiropractic treatment for infants and what you'll want to keep in mind during your child's first few chiropractor visits. 

What are some of the benefits of having your infant adjusted shortly after birth?

As physically difficult as carrying a pregnancy for nine months may be for you, this process can be even more stressful for your infant. He or she spent a number of months curled in the fetal position inside your uterus until being suddenly "evicted" through your birth canal (or a cesarean section), compressing his or her still-flexible joints into new and sometimes painful positions. 

Having an adjustment shortly after birth can put your infant's spine and other joints back into their proper alignment, helping ease discomfort, improve digestion, and even help his or her sleeping habits. A single adjustment may be enough to help, while more difficult subluxations could require a couple of follow-up visits during your child's first few months.

How soon should you make your infant's first chiropractic appointment? 

Because the chiropractic adjustment is painless and non-invasive, it should be safe for your infant to be adjusted as soon as hours after birth (and after consulting with your obstetrician or your child's pediatrician). Your infant may even find this process relaxing, like a massage, and could fall asleep soon after his or her adjustment is completed.

If your infant is dealing with other health issues (like jaundice, low blood sugar, or breathing difficulties), chiropractic adjustment may need to be delayed until he or she has begun a course of treatment and is on the mend. 

Infants with musculoskeletal problems (like a dislocated shoulder from traveling through the birth canal) may also need to put off this first adjustment. However, for the majority of newborn babies, there should be no restrictions on a chiropractor's ability to gently manipulate your infant's spine and other joints to give him or her the best possible start in life. For more information, contact a chiropractor, like one from Exelbert Chiropractic.


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