baby spines
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Baby Spines
Ensure a healthy start for your baby with The Balanced Spine
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Baby Spines at The Balanced Spine
Although subluxation (imbalance in the spine) is very common in babies and young children, they are the most easily stabilized in young spines. Most infants and young children need no more than two spinal corrections to establish a base-balance, whereas it takes months or even years to create equilibrium in an adultʼs spine.
Damaged at birth
The first exposure to spinal damage can actually occur during the birthing process. If the mother giving birth has a subluxation, her uneven and contorted hips can cause uneven contractions and a narrowing or shifting of the birth canal, which can damage the spine of the baby. Also, forceps, vacuum-assisted or even manually-assisted births always cause damage to the upper neck of the baby.If the baby is lucky enough to escape the birth process without subluxation many other things can happen in the early stages such as being accidentally dropped, or falling from the changing table.
Just a fall?
Commonly overlooked causes of spinal imbalance are the seemingly innocuous actions such as learning how to walk, falling down, or running into things, which can cause head and neck trauma that may not initially show any outward signs or symptoms of damage but will eventually become complications in adulthood.
Signs
The most common signs of a subluxated baby or very young child are similar to other conditions that lead to a failure to thrive:
ColicInterrupted sleep patternsInability to nurse on both sidesDifficult or irritated motion of the head and neck.Uncomfortable when placed on tummyConstant or recurring ear infectionsFrequent constipation or diarrheaNose bleedsAttention deficits
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What Parents Should Know to Ensure Their Baby's HealthBy Dr. Erin L. Elster, D.C.
Can the normal birth process induce upper cervical (neck) trauma in the newborn infant? Is it possible that a babyʼs early health problems could be due to the stresses and strains of the birth process? Could a newborn baby who is irritable, who sleeps for only short periods or is difficult to feed, or who suffers from colic or respiratory disorders, be experiencing the effects of neck trauma during birth? The answer to all of these questions is yes.
Even during the gentlest of births, presentation of the babyʼs head through the birth canal requires physical pressure exerted by the mother. This can force the babyʼs neck to twist or bend causing misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae. Often during the delivery, the practitioner will pull or twist the head to assist with the delivery and, in turn, compound the problem.
Precipitous delivery, prematurity, breech delivery, and forceful traction (forceps) applied during the birth process have also been identified as high risk factors for trauma to the newbornʼs upper neck, spinal cord, and brainstem.According to Abraham Towbin, M.D. of Harvard Medical School, “Life for the newborn depends upon the preservation and healthy functioning of the brain stem and spinal cord at the level of the upper neck.” 50,000 newborn deaths occur each year in the U.S. Approximately 10,000 of those are due to unexplained respiratory failure, known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Professor Towbin sites “respiratory depression or failure” as a “cardinal sign of a spinal cord or brainstem injury that occurs during birth, but which frequently escapes diagnosis.”
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Dr. Godfrey Gutmann, a German medical researcher, discovered that over 80% of the infants he examined after birth were suffering from cervical spine (neck) injuries, causing many types of health problems.
J.M. Duncan, a medical researcher, measured the amount of force required to severely injure a babyʼs neck during delivery. He found that 90 pounds of force could cause stillbirth, while less could sprain the upper neck, causing health problems. Duncan commented, “This is not what most obstetricians would consider a great force.”
Traumatic birth syndrome can cause severe symptoms immediately after birth including respiratory failure, flaccid paralysis, cerebral palsy, and autism, to name a few. Symptoms may also occur well after birth, and therefore, are less obviously related to the birth process. The following are conditions that may occur due to upper neck injury, from months to years after a babyʼs birth:ColicRecurring middle ear infectionsAsthmaAllergiesChronic colds and fluIrritability, hyperactivity, ADHDSleeping difficultyHeadaches-Neck and back painSeizuresTics“Growing pains”TorticollisScoliosisAnd many more... check with one of The Balanced Spine’s doctors if you are concerned about neck injury during the birthing process.
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Contact Us
The best way to find out if your baby can benefit from care is to contact The Balanced Spine or to visit us!
Scheduling a 10-minute quick check is usually available during business hours and not necessary on Saturdays. Just walk-in! Stopping by and getting a quick evaluation at one of our locations is quick and convenient. Our clinics offer a variety of office hours including Saturdays, locations are near major freeways and plenty of parking is available.
Upon entering one of our boutique style clinics you can expect a greeting from a smiling team member, a warm inviting atmosphere and modern, state of the art equipment.
Please feel free to call or visit our website today.
Locations
Issaquah(425) 369-104022525 SE 64th Place, Suite 110Issaquah, WA 98027
Redmond(425) 437-99742761 152nd Ave NERedmond, WA 98052
Bellevue
Coming Soon!
Seattle
Coming Soon!
www.TheBalancedSpine.com
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