Children
 With
pregnancy come hormonal changes, a shift in body weight and a laxity
of connective tissues. New stresses are experienced by the lower
back and pelvis. Many women report that their pregnancies were easier
and heir delivery times shorter when they received chiropractic
care.
Even today's birthing procedures can put tremendous pressures on
a child's spine. And while the injury from forceps deliveries may
be less common today, vacuum extraction and eager hands can do even
more damage by pulling, forcing and twisting the baby's young spine.
Without the language to explain, many newborns experience colic,
unexplained crying, lack of appetite, frequent ear infections or
other signs of poor health. A chiropractic examination is essential
to determine if birth trauma to the spine is involved.
 Then
if indicated, a gentle, life-affirming adjustment is given. With
no more pressure than you'd use to test the ripeness of a tomato,
nerve-compromising subluxations can be reduced. Almost miraculously,
many parents see instant improvements in the well-being of their
child.
Later, regular chiropractic checkups are helpful to monitor spinal
development as infants sit upright, support their heads, learn to
crawl and take their first brave steps. Many experts believe that
uncorrected spinal problems during this early stage of development
cause the chronic, hard-to-correct subluxations seen in adults.
 Sadly,
bedwetting and many childhood aches and pains are passed off as
"growing pains" or "just a phase they're going through."
Careful! Aches and pains at any age are a sign that something isn't
right. Subluxations may be involved.
As you make decisions about your baby's health care and are confronted
with the issues of antibiotics, vaccinations and the growing use
of behavior altering drugs, consult with your chiropractor. Seek
accurate information and make an informed choice. First, make sure
your child has the best chance to be all that he or she can be by
having a nervous system free of subluxations.
How can something as natural as being born cause subluxations?
Being born is a natural phenomenon. It's what we've done to the
birth process that has become increasingly suspect. In hospitals,
birth is often treated like a disease. A newborn's introduction
to the world is often accompanied by a severe drop in temperature,
loud noises and other insensitivities. The administration of drugs
and anesthesia can have a profound effect on a newborn.
Will my pediatrician approve of chiropractic care for my child?
 First,
you don't need anyone's approval to seek a chiropractic opinion
about health issues affecting your child! Medical practitioners
keeping up with the latest pediatric chiropractic research are starting
to understand the value of this natural, drug-free approach to better
health.
Will adjustments hurt my baby?
This is a common concern among parents who mistakenly think that
their child will receive adjustments like the ones they receive.
Adjusting techniques are modified for each person's size and unique
spinal problem, and an infant's spine rarely has the long-standing
muscle tightness seen in adults. This makes a child's chiropractic
adjustments gentle, comfortable and effective.
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