How can chiropractic help infants with difficulty breastfeeding?

From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
October 2009

This is a case series of 114 infants who were diagnosed in a hospital or by a lactation consultant with breast feeding problems. These patients were referred to seek chiropractic care in addition to routine pediatric care.

The three most common diagnoses for why these infants were unable to breastfeed were:
1. cervical posterior joint dysfunction
2. temporomandibular joint imbalance (TMJ)
3. inadequate suck reflex.

“Treatment was chiropractic therapy in addition to support given elsewhere.
All children showed some improvement with 78% being able to exclusively breastfeed after 2 to 5 treatments over a 2-week time period.”

Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems - in this case series the most common issues being with the cervical spine and jaw. 

This article demonstrates the benefit of pediatric chiropractic care as a multidisciplinary approach to breastfeeding issues with a musculoskeletal cause. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.08.023

Pelvic Anatomy 101

Did you know the pelvis is actually made of 3 separate bones - the ilium, ishium and pubis- that fuse together starting in childhood to your early 20’s?
These three form a bony bowl-like structure known as the pelvis. It contains organs and structures that are responsible for digestion, bowel and bladder actions and sexual and reproductive functions. 
Directly attached to the pelvis are large muscle groups like the quads, glutes, abdominals, spinal erector muscles and hamstrings that connect the trunk to the lower extremities. Symmetrical motion in the pelvis can impact biomechanics (such as running, walking and squatting), comfort levels during pregnancy and postpartum, and can even impact labor and delivery. 

Healthy Sleep Habits for 2020

We all know how important good sleep is. Here are some ways to get the zzz's you need in 2020.

• Follow a regular sleep schedule. Your body cannot tell the difference between weekdays and the weekend, so trying to keep bedtimes and wake times similar can help your body's internal clock stay on track. 

• Develop a bedtime routine. Avoid using electronic devices like cell phones and tablets immediately before bed. 

• Use your bedroom only for sleeping and not as an office or workout space.

• Avoid caffeine after 3 pm. This includes coffee. tea and chocolate. 

• Alcohol can disrupt circadian rhythms and block restorative REM sleep. 

• If you are searching for a bedtime snack, try complex carbohydrates such as a banana, sweet potato or quinoa. Spicy foods and high protein foods can divert your body's energy for digestion and interrupt restful sleep. 

• Get adjusted! One third of people who get a chiropractic adjustment report better sleep that night. Chiropractic can also improve infant sleep - 40% of infants sleep for a longer duration after being adjusted (which also means more sleep for mom and dad!).

Some Postpartum Reading Picks

A little look at my postpartum reading:

“Bringing up Bebe” - An American mom living in France tries to uncover the reason why French parents and babies seem to have it together. Some pretty funny observations about kid behavior and American parenting!

“The Happiest Baby on the Block” - A good explanation of baby’s primitive reflexes and why newborns are such strange creatures. The swaddling tips helped us with a sleep routine in those early days.

“The Wonder Weeks” - I’m still reading this one as it goes into toddler hood. Some more very interesting information about infant development and milestones.

“The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother” - I wish I had read this before Henry arrived but since he was a sneakster and got here a month early there’s not much to be done about that. But so many good recipes with warm, replenishing herbs and nutrients. I love the focus on the 4th trimester for mom and baby.

“Baby Led Feeding” - I haven’t gotten to this one yet but I’m looking forward to reading it. It came highly recommended to me. And we all know how excited I get talking about vegetables!

“Like a Mother” - I’ve talked about this one before, I read it when I was pregnant. It is so good, and I’m sure if I read it again now I would continue to get something out of it from another perspective.

“Great Garden Companions” - This is for next year so that my garden will hopefully look more intentional and productive rather that the happy accident it is now. 🤷‍♀️

“Becoming” - Michelle Obama’s autobiography has been on my nightstand for awhile and I’m about halfway through. I probably would be done by now but hardcover books are heavy! I was fortunate to hear her speak in October in Hamilton. She’s a very good speaker and a humble and interesting writer.

I’d love to hear what you’re reading now or what is on your to-read list!

Dr. Brenda

Headaches: Tension vs. Migraine

This is a hot topic in my office! 🔥 Patients frequently tell me that they get “migraines”. Let’s think about this: although all migraines are headaches, not all headaches are migraines. 🤔

The causes, symptoms and treatment for tension (or cervicogenic) headaches are very different than for a true migraine. Check out the differences below.

Often postural stresses such as working at a desk or at a computer can contribute to hypertonicity in the muscles of the neck. This can cause headaches to present in the temples, over the eyes or the forehead. 😨

Headaches are COMMON but not NORMAL. You don’t have to get a headaches every day, every time you work on your computer, every time you drive, etc etc etc. The good news is that many headaches respond very positively to chiropractic adjustments and work to the muscles of the cervical spine. 😁