The journey of a newborn’s first moments varies from birth to birth. Baby delivery is a complex and intricate process, and the mechanism by which an infant is born can affect its spinal health.
An infant delivered via c-section will have a very different presentation than an infant experiencing a vaginal birth. The position, orientation, and dynamics of labor and delivery can influence spinal alignment.
Delivery Type Makes a Difference
With a vaginal delivery, the baby passes through the birth canal, which exerts increased pressure on the spine through bends and movement. This natural progression allows for gradual compression and molding of the head and spine, enabling a transition out of the womb.
A C-section can impact spinal alignment differently because there is no natural compression with a quicker exit out of the womb through a pulling or tugging motion.
An assisted delivery, while often necessary, may put additional pressure on a newborn’s skull, neck, and spine, especially if the baby is positioned in a non-optimal way.
A breech birth can be more challenging for both an infant and its mother. The baby’s spine may be subjected to unusual forces during a breech delivery, and the baby may experience more compression in some regions of the body, especially the hips and lower spine.
Head, Neck and Spine
The areas most affected during any delivery are a newborn’s head, neck, and spine, as these areas are subjected to the most amount of compression. Any trauma to them can result in torticollis, restricted range of motion, muscle spasms, or misalignments of the spine.
Each labor and delivery is very individual, so the factors and stressors around each delivery are highly variable.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Your Wee One
For our littlest patients, chiropractic care can gently and safely help relieve muscle tension, support the nervous system, improve spinal alignment, and provide comfort. Dr. Lydia is certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, which provides extensive training in chiropractic care for newborns. She works with babies daily and can assess and correct spinal misalignments with light pressure techniques.
An area of treatment we often focus on at Vaida is ensuring proper head shape formation. In addition to receiving regular adjustments, we suggest using elephant ears, which support a baby’s neck and head and encourage healthy, strong posture development.
Bring your baby to Vaida and ensure your little one’s growth and development are nurtured and supported. We would love to see you!