BREASTFEEDING CHALLENGES
The Research Agrees
What Our Patients Have To Say
“Our little guy was having trouble breastfeeding on the left side right after birth. Dr. Dan adjusted him and he was immediately able to successfully nurse on both sides. The adjustment was so gentle – he just used his pinkies – and we could really see the difference.” – Erin
Breastfeeding Challenges are Common and Chiropractic Care Can Help
Research has proven that breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for infants (and moms!). Breast milk provides complete nutrition for an infant for the first 6 months of life. When a mother is exposed to a virus or bacteria, she starts to make antibodies that are passed to the baby through breast milk, providing protection from illness. Breastfeeding can reduce infant risk of ear infections, respiratory infections, colds, and allergies, to name a few. For mom’s, breastfeeding causes increased levels of oxytocin, a hormone that helps with maternal bonding and nurturing of the baby. Breastfeeding also reduces a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer. As an added benefit – breastfeeding saves time and money.
While the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, it can also be challenging for a new mom. One challenge that some moms experience is an infant only wanting to nurse on one side. Only nursing on one side can lead to a decreased supply of milk over time. Favoring one side can also put a strain on mom – it can affect her overall posture, cause engorgement and potentially lead to clogged milk ducts or infection.
The good news is that single-sided nursing is often caused by tension in the infant’s neck that makes it uncomfortable or painful for the infant to be on one side. This tension most likely comes from a misalignment or motion restriction in their tiny spine caused by the physical stress of the birthing process. Being born is hard work, no matter how you enter the world. There is pushing, pulling and pressure that can be a lot for a little body to take. The result manifests as muscle tension that keeps the child from comfortably turning their head.
Through gentle, safe and effective chiropractic adjustments, normal alignment and motion can be restored. The tension in the muscles will decrease and the baby will be able to eat with ease.
If your little one is having trouble breastfeeding and you would like to find out if chiropractic care could help, we are happy to help!
Breastfeeding Support from Your Chiropractor
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