Babies with Dysfunctional Nursing Respond to Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (vol. 4, No. 1 1999) reports on two case studies where two infants with dysfunctional nursing were able to breastfeed normally after chiropractic care.

In the first case, an 8 week-old girl was unable to maintain a proper amount of suction while feeding. She had been unable to do so since her birth. After receiving two chiropractic adjustments in a 14 day period, she was able to feed normally. Follow-up revealed that at 9 1/2 months of age, the baby was still feeding normally.

The second case involved a 4 week-old boy who had been unable to effectively suckle since birth. This child suckled immediately after his first adjustment. He went on to receive a total of 4 adjustments in 21 days. Follow-up in this case found that the baby was still doing fine at 3 months of age.

According to the author, chiropractor Elise G. Hewitt, "breastfeeding is important for a healthy infant. Not only does breast milk reduce both mortality and morbidity among infants but the act of nursing creates an important bond between mother and child. Dysfunctional nursing can negatively impact the mother, creating feelings of guilt, depression and anger, all of which may negatively affect the mother-child bonding relationship."

Hewitt mentions a 1980 study of 239 mothers who chose to breastfeed their children. The study found that only 46% of the mothers continued to breastfeed at 22 weeks. 59% of the reasons given to discontinue breastfeeding were potentially related to the child not being able to nurse properly.

By way of commentary, all children, not just those with obvious problems should have their spines checked for subluxations, misalignments of the small bones of the spine that can interfere with normal bodily functions. Clearing interference to these children's nervous systems allowed them to return to a more complete state of proper function and health, as it can in any child.