Nederlands
A baby cannot tell you where it hurts, so the signals are indirect: inconsolable crying, a preferred head position, arching backwards, a flattening of the skull on one side, not wanting to lie on the back, restlessness and poor sleep, excessive spitting up, or problems latching on and letting go during breastfeeding. Pregnancy and birth put real strain on a baby’s spine and upper neck: a breech or transverse position in the womb, a long labour with hours of pushing, a vacuum or forceps delivery, an induced or a very fast birth. The result can be an upper neck and skull that do not move freely, which makes the baby uncomfortable in exactly the positions it needs for feeding and sleeping.
After a careful history and examination the chiropractor first decides whether treatment makes sense or whether your child should be seen by someone else. Treatment itself is a light, specific pressure with the fingertips, no more force than you would use to test a ripe tomato. Babies recover fast; a few visits are often enough. We work closely with our paediatric physiotherapist and exercise therapist, who help with positioning, motor development and the flattened head.
