Acid reflux in babies is quite common. In most cases, it’s preventable. Reflux is often caused by a baby’s developing digestive system or a disconnected nervous. Can a chiropractor help with infant acid reflux? Chiropractic care may be able to help if you’re concerned about reflux in your baby or believe your child has reflux more often than normal.
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Infant Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux symptoms in infants include:
- You may have difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Frequent vomiting
- Coughing up blood frequently
- Gagging or difficulty swallowing is a common symptom.
- After eating, arch your back.
- Refusing food
- After feeding, irritability can occur
Infant reflux: What are the causes?
Acid reflux is most commonly caused by the digestive system of infants. In babies, the muscles that connect the esophagus to the stomach are not fully developed. The stomach contents will flow into the esophagus.
As the muscles become stronger, they allow for healthy digestion with less reflux. This takes time and is the reason why babies spit up so often.
Reflux can also be caused by:
- GERD
- Pyloric Stenosis
- Food allergy/intolerance
- Sandifer syndrome
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Obstruction of the small intestine
- Vertebral misalignment
How Can a Chiropractor Help with Infant Acid Reflux
Can a chiropractor help with infant acid reflux? At Island Breeze, we believe chiropractic care is an all-natural, safe way to treat infant reflux. It helps to optimize the performance of the body by removing nervous system interference. After a single chiropractic adjustment, many babies experience fewer reflux symptoms.
This is particularly true for babies who have reflux due to a misalignment of the vertebrae. Chiropractors gently correct misalignments, which allows the upper valve to develop control of the stomach as quickly as possible. Chiropractic treatments can also improve nerve functions, which can relieve many common infant disorders.
Chiropractic care can be helpful, whether your child has reflux regularly or only occasionally.
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Chiropractic methods for safely treating infants
When performed by a qualified chiropractor, chiropractic care for babies is non-invasive and safe. This also avoids the use of medications that may cause unpleasant side effects.
Most babies can receive chiropractic treatment in their first few weeks, even if some parents prefer to wait. If the treatment pressure is gentle, it shouldn’t have any negative side effects.
Spinal manipulative therapy is the most common type of treatment for babies. It involves a gentle hands-on adjustment made to the vertebrae. It targets the joints of the spine, creating more space for them to move. A popping noise is heard during the chiropractic adjustment, which indicates that air has been released from the joint.
Chiropractic doctors also use soft tissue therapies, such as massage to relieve common ailments in infants. Parents may also be recommended exercises to do at home to promote healthy growth.
Parents should work with a chiropractor who has treated babies before. You should also speak with your child’s doctor about chiropractic treatments. This is especially true if the treatment is part of an ongoing plan to treat chronic or persistent issues.
The Benefits of Infant Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic care for your infant has many other benefits, including helping to manage reflux. You can, for example:
Reducing or Curing Ear Infections
For some children, frequent ear infection or ear pain may be linked to minor spinal cord injuries. The coordination of various systems in the body, such as the brain, the ears and the ear tubes is essential for proper functioning. Chiropractic care helps to ensure that communication channels throughout the body, including the developing body, are not obstructed. This allows for optimal functioning and prevents ear infections.
Colic Pain Relief
Infants often experience colic and the associated pain. This is also linked to a developing digestive system, just like reflux. Disconnection between the nervous and spinal cords can increase the risk of colic in babies. Chiropractic treatments promote the development of the brain’s communication with the digestive system.
Reduces Fussiness
Babies with unbalanced nervous systems tend to be more fussy. Chiropractic care can help to alleviate nervous system issues, which will reduce how fussy your baby is.
Breastfeeding Support
Chiropractic treatments can help your baby suckle and eat properly. A damaged spinal cord can make it difficult for your child to latch on to the breast. Chiropractic care can heal this damage, and encourage healthy nursing habits. This includes problems with latching and suction.
Promotes a strong immune system
Chiropractic treatment helps your baby build the strongest immune system possible. The brain’s ability release hormones is directly linked to immunity. Chiropractic care allows the nervous system function correctly, ensuring that everything is balanced and develops as it should.
How to Manage Infant Reflux at Home
Parents can take several steps at home to reduce their baby’s reflux risk. You can, for example:
- Keep your baby upright for at least 30 minutes following feeding. This will help the contents of your baby’s stomach to stay in place and allow them to digest properly.
- Feed your baby smaller portions more often. Consider feeding your baby less often and spreading out the feedings throughout the day if you find that your baby has reflux.
- Burp your baby frequently during and after meals. Burping your baby frequently can prevent air from building up which could trigger reflux.
- If your baby has reflux, they must sleep on their back. Most babies will sleep on their backs, whether they have reflux or not.
Summing Up
Can a chiropractor help with infant acid reflux? Absolutely! Although acid reflux is common due to babies’ evolving digestive systems, chiropractic care provides a natural and effective approach to managing it. By correcting spinal misalignments and optimizing nervous system function, chiropractors can effectively ease symptoms while simultaneously improving overall infant well-being.
Remember, chiropractic care can be a useful asset. However, it’s still essential to consult your pediatrician and follow his or her treatment plan in terms of evaluation and therapy for reflux in babies.
Island Breeze believes in the power of natural, gentle healing for infants. Get in touch with us now to discover how chiropractic care could be of benefit to your little one!
