August is National Breastfeeding Month

Motherhood is stressful on the body – the limited sleep, weird sleeping positions, adjusting to carrying the baby outside the body instead of inside, etc. All of this stress can put increased stress on the spine and often the milk supply. Many postpartum patients complain of upper thoracic pain and headaches, possibly because of the extended time gazing downward at the feeding child. Chiropractic adjustments help by removing or relieving some of this stress on the body and the spine.

Adjustments aren’t just for adults, though. Just the birthing process alone can cause subtle movements or subluxations in the infant’s neck that can often affect breastfeeding abilities. Often 70-90 pounds of force is placed on the baby’s neck during delivery causing this shift. Infants who have been adjusted often nurse more easily with less fussiness. “Successful breast-feeding requires that an infant’s entire neuromuscular system is functioning well. A study done on 114 infants with feeding problems revealed that 78 percent were able to exclusively breastfeed after two to five treatments within a two-week period.” (ACA) If your infant has difficulty latching or prefers nursing only on one side often respond well to chiropractic treatment.

If someone you know could benefit from this information, please share this blog with them. Our doctor is happy to offer a free consultation to anyone who brings in this article; to schedule please contact us. This commentary is based on an article provided from our friends at the American Chiropractic Association.

For more information about our events check out our Facebook page