Breast-Feeding Difficulties

Making a House Call. Van Loon M, ICA Review Fall 2001. Case 1.

This is the case of a 3-day-old infant with breast-feeding difficulties. The mother had a 12-hour labor and, after birth, the baby had initially latched on but after a few hours stopped latching on. The baby became lethargic, lost weight and showed signs of jaundice. A chiropractic analysis of the child's spine and TMJ was performed at home. The child was adjusted and was then able to nurse properly.

Resolution of suckling intolerance in a 6-month-old chiropractic patient. Holtrop DP. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2000;23(9):615-618

This is the case of a 6-month-old boy who wasn't able to nurse for 4 ½ months. Once the upper neck (cervical) and cranial subluxations were corrected the baby was able to nurse immediately afterwards.

Chiropractic care for infants with dysfunctional nursing: a case series. Hewitt, EG, Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1999.

Herein are cases of two infants with dysfunctional nursing who were able to breastfeed after receiving chiropractic care.

The first infant was an 8-week-old girl unable to maintain suction while breastfeeding since birth. The mother said the child "broke suction with every suck," regurgitated excessively and exhibited extremely fussy behavior, especially in the evenings. She was diagnosed by a chiropractor with cranial subluxations and multiple craniosacral restrictions. She was able to nurse normally after receiving two chiropractic adjustments consisting of diversified spinal adjusting and craniosacral therapy over 14 days. The regurgitation and fussiness ceased, and the child was sleeping better.

A follow-up telephone call 7 months later revealed that the child continued to do well with no return of symptoms.

The second infant was a 4-week-old boy who had been unable to suckle effectively since birth. He was diagnosed with spinal and cranial subluxations. He suckled immediately following his first adjustment (consisting of diversified spinal adjusting and craniosacral therapy). He received four adjustments in 21 days.

Dr. Koren's comments: In our family, we had a similar occurrence. Shortly after our son Seth was born, we were informed that there was a problem with his suckling and he would not be able to create a tight seal around the nipple. Seth was examined by a craniosacral practitioner who found a restriction in his hard palate, probably due to the stress of labor. The restriction was released and his nursing went smoothly after that (for 39 ½ months!)

Chiropractic management of an infant experiencing breastfeeding difficulties and colic: a case study. Sheader, WE, J of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1999.

This is the case study of a 15-day-old emaciated Hispanic male infant experiencing inability to breastfeed and colic since birth.

When the child was first brought to the chiropractor's office, he was crying constantly, exhibiting "shaking, screaming, rash, and vomiting during and after feeding." The baby also had "increased distress" 30 minutes after feeding and had excessive abdominal and bowel gas since birth.

The mother reported the infant was given a Hepatitis B vaccination within hours after birth. Due to breastfeeding difficulties, the pediatrician prescribed formula but the baby reacted poorly to it.

During the chiropractic examination the infant continuously cried, with high-pitched screams, and full-body shaking. Child had a distended abdomen with excessive bowel gas.

Spinal adjustment was at the first cervical vertebra (C1) and was followed by significant reduction of crying, screaming and shaking. The mother commented on the "quietness" of her baby.

On the 2nd visit, two days later, the mother commented, "This is a completely different baby." The vomiting before and after feeding had ceased. By the 3rd visit a "significant decrease of symptoms" was reported and complete remission of abdominal findings. Baby had been successfully breastfeeding since last visit. No adjustment was given.

On 4th visit 3 days later, the baby had been symptom free for 5 days at which time he received another Hepatitis B vaccination with the return of all symptoms to a severe degree. The infant had a low grade fever as well.

Adjustment was given but there was no reduction of symptoms. The patient was adjusted three more times over the next week with minimal reduction in symptoms. By the eighth visit, eight days after receiving the vaccination, the child began to show marked improvement and by the 11th visit, no symptoms were noticed and no adjustment was given. Seventeen days after vaccination, there was a return of all symptoms; by the 13th visit "the infant did not exhibit any significant recurring symptoms.

Dr. Koren comments: the high-pitched screaming the child exhibited is a diagnostic cry (cri-encephalique) which is due to irritation of the central nervous system. Children with neurologic damage should not be vaccinated or re-vaccinated. The MD who vaccinated this child did not follow protocol, as most MDs do not since they largely ignore vaccine damage and do not report it. The author should have discussed the possibility of vaccine damage with the mother so she could make an informed choice regarding the continued vaccination of her child.

Case study: infant's inability to breast-feed. Krauss, L. Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 1 No. 3 Dec. 1994 p.27.

This is the case study of a three-week-old girl with colic, flatulence and outbursts of crying from 9 PM to 1 AM since birth, 19 days prior.

Upon examination, the child had inversion and pronation of left foot, left ear was folded, left cervical lateral flexion posture, rooting was poor, facial asymmetry and right lateral mandible.

Chiropractic care and CranioSacral therapy was begun. The author writes: "We suspected that his posture in utero was the primary contributing factor to child's physical asymmetry and subluxation pattern. By forth week of adjustments baby began to breast-feed from both breasts."

Apparently the inability to breast-feed due to pain caused by atlas subluxation and TMJ dysfunction.

Birth induced TMJ dysfunction: the most common cause of breastfeeding difficulties. Arcadi, VC, Sherman Oaks, CA, Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics. Oct, 1993 Palm Springs, CA. Pub. Int'l Chiropractors Assoc., Arlington, VA.

1,000 newborns age one hour to 21 days with failure and/or difficulty with breast feeding were checked for spinal, structural problems. All babies were all born vaginally with a lay midwife and without drugs in a calm, warm, peaceful setting.

All babies were examined and in all cases a cranial distortion was present due to the birth process. The birth trauma apparently produced a TMJ dysfunction which interrupted proper suckling mechanics, causing severe headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances in 800 or 80%, of the babies

Chiropractic cranial and spinal adjustments brought excellent results in 99% of the cases. This paper discusses the basic clinical findings, related newborn discomforts, and associated symptomatology involving other symptoms.

Newborn with atlas subluxation/absent rooting reflex. Case reports in chiropractic pediatrics (case #4). Esch, S. ACA J of Chiropractic December 1988.

A two day old newborn female with lethargy and a yellowish skin color present since birth and an inability to nurse (unable to "latch on") was brought to the chiropractor.

A medical doctor said the baby was "probably hypothyroid" and should be hospitalized. Instead her atlas was adjusted for a left lateral listing. Immediately thereafter, the baby exhibited a strong bilateral rooting reflex and began nursing.

The jaundice quickly cleared. The mother continued to nurse her child for two years.


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