5 Benefits of Chiropractic for Babies and Postpartum Moms in Denver
The first months after the baby is born could be the most challenging time in a mother’s life. The days are completely wrapped around the tiny new person you have brought to life. This is truly a delicate time. During this postpartum period, women find that one day quickly merges into another with seemingly very few tasks accomplished. The combinations of sleep deprivation, feeding routines, learning the needs and cues of a newborn baby, on top of coping with after-pains, can feel overwhelming.
In this tender season, both you and your baby deserve the care that supports your physical health, nurtures your well-being, and encourages healthy development. Chiropractic care, especially when provided by a doctor with advanced pediatric and postpartum training, offers a safe, gentle way to help your bodies adapt and thrive.
Chiropractic is one of those secret weapons for families. Not only does it have a profound effect on newborns, but it also makes a world of difference for moms, too.
Let’s explore how chiropractic care can benefit both postpartum recovery and your baby’s development.
Understanding Your Baby’s Nervous System
The nervous system is the communication network between the brain and every part of the body. In infants, it’s developing at a rapid pace. Every milestone, rolling over, crawling, walking, depends on clear communication between the brain, spinal cord, and body.
If there’s interference in that system, such as subtle misalignments caused during birth, it can affect how your baby grows and functions.
How Birth Can Affect the Nervous System
Even in the most natural and uncomplicated births, a baby’s spine and neck go through significant pressure and twisting. Short or very long labor, restricted maternal positions, cesarean delivery, the use of pitocin to strengthen contractions, and pulling or twisting on the head to deliver the infant are all examples of birth trauma. Trauma can create tiny misalignments (called subluxations) that may impact nerve function.
These changes can sometimes show up as:
- Difficulty latching or feeding
- Excessive fussiness or colic
- Trouble sleeping
- Asymmetrical head shape (flat spots)
- Favoring turning the head to one side
- Delayed motor skill development
- Digestive disturbances
While these symptoms are common, they’re not something you have to “wait out.” Left uncorrected, this trauma may continue to impact a baby’s spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of the nervous system. This can cause various health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented. Gentle chiropractic adjustments for babies can help restore balance to the nervous system so the body can function at its best.
Denver Baby Chiropractor
As a parent, you want to be sure your baby is cared for by someone with the right training and experience. Dr. John has completed over 1500 hours of post-doctorate studies and is a member of the International Pediatric Chiropractic Association. He is a pediatric chiropractor, meaning he has completed specialized education in safely and effectively adjusting infants and children.
His focus is always on gentle, precise adjustments with minimal pressure.
What Makes Newborn Chiropractic Different?
If you’ve experienced chiropractic care yourself, you might wonder how those techniques could possibly be used on a newborn. The answer is simple: they’re not the same. Baby chiropractic adjustments use the lightest touch, often no more than the pressure you’d use to test the ripeness of a peach.
Babies are usually adjusted while resting comfortably in a parent’s arms or lying on their chest. There are no quick twists or forceful movements. Instead, Dr. John uses precise, gentle pressure to guide tiny joints into better alignment.
You can see exactly how calm and gentle this process is in our short infant adjustment video on social media. Many parents tell us that watching these videos helped them feel more confident about their baby’s first visit.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Babies
Parents often report seeing positive changes after their baby begins chiropractic care, such as:
- Improved feeding and latching – Restoring balance to the neck and jaw can help babies feed more efficiently.
- Better sleep – A more relaxed and comfortable nervous system may help babies sleep more soundly.
- Reduced fussiness – Addressing discomfort at the root can help ease colic-like symptoms.
- Support for healthy development – Proper spinal alignment supports every stage of motor development.
- Enhanced digestion – Balancing nerve communication can help with issues like reflux or constipation.
Chiropractic Supports Neurological Development
By ensuring proper spinal alignment, we’re helping optimize the nervous system’s ability to coordinate all of your baby’s developing systems.
From rolling over at 4-6 months to crawling around 8-10 months, each milestone requires proper nervous system coordination. When the spine is properly aligned, nerve signals can flow freely, supporting:
- Motor skill development: Rolling, sitting, crawling, and eventually walking
- Sensory processing: How your baby interprets and responds to their environment
- Reflexes: Those important primitive reflexes that should integrate as the baby develops
- Coordination: The complex interplay between different body systems
Dr. John’s pediatric training allows him to assess and gently correct any spinal misalignments that might be hindering your baby’s natural development.
Chiropractic Care for Postpartum Moms
While you’re focused on your new baby, your body is dealing with significant changes and challenges. Pregnancy and childbirth create substantial shifts in your musculoskeletal system, and the demands of new motherhood can compound these issues.
Hip Alignment After Birth
During pregnancy, your body produces relaxin, a hormone that softens ligaments to prepare for birth. While this is necessary for delivery, it can leave your pelvis unstable and misaligned afterward. Common issues include:
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Hip flexor tightness
- Uneven weight distribution
- Lower back compensation patterns
Proper chiropractic care can help realign your pelvis and restore stability to your core foundation.
Lower Back Recovery and Support
Your lower back took on extra stress for nine months, and now it’s dealing with new challenges like:
- Lifting and carrying your growing baby
- Bending over cribs and changing tables
- Sleep deprivation affecting muscle recovery
- Hormonal changes affecting tissue healing
Regular adjustments can help restore proper spinal alignment and reduce the chronic tension that builds up in these overworked muscles.
Optimizing Nerve Supply for Breastfeeding
Here’s something many new moms don’t realize: proper nerve function is crucial for successful breastfeeding. The nerves that control milk production and the let-down reflex can be affected by spinal misalignments, particularly in the upper back and neck region.
Dr. John’s Webster certification includes an understanding of how spinal health affects the entire reproductive and nursing process. By ensuring proper nerve flow, we can support:
- Improved milk production
- Better let-down reflex
- Reduced breastfeeding discomfort
- Enhanced maternal-infant bonding
Upper Back and Shoulder Relief
New moms develop a unique set of postural problems that we see regularly in our Denver practice.
The “Mom Hunch”: Constantly looking down at your baby while nursing, feeding, or soothing creates forward head posture and rounded shoulders.
Car Seat Syndrome: Repeatedly lifting and carrying that increasingly heavy car seat creates uneven stress patterns through your shoulders and upper back. Hence, the reason we encourage you to bring your baby in the stroller rather than the car seat.
Rocking Chair Slouch: Those long nights in the nursery rocker often mean sleeping in awkward positions that compress your spine and strain your neck.
One-Sided Baby Carrying: Most moms develop a preferred side for carrying their baby, creating muscular imbalances.
These patterns can lead to headaches, neck pain, and that constant feeling of tightness between your shoulder blades.
When you schedule a pediatric chiropractic visit for your baby and you wish to get care as well, your examination focuses on the specific challenges of postpartum recovery:
- Pelvic alignment assessment
- Spinal posture evaluation
- Range of motion testing
- Muscle tension identification
- Discussion of daily activities and challenges
Treatment is tailored to your specific needs and comfort level, especially if you’re still recovering from delivery.
Beyond the Adjustment: Supporting Your Family’s Health
Chiropractic care is just one piece of the wellness puzzle. We also provide guidance on:
- Proper positioning for feeding and sleeping
- Exercises to support your postpartum recovery
- Ergonomic tips for daily baby care activities
- Resources to prepare yourself for parenthood
Research and Continued Learning
The field of pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic continues to evolve. Organizations like the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA4kids.org) and resources like Pathway to Family Wellness provide ongoing research and education about the benefits of chiropractic care for families.
Dr. John maintains his continuing education in these specialized areas because we believe in providing care based on the most current understanding of pediatric and maternal health.
When to Bring Your Baby In
While it’s never too late, we recommend bringing your baby for their first chiropractic check as soon as possible after birth. The earlier we can identify and address nervous system interference, the more we can support their developmental journey. Here are just three clear indicators that your baby should get checked by a chiropractor:
- The baby’s head tilts to one side, even after you straighten it.
- The baby seems to have a preference for turning one side and may have difficulty turning his or her head the other direction.
- The baby has difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly and may show colic symptoms.
To see other indicators why parents choose to bring their kids to a chiropractor, visit our other article “10 Signs Your Child Should See a Chiropractor.”
What to Expect at Your Baby’s First Visit
Warm Welcome & Family-Friendly Space
Our office is designed with families in mind, so you and your baby will feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. We encourage you to bring your baby in a stroller rather than a car seat. There is plenty of room to move around. You can use the privacy of one of our rooms for feeding and diaper changes.
Thorough Consultation
Dr. John will take time to listen to your birth story, pregnancy history, and any concerns you’ve noticed about your baby’s comfort or development.
Gentle Assessment
Using light touch, Dr. John will check for areas of tension, imbalance, or misalignment that may be affecting your baby’s nervous system.
Safe, Gentle Adjustments
Adjustments are precise and adapted entirely to your baby’s size and needs. Many infants are relaxed or even smile during care. Chiropractors who care for infants use very specific, gentle adjustments, and most ICPA doctors have taken advanced classes on specific techniques for infants.
FAQs About Baby Chiropractic Care
1. Is chiropractic safe for babies?
Yes, when performed by a chiropractor with specialized pediatric training like Dr. John, infant chiropractic is extremely gentle and safe.
2. How soon after birth should I bring my baby?
As soon as you feel ready. Many parents come within the first week or two after birth.
3. Will my baby cry during the adjustment?
Most babies remain completely relaxed; others may fuss briefly from being in a new environment. The adjustment itself is gentle and not painful.
4. How many visits will my baby need?
Every child is different. Some benefit from a few visits, while others do well with regular check-ins during growth and milestone stages. We’ll make recommendations based on your baby’s needs and your goals.
5. Does my baby need chiropractic care even if there are no obvious issues?
Yes, just like you’d take your baby to a pediatrician for a well-check, a chiropractic nervous system check is a proactive step for their health.
6. Can I be adjusted during the same visit?
Yes. Many mothers find it convenient to receive their own postpartum care while their baby is being seen.
Gentle Beginnings for a Healthy Future
Your baby’s first months are a precious opportunity to set the stage for lifelong health. A simple, gentle check of their spine and nervous system can help ensure their development gets the best possible start.
The Next Step
If you’d like to see what an infant adjustment looks like, you can watch this Instagram short to feel confident about how calm and comfortable the process is.
Ready to have your baby’s nervous system checked?
Schedule an appointment with Dr. John, our Denver baby chiropractor, and take the first step toward a healthy, happy start for your little one.