One of the most common causes of a subluxation on the baby's cervical spine is caused at birth.
In childbirth, due to the force applied by the obstetrician stretching and turning the baby's head to deliver the baby, it can be one of the main causes of the first cervical subluxation of the baby's cervicals. The estimated force that can be applied in a birth can be from 15kg to 50kg, and this will always depend on the difficulty of the birth and the different techniques that are applied, for example, the use of vacuum cups and/or forceps, or whether a caesarean section is performed or a natural birth is carried out.
Many authorities suggest that the position of the mother together with the obstetrician plays a role in the occurrence of ”baby-adjustments”. When the mother is lying on her back on the stretcher during labour, she works against gravity and the size of the pelvic opening is considerably reduced.
These factors require the physician to pull hard on the baby's head. This results in increased traction and twisting during the birthing process, which together with decreased pelvic outlet and non-alignment with gravity, often provide the perfect scenario for obstetric trauma and can lead to developmental problems in the newborn.
Chiropractors and paediatricians have warned of the danger that a traumatic birth can cause to a newborn baby and its spine.. This damage can cause anything from mild subluxations in the upper neck to severe subluxations related to spinal cord damage, nerve damage and central nervous system haemorrhage.
DAMAGE THAT CAN LEAD TO SUBLUXATION OF THE BABY'S CERVICAL SPINE:
During childbirth with these techniques, it involves a stress enormous strain on the spinal column and especially on the vertebrae, causing subluxations and damaging fragile nerves that exit from the spine to the baby's organs, glands and tissues.
By making the child able to suffer:
- Infant colic
- Congenital torticollis
- Cranial asymmetry
- Bronchitis
- Sleep disorders
- Cries
The birth process is not only the first spinal shock we suffer, it is therefore recommended to examine your baby as early as possible in order to eliminate any possible birth-related trauma or subluxation. The importance of a developing newborn being free of nerve interference cannot be underestimated. This check can be performed by a Doctor of Chiropractic, in fact, it is easy and painless. (click here to see images of a baby fitting in our clinic)
