Chiropractic care for infants with dysfunctional nursing: a case series

Journal: Jour Clin Chiro Pediatrics. 1999;4(1):241-244

Authors: Hewitt E

Abstract:

Objective: To present the cases of two infants with dysfunctional nursing who were able to breastfeed normally after receiving chiropractic care. Physiological mechanisms are presented explaining how chiropractic care may restore normal suckling.

Clinical Features: The first case involves an 8-week-old girl unable to maintain suction while breastfeeding since birth. She was diagnosed by a chiropractor with cranial subluxations. The second infant a 4-week-old boy, had been unable to suckle effectively since birth. He was diagnosed with spinal and cranial subluxations.

Intervention and Outcome: Each infant received diversified spinal adjusting and/or craniosacral therapy based on the clinical findings. The first was able to nurse normally after receiving 2 chiropractic adjustments over 14 days. The second infant suckled immediately following his first adjustment and received a total of 4 adjustments in 21 days.

Conclusions: This paper reports two cases in which chiropractic care was followed by immediate resolution of dysfunctional nursing. Further research is needed to determine the role of the chiropractic adjustment in normalizing neonatal suckling.