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Chiropractic
treatments can help expecting mothers by ensuring that joints get into good shape both before and
after the birth. They can also help with pain management.
During pregnancy,
problems crop up as the body struggles to cope with the huge changes placed upon it. The extra weight and the hormones can
lead to ligament laxity, which can, in turn, cause mild to severe pubic joint pain and low back pain. Other
joint pains, especially in the knees and hips, are not uncommon. Simple tasks like walking up stairs, getting on public
transport and carrying shopping bags can become a nightmare. And subsequent babies take an even greater toll,
especially on the neck and shoulders. Not only is the mother already taking care of an active child(ren) but she no longer
has time for relaxing bathes or soothing yoga classes. For working mothers, commuting
or sitting at a computer can compound any problem. Chiropractic help locate and correct the structural
misalignment of the nervous system, spine and joints of the body. Treatments relieve pain and ensure the body is
functioning at its optimal level. The chiropractic corrections, or what we call ‘adjustments’, are very specific
and are applied to the areas of the body that may have nerve interference. These adjustments are extremely
gentle. Personally, I use a light index finger contact and hold for a short period of time, with a quick release. It's
about the same amount of pressure one would use to test the firmness of a tomato. Sometimes I use an instrument called
an activator to help to achieve the same light touch. The actual
birth process can also cause physical problems that chiropractic help alleviate. Some say having a baby is more
strenuous than running a marathon so it's no surprise that misalignment or injury to the pelvic joints
and ligaments can happen in even ‘ normal births’. Complications like prolonged labour, obstructions
to birth, multiple births, chemically assisted births, or pre-existing back problems aggravate the situation. When a new
mother experiences pain, lifting a baby, breastfeeding or getting a restful sleep becomes very difficult. This can have
a huge impact on her state of mind and mood. A chiropractor can hopefully prevent
some of these painful aches with prenatal care and physically correct the problems as soon as possible postnatally.
Pregnancy and childbirth involves a huge lifestyle change and this is often a time of contrasting emotions.
For some women, it can be overwhelming. If I feel a patient's issues
are out of my scope of care (e.g. post natal depression or anxiety disorders) I will co-manage with a GP, counsellor or psychologist,
to get the emotional support and help needed. Camden council also have a website with a link to get extra help such as books
or confidential counselling. http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/contacts/categories/contacts-for-post-natal-depression.en The key: be well informed
and seek support when needed. SKIING WITH KIDS (Feb. 2010) When Should Children See an Eye Doctor? Just as taking
care of your child’s teeth is important, so too is having their eyes examined by an Optometrist. Children’s eye
examinations are nothing to worry about. They are tailored to your child’s age and can be done from the age of 3 onwards.
In fact pre-school eye examinations are vital to ensure that your child’s eyes are developing
normally. Children often do not communicate any visual problems as they do not know what to expect from their eyesight. Warning signs to look out for that may indicate your child is having difficulty seeing include:
·
Screwing eyes up and straining eyes · Poor hand/eye co-ordination
and increased clumsiness ·
Eye rubbing, frequent blinking and watery eyes · Poor concentration and difficulty
at school ·
Headaches A full eye examination carried out by an Optometrist
will assess your child’s distance and near vision, eye movements, focusing ability, peripheral awareness and general
eye health including colour blindness. An eye examination will also screen for amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (turning
eye/squint) Amblyopia = where one eye is weaker and cannot
see the same amount of detail as the fellow eye. This can prevent the two eyes working together and make depth perception
and binocular vision difficult. Strabismus = where one eye
appears to turn in or out either constantly or when concentrating or tired. This will also disrupt development of normal binocular
vision. Both these conditions are prevalent in childhood and have many different causes. They need to be diagnosed and investigated
promptly. Early intervention will allow a chance for normal sight to develop. If necessary your child can be referred to a
paediatric ophthalmologist for further treatment. If a focusing
problem is found during the eye examination, corrective glasses can be prescribed. Fortunately, these days there is plenty
of choice in children’s eyewear and glasses can be fashionable, functional and fun.
The NHS will even contribute to a portion of the cost of children’s
glasses. Eye examinations are available FREE on the NHS for; - Children under the age of 16 - Youngsters
between ages 16 to 18 who are still in full time education Eye
examinations are a vital health check to ensure healthy eyes and normal sight. Healthy eyes and good eye sight is critical
to your child’s educational and social development. Early intervention will allow a chance for normal visual development
and have less impact on your child’s ability to read, write and play. At Perspective Optometrists we provide a welcoming and child friendly environment. As an Optometrist I have over
10 years of experience in paediatric eye care and have a specialist diploma in the subject. We have taken care to source a
wide range of children’s spectacles and sunglasses. Appointments are available Monday to Saturday between 9.30am –
5.30pm. With FREE NHS eye examinations available there really is no reason not to have your child’s eyes checked regularly.
Once you are satisfied that a potential nanny/babysitter has the right
experience, move on to the next level. Good eye-contact during
the interview is crucial, and she should be able to answer your questions directly and honestly.
It is of course important that she has a good co-parenting relationship with you, but the most important
thing to look for is how she reacts with your child. Children follow their instincts. Before
hiring your nanny, have a trial of half a day or so to see how she bonds with your baby. You will get the best feedback of
all, on your chosen nanny, when you see your baby's mood when nanny hands over to you at the end of her working day. The final stage of hiring a nanny is perhaps the most important: Don't employ anyone without
speaking with their previous employers, even if a nanny agency tells you that they have checked the references.
A nanny's first month should be a two-way trial, to see how everyone fits in.
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Birth often causes the first subluxations (nerve interference or spinal dysfunction). The immense compression
and then stretching of the baby’s delicate spine involved in even ‘normal’ delivery can cause damage. Difficult
labour, forceps, or vacuum extraction, and Cesarean section exacerbate the situation. Excessive crying, arching of the
back, not settling are all signs that there may be problems with baby's spine. One study examined a group of
apparently healthy children and found that 15.8% had cervical subluxations (neck problems) and 40% had pelvic subluxations
(Lewit K, Barth JA Leipzig. Functional Disorders of the spine in children. Manuelle Therapie. 1973;2(7):50-54)
Derek was a 2-month-old baby who ‘screamed the house down,’ according to his Mum. Not
only was the baby suffering, but Mum and Dad were also exhausted and frustrated. It put a lot of strain on their
relationship. I diagnosed a spinal misalignment of the baby's atlas,
a bone in the upper neck. Once this was corrected, Mum said Derek slept the whole night. She even went to check on him 7 times
because she just couldn’t believe it. He settled down after that and started to feed off both breasts. Derek looked
a lot happier (and so did Mum!!) She also noticed he moved his neck more to both sides and didn’t arch his back anymore
-- the misalignment in his spine had restricted his movements. It must have been
very uncomfortable for him. The pressure on the spinal nerves meant he just couldn't relax, and the pain
was probably particularly acute if he was lying on his back or on his right side (to feed on the left breast.) I was
very happy I could help.
During an examination, I use
a very gentle and very specific light touch correction technique especially developed for babies and children. It's about
the same amount of pressure that you would use when testing the ripeness of a tomato. Children seem to really enjoy it. I test a baby's nerves, spine and joints for about an hour, and if the
diagnosis is not in the scope of my care, I will refer out. How does one know if chiropractic treatments can help a crying baby? Nerve dysfunction can manifest
differently from child to child. For example that neck misalignment I described can give one patient headaches and neck pain
and restricted movement, another dizziness, another recurrent ear infections, another colic. That's because that
one spinal nerve root has thousands of branches that go to different muscles, joints, and organs. When should I introduce solids?
(October 2009) By Dr. Linda Balazic Weaning your child onto solids can be particularly confusing and it is important to wait
until your child is ready for this next stage. Some signs that your baby is ready for solid foods are…
·
Your baby has the ability to sit up well ·
Your baby seems hungrier than usual between breast or formula feeds and does not seem as content
or settled. She may also seem to drain your breast quickly or be frustrated during a feed. ·
Your baby seems interested. Initially your baby may seem fascinated watching you eat (while sitting
on your lap). Over the following few weeks, your baby will start to reach for your fork, pull at your hand or vocalise his
interest. · Your
baby starts moving his tongue back and forth in his mouth, rather than up and down in a sucking motion. (This means he
is ready to move food from lips to throat.) If you are holding off feeding your baby because of concerns over allergies
-- don't. Research suggests that solely breastfeeding for the first year will only delay the onset of allergies and not
prevent them altogether. By 6 months, breast milk is starting to become depleted in iron, zinc and vitamin C. Therefore, slow
introduction of quality nutrition with special attention to essential fatty acids (EFA's), is more effective in preventing
allergies than delaying solid foods. (Silverman WA J. Paed Aug 1,2002) If your baby spits the food out, or simply
drools, (or keeps the food in his mouth rather than swallowing), wait a few weeks and try again. It's not necessarily
a sign he does not like a particular food -- just that maybe he's not ready. Many parents start at six months,
but some children take longer in getting started. A good rule of thumb is to introduce one food in small amounts for
at least one week (preferably two) before adding additional items to your child’s menu. Most nutritional
books recommend beginning with pureed vegetables. This helps identify allergic reactions. The most common allergies
in children are from cow’s milk, eggs, fish, nuts and wheat. When allergies are ruled out, giving a larger portion of one food
at a feed, rather than small amounts of several foods, allows your baby time to absorb the nutrients easier. 6-9
months Before jumping into what first foods you should introduce to your baby,
let's start with what you shouldn't. While books often recommend starting with pureed apples, bananas and standard
infant rice cereal, the latest research suggest this is not a good idea. Bananas can increase mucus production while slow digestion,
which can lead to constipation. Meanwhile, apples may cause dose related salicylate allergies. Some
children have sensitivity to this family of plant chemicals found naturally in many foods. These chemicals help fruit to ripen
naturally. They can produce nervous system sensitivities and hyperactivity, skin problems (itching, rash, urticaria,
acne), swelling of the face, hands and feet, breathing difficulties, cough, stomach pains and upset. Avocados make an excellent first food as they are low in sugar and rich in important oils
and minerals, including iron and vitamins. Avocados are also a lot easier on tiny digestive systems than commercially
prepared products. Example Breakfast- breastfeed
or formula Mid morning – avocado (perhaps a third)*, or breast
milk or formula mixed with avocado (or next menu item) Lunch/early afternoon-
breastfeed Early evening- Avocado* Evening-
breastfeed, formula * Each
offered with a bottle of pre boiled, filtered water. Slowly introduce the following vegetables
and fruits -- it’s good to alternate for a variety of nutrients.
Fruits:
Mango, stone fruits like peaches, nectarines and plums (skin and stone removed), pears, rock melon, papaya.
Vegetables:
zucchini, pumpkin, squash, mushrooms, celery and green beans Stewing, steaming or baking, then pureeing, will help an infant's
digestive system. While carrots often appear on baby's first food list, it's best to wait until after nine months
as carrots contain nitrates, which change the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. Leave
out spinach, beetroot and collard greens for the same reason. As for grains, start with organic
and gluten free, iron fortified rice cereal, amaranth, millet and quinoa. You
may have to go to the health food store for these. Millet will need 3 cups of water for 1 cup of grain
then cook for 15-20 minutes. Quinoa, which is rich in calcium and iron, requires 10-15 minutes
to cook with 2 cups of water for 1 cup of grain. These can be blended or simply added to other foods.
You should hold off cereals that contain cows milk until 12-15 months. 9-12 months
Vegetables:
Now your baby is ready for chewier options like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus (these are all great as finger foods),
spinach and beetroot. But leave sweet potato and corn until after 10 months. White potatoes, which
are high in starch (sugar), tomatoes which are high in salicylates and acidity, peppers and eggplants, are best omitted until
closer to 12 months. Grains: Add gluten grains such as oats, barley, rice porridge and basmati rice.
Try to minimise wheat products if possible. From basmati rice, move to brown rice (closer to 18 months) and then
finally to white rice.
Protein:
Serve organic meat once or twice a week. Cook slowly to make it more easily digestible. Offer organic Soya products
and tofu as well as different types of beans. Egg yolks are fine but save the whites for 12
months plus as babies are often sensitive to albumen. Organic nuts and seeds (ground
or crushed) are also recommended -- try almond and sunflower seeds first as these are the least allergenic. Leave peanut butter
until after 12 months. Keep fish off the menu until 12 months, as it is sometimes also allergenic. More Tips - Wait until 12 months until introducing honey due to
sensitivity of growing teeth and adverse reactions to propolis - Remember fresh and
natural is always best, so if you have time to prepare baby’s own food this would be ideal. -
Freezing small portions of your purees and defrosting one at a time, helps during
busy weeks. - Be wary of the dried fruit in the supermarket. Try and buy sulfer dioxide free (220) and organic and you
can soak them in boiling water overnight for rehydration before consuming. Or offer water to drink with it. 
NW3Kids is pleased to announce that Dr. Linda Balazic will be writing a monthly article for
the website on health issues regarding pregnancy, children, nutrition and chiropractic science.
www.naturalhealthchiro.co.uk Please be advised that all opinions, facts and arguments are entirely her own.
CAN CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS HELP A CRYING
BABY?
Listening to your newborn cry non-stop can
be very distressing, especially for new mothers, who dream of baby cuddles and smiles. And most books tell you there is nothing
you can do to soothe an “irritable or colicky” baby, as the underlying causes of the crying
have yet to be fully understood. But in many cases, babies cry because they are in pain and chiropractic
treatments can help.
(1)Lewit K, Barth JA Leipzig. Functional Disorders of the spine in children. Manuelle Therapie.
1973;2(7):50-54
Please visit www.naturalhealthchiro.co.uk or call 0207 431 4882 if you have any questions on the articles
or anything else about the health of you or your family.
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