WElcome TO
Explore our blog that focuses on holistic care for any and all ages - pediatric well-being, pre/post-natal health, and adult vitality.
THE BLOG
Has your child been to countless doctor appointments, endured multiple rounds of blood work, and maybe even expensive MRIs or other tests, yet you still don’t have real answers about what’s causing their chronic health struggles? You’ve been told everything looks “normal” on their labs, but your child is still dealing with sleep issues, digestive problems, behavioral challenges, or developmental delays.
Meanwhile, your pediatrician keeps saying “They’ll grow out of it” or offers another medication to manage the symptoms. You’re left feeling frustrated, unheard, and desperate for answers that make sense.
You’re not alone, and more importantly, you’re not wrong. There’s something crucial missing from your child’s healthcare journey – an assessment that could finally reveal the real root cause of their health challenges.
The Missing Piece That Changes Everything
What if there was a crucial examination that reveals the true source of your child’s health challenges – one that most doctors never perform? An assessment so advanced it can detect hidden dysfunction that traditional medicine misses, yet it’s completely safe and non-invasive for children as young as one day old.
This isn’t wishful thinking. It’s science-based healthcare that looks beyond symptoms to find answers.
Why Traditional Medicine Falls Short
Here’s a reality that should concern every parent: traditional medicine relies primarily on symptoms and looks for obvious pathology through standard exams like blood work, MRIs, and EEGs. Yet these tests often come back “normal” even when children are clearly struggling with significant health challenges.
What’s missing from this approach is an assessment of the most critical system that determines whether your child is healthy or not – the central nervous system.
Dr. Bruce Lipton, a renowned cell biologist, explains it perfectly:
“The function of the nervous system is to perceive the environment and coordinate the function of all other cells.”
This means while you’ve probably invested considerable time, energy, and resources trying to improve your child’s gut health, immune system, and motor development through various therapies, most healthcare providers have completely overlooked the one common thread that ties them all together – the nervous system itself.
Understanding Your Child’s “Air Traffic Control” System
Think of your child’s nervous system as the “air traffic control” for their entire body. It coordinates every internal function with every movement, thought, emotion, behavior, and cognitive process. When this system isn’t functioning properly, it affects everything else – which is why you might be seeing multiple, seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Consider this: your child’s brain doubles in size during the first year of life and continues rapid development throughout childhood. During this critical period, nervous system assessment is far more important than knowing where they sit on a height and weight chart. Yet how many healthcare providers have thoroughly evaluated this system?
The Three Scans That Reveal What Others Miss
Advanced neurological scanning technology, specifically INSiGHT Scans, can detect nervous system dysregulation. These three completely safe, non-invasive assessments provide a comprehensive picture of your child’s nervous system function:
1. The NeuroThermal Scan
This scan identifies regional effects of subluxation and dysautonomia affecting your child’s digestive system, immune function, hormones, and sleep regulation. It helps explain conditions like colic, reflux, constipation, chronic ear infections, and allergies that traditional medicine treats as separate, unrelated issues – when they’re actually all connected through nervous system dysfunction.
2. The NeuroSpinal EMG Scan
This measures neuromotor system function and is vital for investigating conditions like autism, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, and anxiety. It can detect three key patterns:
- “Raging Bull” pattern: hyperactive/anxious children
- “Drunken Bull” pattern: coordination and focus challenges
- “Raging Drunken Bull” pattern: combination of both
3. The Heart Rate Variability Scan
This assesses your child’s adaptability and resilience, revealing whether their nervous system is healthy and balanced or stuck in chronic stress mode. It’s the key marker that determines if they can properly adapt to daily physical, emotional, and environmental challenges.
Why Children Don’t “Grow Out Of” Problems
Here’s something that might surprise you: INSiGHT Scans reveal why children don’t actually “grow out of” early problems like colic and tantrums. Instead, they often “grow into” more serious conditions like ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing challenges, and chronic illness as they age.
These scans detect subluxation and dysautonomia – the real root causes creating three major problems in your child’s nervous system:
- Stuck stress and tension
- Lack of balance and coordination
- Overall disorganization and dysfunction
The Power of Precise Measurement
Unlike the guesswork often involved in traditional symptom management, this technology provides precise measurement and tracking of nervous system dysfunction. This allows for personalized care plans that address the actual cause rather than just managing symptoms with medications or therapies.
Finally, you can get real, root-cause answers instead of just “managing symptoms” forever.
Your Next Steps: Empowering Your Family’s Health Journey
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. Trust your instincts when you feel something isn’t right, even when tests come back “normal.” You have the right to:
- Seek comprehensive assessments that look beyond symptoms
- Ask questions about your child’s nervous system function
- Explore advanced diagnostic technology that can reveal hidden dysfunction
- Demand answers that address root causes, not just symptom management
At RCW we understand that the nervous system controls everything in your child’s body. When it’s not functioning optimally, neither is your child. We would love to help you identify and address nervous system dysfunction, giving your child the foundation for true health and optimal development.
If you are ready to advocate for your child’s optimal development and long-term wellbeing, give us a call today to schedule a consultation!
Your child’s health journey doesn’t have to be a mystery. Sometimes, looking deeper reveals exactly what you need to know.
If you’re like most parents we meet, you’ve probably tried behavior charts, talked to counselors, maybe even considered medication for your child’s struggles at school, but you’re still searching for answers that actually address what’s really going on. We totally get it.
Some of us have stayed up worried about sending our children with ADHD or SPD back to school. Thinking about the phone calls from teachers about focus issues, the meltdowns over homework, or even watching our brilliant children struggle in an environment that just doesn’t seem designed for how their brain works.
Here’s a statistic that should get every parent’s attention: In 2022, an additional 1 million U.S. children received an ADHD diagnosis compared to 2016. Sensory processing challenges now affect nearly 1 in 6 children. Yet most doctors are still approaching these conditions the same way they did 20 years ago – focusing on managing the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause.
What if we told you there’s a completely different approach that’s helping children not just survive the school year, but actually thrive?
Janine’s Story: From Overwhelm to Thriving
Let us start by telling you about Janine, who came to our office as a young teen with major sensory processing struggles. Physical touch, crowds, loud noises, and even itchy clothes would send her into complete overwhelm with anxiousness. It made school and even simple tasks like going into stores extremely difficult for her and her family.
Janine was so easily overwhelmed by outside stimulation because she had so much stress built up inside her nervous system. Through neurologically-focused chiropractic care, we helped calm down the stress and “noise” within her very sensitive body. Today, Janine says that chiropractic “helps me live.” When she gets overwhelmed now, she rates her anxiety at a level 3 or 4 versus the 8 or 9 it used to be. She’s now thriving so much that she’s even considering becoming a chiropractor herself!
Janine’s story is beautiful, and what’s so encouraging is that she isn’t alone in this transformation. Now let’s dive into understanding the real root cause when it comes to ADHD and SPD, and all of the hard transitions during the school year.
Understanding the Real Root Cause of ADHD and SPD School Struggles
The truth is, ADHD and SPD are often characterized by an overactive sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous system response. That’s the imbalance that is sabotaging your child’s school year.
This leaves children constantly on edge and makes it nearly impossible to focus, transition between activities, or regulate emotions in a school environment. At the same time, their parasympathetic “rest and digest” system, which is crucial for focus, learning, and emotional balance, remains underactive.
This nervous system imbalance often begins with what we call “The Perfect Storm” – early life stressors, including prenatal stress, birth interventions, and environmental factors that leave the nervous system stuck in a state of dysfunction.
But here’s the good news: there are drug-free strategies that can make a real difference. Let’s explore five game-changing approaches that can transform your child’s school experience this year.
1. The Sleep Foundation That Changes Everything
Quality sleep is absolutely crucial for managing ADHD and SPD symptoms because during sleep, the brain consolidates learning, processes emotions, and recharges for the next day. However, many children with these conditions struggle with sleep issues, creating a vicious cycle.
What you can do:
- Gradually adjust bedtimes and wake times by just 15 minutes every few days
- Establish calming bedtime routines that signal to the nervous system it’s time to wind down
- Create sleep-friendly environments with minimal stimulation
Creating these sleep-friendly environments can dramatically improve focus and emotional regulation during school hours. Think of sleep as the foundation that makes everything else possible.
2. Creating an Environmental Structure That Actually Works
Children with ADHD and SPD often struggle with executive function skills. This isn’t a character flaw – it’s how their nervous system processes information and manages tasks.
Creating organized home environments with command centers, designated spaces for school items, and color-coded systems can help reduce anxiety and enable children to feel more in control of their daily routines.
Here’s the key insight: This isn’t just about organization – it’s about reducing the cognitive load on an already overwhelmed nervous system, allowing that mental energy to be directed toward learning and growth instead.
Practical steps:
- Create a dedicated homework station with all supplies within reach
- Use visual schedules and color-coding for different subjects or activities
- Establish consistent routines for morning and after-school transitions
- Designate specific places for backpacks, shoes, and school materials
3. The Exercise Connection That Rivals Medication
Dr. John Ratey’s groundbreaking research in his book “Spark” shows that exercise can be as effective as medication for some children with ADHD. Physical activity can improve cognitive function, boost mood, and help manage anxiety naturally.
Morning physical activity specifically helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system and improve neurological function throughout the school day. This gives children the internal regulation they need to succeed academically and socially.
Simple ways to incorporate movement:
- Start the day with 10-15 minutes of physical activity
- Try activities like jumping jacks, running in place, or dancing
- Consider walking or biking to school when possible
- Encourage movement breaks during homework time
The key is consistency rather than intensity. Even gentle movement can make a significant difference in your child’s ability to focus and regulate emotions.
4. Nutrition and Hydration: Fueling the Nervous System
While we haven’t discussed this extensively yet, proper nutrition plays a crucial role in nervous system function. A well-nourished brain is better equipped to handle the demands of school.
Focus on:
- Consistent meal times to support blood sugar stability
- Adequate protein to support neurotransmitter production
- Proper hydration throughout the day
- Limiting processed foods and artificial additives that can increase hyperactivity
5. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care – The Missing Piece
Maybe you’ve tried all of the above strategies and still haven’t seen the changes you’re hoping for in your child. Let’s talk about what might be the missing foundation piece.
Through gentle, specific adjustments, neurologically-focused chiropractic care works to release tension in the overactive sympathetic nervous system while activating the calming parasympathetic system, including the vital vagus nerve.
Many practices now use advanced scanning technology, called INSiGHT Scans, to pinpoint exactly where nervous system stress is occurring and create personalized care plans that can lead to:
- Improved focus and attention
- Better emotional regulation
- Enhanced sleep quality
- Fewer behavioral challenges
- Easier transitions and adaptability
This approach addresses the foundation – the nervous system – which then allows all the other strategies, like sleep, organization, and exercise, to work even more effectively.
The Perfect Storm: Understanding How We Got Here
It’s important to understand that these challenges didn’t develop overnight. Many children with ADHD and SPD have experienced what we call “The Perfect Storm” – a combination of stressors that occurred during critical developmental periods:
- Prenatal stress: Maternal stress during pregnancy can impact fetal nervous system development
- Birth trauma: Difficult deliveries, interventions, or complications can create tension in the nervous system
- Early life stressors: Falls, accidents, emotional trauma, or even repetitive positioning can contribute to nervous system dysfunction
Understanding this timeline helps parents realize that their child’s struggles aren’t their fault, and more importantly, that there are specific interventions that can help restore proper nervous system function.
What This Means for Your Family
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds exactly like my child,” please know that you’re not alone, and there is hope. At RCW we have helped so many families find real solutions by addressing the nervous system foundation first.
Moving Forward: Your Next Steps
- Start with the basics: Implement the sleep, exercise, and environmental strategies we’ve discussed. These can make an immediate difference while you explore other options.
- Consider a neurological evaluation: If you’ve tried multiple approaches without lasting success, it may be time to have your child’s nervous system function assessed by a practitioner trained in neurologically-focused care.
- Trust your instincts: You know your child better than anyone. If something doesn’t feel right, keep searching for answers.
The Hope You’ve Been Looking For
At RCW, we want you to know that your brilliant, sensitive, amazing child can thrive. The struggles you’re seeing aren’t permanent limitations – they’re signs that the nervous system needs support to function optimally.
Please contact us today to schedule a consultation for your child. You’ve got this, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
As a parent, you’ve probably had that nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right with your baby, despite your pediatrician insisting everything’s normal. Maybe it’s the way they struggle to sleep unless they’re held. Perhaps it’s their constant fussiness that extends beyond typical newborn behavior. Or maybe it’s those digestive issues that your doctor dismisses as “normal baby stuff.”
Here’s what we want you to know: It’s okay to trust that your parental intuition is right! Those subtle signs you’re noticing may actually be indicators of hidden neurological stress that could be affecting your baby right now.
The Alarming Reality About Children’s Health Today
The statistics around children’s health today are deeply concerning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of children now suffer from at least one chronic health condition – numbers that have risen dramatically over the past few decades. Even more eye-opening, research published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that 99% of newborns, even those considered “healthy,” had some form of somatic dysfunction affecting their cranial, cervical, lumbar, and sacral regions – with the degree of dysfunction directly related to the length of labor.
These statistics reveal a widespread issue that most parents aren’t aware of: standard pediatric checkups, while valuable for many aspects of health, simply aren’t designed to detect the neurological dysfunction that could be affecting your baby right now, and potentially contributing to health challenges that emerge months or years later.
Understanding the “Perfect Storm” Creating Hidden Stress
What we call the “Perfect Storm” refers to a cascade of stressors that begin early in life and can set the stage for neurological dysfunction in babies. This storm typically begins during pregnancy when a mother experiences chronic stress. Causing hormones like cortisol to cross the placenta and impact the developing baby’s nervous system.
Research published in ScienceDirect shows that maternal stress during pregnancy can actually alter the development of the baby’s brain, creating a foundation for dysfunction before birth even occurs. The birth process itself, while natural, can create significant physical stress for newborns – and this stress is often magnified by common interventions.
How Birth Interventions Impact Your Baby’s Nervous System
Many common birth interventions, while sometimes medically necessary, can create additional challenges for your baby’s delicate nervous system:
C-sections bypass the natural compression sequence that helps prepare a baby’s nervous system for life outside the womb, potentially leading to retained birth stress and neurological stress.
Forceps or vacuum extraction apply significant forces to a baby’s delicate head and neck, potentially causing the brainstem and vagus nerve to be out of proper alignment.
These physical challenges often lead to what’s called subluxation – areas of neurological interference that disrupt the communication between the brain and body.
The Subtle Signs Every Parent Should Watch For
Your baby may be experiencing hidden neurological stress if you notice:
Sleep Challenges: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, restless sleep, or only sleeping when held or in motion. These aren’t just “normal baby things” but potential indicators of nervous system dysfunction.
Feeding Difficulties: Poor latch, excessive spitting up, or becoming easily distracted during feeds can all stem from neurological stress.
Digestive Issues: Constipation, excessive gas, or signs of colic (excessive crying for more than three hours a day, three days a week) often indicate vagus nerve dysfunction.
Physical Asymmetries: Preference for turning the head to one side or flattening on one side of the head can signal neurological imbalance.
Sensory Sensitivity: Heightened startle reflex, excessive irritability in stimulating environments, or difficulty calming when overstimulated are all red flags for nervous system stress.
Why Traditional Approaches Sometimes Miss These Issues
Standard pediatric care focuses primarily on measuring growth, checking for visible illness, and monitoring major developmental milestones – not subtle neurological dysfunction. The conventional approach typically follows a “wait and see” pattern, addressing symptoms with medications only when they become severe enough to warrant intervention.
This approach often leads to managing symptoms without addressing the underlying root cause, potentially allowing neurological dysfunction to compound over time.
A Gentle Approach to Addressing Hidden Stress
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers a gentle approach to addressing hidden stress in babies. This specialized care uses:
- Gentle adjustments using pressure about the same amount you’d use to put in a contact lens or check a tomato’s ripeness
- Advanced neurological scans, INSiGHT Scans, that objectively measure nervous system function, detecting subluxation and dysautonomia that would be missed in standard pediatric exams
- Root cause focus that addresses subluxation and promotes proper nervous system function
By addressing these issues early, this care helps babies develop more resilient, balanced nervous systems that support overall health and development.
Trust Your Instincts and Take Action
As parents, you know your baby better than anyone. If something feels off, don’t dismiss those feelings. Your parental intuition, combined with proper assessment, can be powerful tools in ensuring your baby’s optimal health and development.
The hidden stress affecting your baby today doesn’t have to become tomorrow’s chronic health challenge. At RCW, we know that neurologically-focused chiropractic care can help set your child up for a lifetime of better health – and we are ready to help with that! Please don’t wait to reach out to schedule a consultation with us today.
Your instincts matter. Your baby’s nervous system matters. And taking action early matters most of all.
You’ve tried everything.
Special diets. Gut-healing supplements. Medications. Endless therapies. And yet… your child is still struggling.
Digestive issues that won’t go away. Anxiety that keeps them (and you) up at night. Focus and behavioral challenges that make everyday life feel like a battle.
It’s not your fault. You’ve done everything right.
But there’s a critical piece of the puzzle that nearly every doctor – even natural and holistic ones – continues to overlook.
Right now, we’re living in the middle of a massive pediatric health crisis. Autism now affects 1 in 31 children, and over a million new ADHD diagnoses were added in just the last few years. But here’s what no one is talking about…
Behind so many of these skyrocketing struggles is a single, powerful, often-ignored nerve – the vagus nerve.
When this master nerve pathway gets stuck in stress mode and stops functioning properly, it throws your child’s entire nervous system – and their health – into chaos.
You’re Not Alone in This Journey
This message is specifically for you – the exhausted, overwhelmed parent who’s out of options. You’ve gone down every rabbit hole, searched every blog, tried every diet and detox, and still haven’t found answers that actually lead to healing.
What you’re about to discover could change everything.
The Alarming Reality We’re Facing
The statistics surrounding children’s health today are truly concerning. Beyond the 1 in 31 autism rate, chronic health conditions now affect approximately 40% of children in the United States, according to CDC data.
What we’re seeing is a generation of children whose nervous systems are chronically stuck in “fight or flight” mode. Their little bodies are in a constant state of stress response, which severely impacts the function of the vagus nerve – the primary pathway of the parasympathetic “rest, digest, and heal” nervous system.
When this critical nerve doesn’t function properly, it creates a cascade of effects throughout the body. From compromised digestion and immune function to difficulties with emotional regulation and behavior.
What frustrates parents the most is realizing that conventional doctors rarely even look at vagus nerve function. Instead, they hand out a different prescription for every symptom and condition, never addressing the one root cause that ties them all together.
Understanding Your Child’s Master Controller
What Exactly Is the Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest, most complex, and most important of the 12 cranial nerves. It extends from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen. Connecting your child’s brain to vital organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, digestive system, immune system, and so much more.
Think of it as your child’s internal superhighway – the main communication pathway between their brain and body. It’s the primary component of the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the “rest, regulate, and digest” system. Which counterbalances the sympathetic “fight or flight” system that many children today get stuck in.
How Vagus Nerve Dysfunction Impacts Your Child
Because the vagus nerve is such a key component of nervous system regulation, and the nervous system controls and coordinates every other system in the body, vagus nerve dysfunction can lead to a wide range of problems:
Digestive Issues: Impaired digestive motility, disrupted gut function, indigestion, constipation, and countless other gut issues. This includes wreaking havoc on the crucial gut-brain connection that affects everything from mood to immunity.
Immune System Suppression: When the vagus nerve isn’t working properly, it can’t effectively control and regulate inflammation throughout the body. When inflammation runs unchecked, it contributes to all sorts of chronic health challenges.
Social-Emotional and Behavioral Challenges: Vagal nerve tone directly controls social-emotional and behavioral well-being. When it’s disrupted and dysfunctional, behavioral problems, anxiety, and other mental-emotional difficulties can set in. Through its impact on heart rate variability and respiratory patterns, vagus nerve dysfunction can affect your child’s ability to calm themselves and regulate their response to stress. This can manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, or emotional outbursts.
The “Perfect Storm” That Creates Dysfunction
Understanding how vagus nerve problems develop can help you see that this isn’t something you caused – it’s often a result of multiple factors coming together:
It Often Starts Before Birth
Vagus nerve dysfunction often begins during pregnancy when maternal stress hormones cross the placenta and affect the developing nervous system. Suppressing and altering the development of the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system before the child is even born.
Birth Stress Compounds the Issue
Birth interventions like C-sections, forceps delivery, and vacuum extraction can create physical trauma to the delicate upper neck and brainstem regions where the vagus nerve originates. Directly impacting its function.
Early Life Stressors Add to the Problem
Early childhood stressors – including antibiotics, environmental toxins, emotional trauma, and even excessive screen time – can compound these effects. Overwhelming the developing nervous system and further compromising vagal function.
When these factors combine, they create neurological dysfunction and subluxation in the upper neck and brainstem regions. Disrupting the critical communication between the brain, vagus nerve, and the rest of the body.
There Is Hope: Advanced Assessment and Natural Solutions
The encouraging news is that vagus nerve function can be measured and restored naturally, without drugs or invasive interventions.
Objective Testing Makes the Difference
Advanced neurological scanning technology, called INSiGHT Scans, can objectively assess your child’s nervous system function, including vagus nerve activity. These non-invasive scans measure heart rate variability (HRV), which is directly controlled by the vagus nerve and is considered one of the most reliable biomarkers of vagal tone and function.
With this objective data, we can identify specific patterns of vagus nerve dysfunction in your child and create a personalized care plan designed to restore proper function.
Neurologically-Focused Care Offers Real Solutions
Neurologically-focused chiropractic care specifically addresses the root cause of vagus nerve dysfunction by gently correcting subluxation and nervous system dysregulation. This approach allows the nervous system to heal and function properly, often leading to improvements in multiple areas of your child’s health simultaneously.
Moving Forward with Confidence
If your child is stuck in stress mode and struggling with focus, digestion, sleep, sensory issues, behavioral or emotional regulation challenges, RCW wants to help you stop the guessing and start testing.
Advanced neurological scans and HRV technology we use at our office can show exactly how well your child’s vagus nerve is functioning, and whether their nervous system is in balance or stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
You deserve answers that lead to real healing. Your child deserves to have their nervous system functioning at its best. Allowing their body’s natural healing abilities to work the way they were designed to… and we are ready to help!
Your persistence and dedication as a parent, combined with the right approach to healing, can make all the difference in your child’s health and happiness.
There are so many emotions to navigate through when finding out you’re pregnant. Whether you have longed for a positive pregnancy test or this was a complete surprise, emotions and thoughts flow through your brain at what seems to be 1000 mph. “Is it a boy or girl?! How will my body do this? Who do I need to call and tell first?! How will we announce it on Instagram? What about the nursery? Will they go to private or public school? When do we start a college fund….???” It’s like everything starts to spin out of control and escalate. The list really does seem never-ending! And don’t get us started on the number of opinions and questions that start to flood in after telling people the good news!
Take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay.
Let’s start with two of the most important questions to ask yourself first:
- “What kind of pregnancy do I want?”
- “Who is going to help me achieve that?”
In this article, we will explore what prenatal chiropractic is, the common (BUT NOT NORMAL) symptoms of pregnancy, and the available care options to create the healthiest human beings.
What is Prenatal Chiropractic?
Prenatal chiropractic care is a specialized form of chiropractic that encompasses two (2) different elements that greatly benefit both mom and baby on this incredible journey:
- We provide safe, gentle, and effective adjustments that help mom’s nervous system better relax and make room for the growing baby, and keep mom strong and ready for a natural birth and optimal transition to motherhood
- Our office also provides an incredibly empowering and supportive environment where expecting moms and dads can ask the tough questions, access incredible resources, and feel confident throughout their journey
Taking it one step further, the kind of chiropractic care we provide goes beyond just typical structural-based chiropractic care and focuses entirely on mom’s nervous system.
The umbilical cord connecting that developing baby to mom is not just there to carry oxygen and nutrients, but it’s also the neurological “power cord” that connects mom’s nervous system to her baby’s. In today’s world, where we have more stress, tension, and anxiety than ever before, the neurologically-focused prenatal chiropractic care that we offer, therefore acts as a crucial component of keeping both mom and baby’s nervous system healthy, calm, and clear of interference all along the way!
What are the Common Health Challenges Faced During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes significant changes, neurologically, hormonally, and physically, to accommodate the growing baby. These changes can lead to various hormonal changes, nervous system imbalances, and neuromuscular issues. There are many symptoms that commonly come along with pregnancy. From the early stages of morning sickness and fatigue to the annoying struggles of reflux, heartburn, trouble breathing, and the body changes, such as lower back pain, pelvic discomfort, and postural imbalances. All of these are very common during pregnancy, but are they normal?
What Causes All of These Pregnancy-Related Health Challenges?
This may seem like a silly question. The obvious answer is that you are growing a brand new beautiful baby from scratch. A little more… Every. Single. Day. OF COURSE YOU’RE FATIGUED AND UNCOMFORTABLE! But let’s dive deeper into the root causes of what is really causing some of these symptoms and what we can do about it!
The Role of the Nervous System in Pregnancy
A regulated and well-balanced nervous system is of utmost importance during pregnancy. It profoundly influences both the expectant mother’s health and the developing baby’s well-being. The nervous system acts as the master control center. Coordinating and regulating all body functions, from basic physiological processes to complex hormonal interactions. And now your nervous system has to do “double” the job, controlling all of your bodily functions and baby’s too.
During pregnancy, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is responsible for involuntary actions, plays a crucial role. The ANS consists of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The SNS is what comes to life when you are under duress and experiencing stress. You might have heard it referred to as fight or flight. The PNS is the branch that helps us calm down, relax, and function once again after the stress has passed. To learn more about the parasympathetic nervous system and the vagus nerve that controls and regulates most of it, check out this additional article here.
But this wildly important parasympathetic side of the nervous system is not just responsible for rest and relaxation; it’s in charge of growth and development as well. Making it perhaps the single most important system to pay attention to during the prenatal period (and postpartum as well). If mom’s nervous system is not in optimal growth and development mode, how can baby’s be?
A well-regulated and optimally balanced nervous system is essential for both mom and baby’s optimal well-being. When the nervous system is in a state of balance, it promotes better hormonal regulation, blood flow, and immune function, creating an optimal environment for the baby’s growth and development. It also contributes to the mother’s overall well-being, reducing stress levels, promoting relaxation, and improving sleep quality.
The Role of Stress and Subluxation in Pregnancy
Unfortunately, an imbalanced or dysregulated nervous system can lead to various health challenges during pregnancy. High levels of stress and anxiety lead to constant activation of the SNS and can contribute to complications like elevated blood pressure, decreased blood flow to the placenta, and potential adverse effects on fetal development.
Experiencing occasional stress is as normal as it gets, but unfortunately, today, too many women experience moderate to high levels of stress far too often. And sadly, our current medicalized system of prenatal care only adds to that stress, fear, anxiety, and disempowerment, it seems, with each and every visit to the doctor, additional ultrasound or exam, and so forth.
This ongoing and overwhelming stress is called subluxation. When subluxation is present, the entire nervous system shifts into an excessive sympathetic dominant state. Increasing the tension on not just the nerves and muscles but also organs, glands, digestive system, and more. It even leads to its own “perfect storm” vicious cycle where now stress and anxiety are increased once again, other health challenges and concerns set in, and more trouble brews as the pregnancy goes on.
This tension can exacerbate blood pressure issues, back pain and sciatica, neck pain and headaches, anxiety and nausea, hormonal imbalances, and even affect a baby’s position in the womb.
Drug-Free Care Options for Pregnancy-Related Health Challenges
Fortunately, there are care options available to help pregnant women manage their stress and greatly improve their quality of life while their bodies are adapting to these new changes.
Often by the time pregnant women learn about the things we just covered with subluxation and the nervous system, they have tried all of the medications, homeopathics, teas, nutrition hacks, and physical therapies for pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, reflux, morning sickness, and pelvic pain.
As most of these things are great, they aren’t fully addressing the root causes of pregnancy-related health challenges. If you want to tackle these issues head-on and not only reduce the symptoms and health challenges you’re experiencing but also optimize your entire body and nervous system throughout the pregnancy, then neurologically-focused prenatal chiropractic is perfect for you!
Can You Measure This Stress and Subluxation? Introducing HRV to Prenatal Care
It’s quite an exciting time to be at the forefront of prenatal care like we are! In the past few years, we’ve not only seen more and more research prove how important neurological health is during the prenatal journey (for both mom and baby), but also, some incredible technology has been developed to help us track and measure your neurological health all along the way in just a matter of minutes!
This technology is called HRV, which stands for Heart Rate Variability. It is an absolutely essential exam for all pregnant women to take on a regular basis because it provides valuable insights into the health and function of their autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and overall health during pregnancy.
As stated above, the ANS controls and regulates every vital function in the body. Including heart rate, respiratory rate, digestion, and more. With “fight or flight” and “rest and relax” being the two main branches of the ANS, it’s important to track how it is functioning and whether things are out of balance or not.
HRV is a measure of the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. A higher HRV indicates a more flexible and adaptable nervous system, which is associated with better overall health and resilience to stress during pregnancy. This also means reduced maternal stress, better sleep quality, improved cardiovascular health, and enhanced immune function. Additionally, maintaining a balanced ANS is essential for supporting proper blood flow to the placenta and optimal fetal development.
On the other hand, a lower HRV suggests an imbalanced or stressed ANS, which can lead to various health issues, commonly leading to a high-risk pregnancy.
Therefore any professionals working with pregnant women need to be using HRV technology as the foundation of their care protocols and programs. Allowing them to not only establish a baseline at the onset of care but also to track and monitor progress via actual neurological change and improvement.
Measuring and tracking true autonomic nervous system and vagus nerve functions are, therefore, the foundation of our work as Prenatal PX Doctors. Each and every pregnant woman who walks into our offices first get an HRV test to measure their overall adaptability and parasympathetic or vagal nerve tone.
Below is an image with a series of three (3) HRV Scans performed on a pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy. The first scan on the far left shows the small white box way in the lower left quadrant of the HRV plot, indicating her parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve are both suppressed and shut down, allowing her sympathetic fight or flight system to run out of control.
Then as care progresses over the second and third trimester, you can see the white box move towards the center line and higher up towards the green circle, indicating that her subluxation and dysautonomia were vastly improved and her nervous system is now much calmer, balanced, and better regulated, which shows that she is more adaptable to the stressors of pregnancy and ready to conquer her birth!
More Stress to Measure
In addition to HRV, we ALSO run two (2) additional tests. NeuroThermal and NeuroSensory EMG, to complete the overall INSiGHT Scans and neurological exam. Together these three (3) collective scans can function as a pregnancy test that actually looks beyond symptoms, and dives deep into the nervous system and how prenatal chiropractic can help both mom and baby.
Once we have these incredible INSiGHT Scans done, we can then put together a fully customized and personalized care plan made uniquely for the pregnant woman’s corresponding trimester. Once care begins, each and every neuro-tonal adjustment our doctors are trained to make is designed to address subluxation and dysautonomia directly.
By activating and stimulating the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system repeatedly over a period of many weeks to months, we then start to see an incredible decrease in the sustained sympathetic storm so many pregnant women are stuck in.
The first improvements these women typically notice are with sleep, digestion, fewer aches and pains, less “pregnancy brain,” more energy, and more focus. From there, the brain and nervous system can get back on track developmentally, and benefit both mom and baby, leading to optimal development and baby positioning, which can result in a quicker birth, fewer interventions, more vaginal births, and can help seek to prevent The Perfect Storm.
HOW TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED
Being pregnant can be one of the most rewarding, exciting, and joyous times of our lives. But it can also feel very scary and overwhelming. Just remember that you are not alone, and you have choices when it comes to the pregnancy that you want and to the type of healthcare that you want supporting you along the way.
The earlier you are able to optimize and improve your neurological function, the better your pregnancy and birth outcomes will be for both you and your baby.
The best place to start on this journey is with a consultation and HRV test. Get scheduled for an empowering consultation, INSiGHT Scans, and HRV right away!
Remember, you are not alone in this pregnancy journey, and we’re on your team! Take the first step and find the doctor, the care, and the community you and your baby deserve.
Is your child already dreading summer celebrations? Are you anxious about the inevitable meltdowns, tantrums, and tears that seem to accompany every fireworks display or crowded holiday gathering?
If you’re like many parents we meet, you’ve probably tried everything. Noise-canceling headphones, watching fireworks from a distance, or even avoiding celebrations altogether. But what if we told you that these well-meaning strategies only address the symptoms, not the actual root cause of your child’s sensory overload?
The Hidden Truth About Sensory Challenges
Studies show that up to 1 in 6 children struggle with sensory processing challenges. For these kids, events like Fourth of July celebrations aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be genuinely overwhelming and even painful.
But here’s what most physicians aren’t telling you: your child’s extreme reaction to fireworks and celebrations isn’t simply about loud noises or bright lights. It’s often a sign of a deeper neurological imbalance that can be properly addressed, not just managed through avoidance.
Logan’s Story: From Overwhelmed to Thriving
Let us tell you about Logan, a child whose story might sound familiar. For his first few years of life, Logan struggled with such severe sensory overload that his family couldn’t take him anywhere in public. Not grocery shopping, not to restaurants, certainly not to loud events like fireworks displays.
His parents constantly dreaded social gatherings and worried about his future and starting school. Logan’s sensory challenges were so extreme that once, when he cut himself badly, he didn’t even register the pain. He was only bothered by the sensation of blood running down his arm.
Traditional approaches weren’t helping, and his family felt increasingly isolated and hopeless. But today, after receiving neurologically-focused chiropractic care that addressed the root cause of his sensory processing challenges, Logan is a thriving honor roll student who can enjoy family celebrations, including Fourth of July festivities.
His transformation from a child trapped by sensory overload to one who can participate fully in life’s experiences shows what’s possible when we address the real underlying cause rather than just managing the symptoms.
Understanding Your Child’s Nervous System
Sensory overload isn’t just about external triggers like loud noises and bright lights. It’s a sign that your child’s nervous system is stuck in a state of constant “fight or flight,” making normal sensory input feel threatening or overwhelming.
This state, which we call “sympathetic dominance,” means your child’s brain is constantly on high alert. Unable to properly filter and process sensory information from their environment.
What makes the Fourth of July particularly challenging is that it combines multiple intense sensory experiences simultaneously. Loud unexpected noises, bright flashing lights, crowds, unusual smells from sparklers and barbecues, and disrupted routines.
When your child’s nervous system is already struggling to process everyday sensory information, these holiday celebrations can become the perfect storm that pushes them over the edge into complete overload.
The Root Cause: Beyond Symptom Management
The root cause of your child’s sensory challenges is often a condition called dysautonomia. An imbalance between the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system and the “rest and digest” parasympathetic system.
This imbalance is frequently caused by subluxation, which is essentially interference in the communication between the brain and body. Particularly affecting the vagus nerve—the master controller of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Surprisingly, this subluxation often begins during birth, especially when interventions like C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, or induction are involved. Creating what we call “overlooked and dismissed birth trauma.”
When the vagus nerve is compromised by birth trauma, your child’s nervous system gets stuck in an overactive sympathetic state. Making it nearly impossible for them to naturally calm and regulate themselves.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
Traditional approaches to sensory overload focus primarily on avoidance strategies—skipping fireworks, using noise-canceling headphones, or creating “sensory-friendly” environments.
While these strategies can help in the moment, they don’t address the underlying neurological dysfunction that makes your child hypersensitive in the first place.
Medications that attempt to dampen your child’s responses often come with unwanted side effects and still don’t fix the root neurological imbalance.
Even therapy approaches like sensory integration therapy or occupational therapy, while beneficial, are often less effective if the underlying nervous system dysfunction isn’t addressed first.
A Different Approach: Addressing the Root Cause
At RCW, our approach takes a fundamentally different path by directly addressing the root cause of your child’s sensory challenges—the subluxation and dysautonomia affecting their nervous system.
We start with comprehensive INSiGHT Scans. Particularly the NeuroSpinal EMG Scan, which allows us to measure the exact location and severity of nervous system stress and tension in your child’s body.
These scans help us identify the “nociception” or neurological noise that’s disrupting your child’s ability to process sensory information properly. Creating what we often call “Noisy Brain Syndrome.”
Our precise, gentle adjustments then target these areas of subluxation. Helping to restore balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and allowing your child’s brain to better filter and process sensory input.
Imagine a Different Summer for Your Family
Imagine your child actually looking forward to Fourth of July celebrations, get-togethers, and summer parties instead of dreading them. Picture your family enjoying fireworks together without having to leave early because of a meltdown. This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s what we see regularly when children receive care that addresses the real root cause of their sensory challenges.
Like Logan, who transformed from a child unable to handle even simple public outings to a thriving honor roll student, your child has the potential to overcome sensory overload when the underlying nervous system dysfunction is properly addressed. The difference isn’t just noticeable during big events like the Fourth of July. It impacts every aspect of your child’s development, learning, and quality of life.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
We would love to help your child’s nervous system find balance so they can experience all the joy this summer has to offer. If you’re ready to move beyond just managing symptoms and start addressing the root cause of sensory overload, call RCW today to schedule a consultation and INSiGHT Scans.
Because your child doesn’t need to “grow out of” sensory overload—they need someone to help get to the root of it. And we’re here to help with just that.
