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Why You Should Get Adjusted Postpartum

Prenatal

While most pregnant mamas spend months preparing for pregnancy and birth, the postpartum period often remains surprisingly overlooked! Despite lasting far longer than labor and delivery, this critical phase receives just a fraction of the attention and support. Why isn’t anyone talking about this phase of life?! 

It is estimated that approximately 10-20% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD), highlighting its significance as a public health concern. 

New mothers typically feel unprepared for the physical and emotional challenges that follow childbirth. Medical care usually focuses on a brief six-week checkup, but the postpartum adjustment period actually lasts much longer—sometimes a full year or more. It really isn’t fair the type of care we receive as postpartum moms. Just a simple 6-week check up?! And don’t get us started on if you had a c-section! Major abdominal surgery just looked over?! It’s not okay!

The reality is that birth is just the beginning. Both mother and baby undergo profound physiological changes during the postpartum period.

What many parents don’t realize is that these challenges often have a common root cause: nervous system dysregulation. The physical trauma of birth can create subluxation (neurological interference) and dysautonomia (nervous system imbalance) in both mother and baby, leading to issues from breastfeeding difficulties and sleep problems, to mood swings and colic.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers a gentle, effective approach to addressing these root causes rather than just managing the signs. By restoring proper nervous system function, it can significantly improve recovery and adaptation for both mother and baby during this critical transition.

What is Postpartum Chiropractic Care and Why Is It So Important?

The postpartum period extends far beyond the conventional medical definition of six weeks after birth. From a neurological perspective, this phase represents an extraordinary transition where both mother and baby’s nervous systems are adapting to insane changes. 

For mothers, the nervous system must recalibrate after the intense physical demands of pregnancy and birth, while simultaneously adjusting to dramatic hormonal fluctuations. For babies, the developing neurological system is working overtime to process a flood of new sensory information after leaving the protected environment of the womb.

This neurological recalibration can be significantly disrupted by what we call subluxation—areas of neurological interference where communication between the brain and body is compromised. The physical strain of pregnancy and birth can create tension in the neurospinal system, particularly in the upper neck, pelvis, and low back. These areas of subluxation can alter proprioceptive input (body position awareness) into the brain, creating stress and dysfunction throughout the nervous system.

When subluxation persists, it often leads to dysautonomia—a state of imbalance in the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous System has two main components: the sympathetic “fight or flight” branch and the parasympathetic “rest, digest, and regulate” branch. During the postpartum period, dysautonomia commonly turns into sympathetic dominance, where the body stays stuck in a heightened stress response. And once stuck in sympathetic dominance for too long, the body becomes exhausted. This can lead to:

  • Difficulty relaxing and sleeping, even when exhausted
  • Persistent anxiety, irritability, or mood swings
  • Digestive problems and constipation
  • Challenges with milk production and let-down during breastfeeding
  • Heightened pain sensitivity and delayed healing
  • Increased inflammation and immune system irregularities

For babies, birth-related subluxation often affects the structures of the upper neck and cranium. When these areas are compromised, it impacts the function of the vagus nerve—the master regulator of the Parasympathetic Nervous System. This can contribute to common newborn challenges such as difficulty latching, colic, reflux, constipation, and irregular sleep patterns. Since a baby’s nervous system is still developing, addressing these issues early is crucial for optimal neurological development.

The Neurological Impact of Birth on Mom and Baby

Birth is truly a marathon—both physically and neurologically—for mother and baby alike. For mothers, labor and delivery demand extraordinary physical exertion, with the body producing complex hormones while experiencing intense pressure, stretching, and sometimes tearing of tissues. 

What many don’t realize is that birth is equally demanding for babies. During delivery, a baby experiences significant compression and twisting forces as they navigate the birth canal. The baby’s head must mold to fit through the pelvis, with cranial bones overlapping and the neck often rotating to accommodate passage. Not to mention if their are other forces interfering with baby such as manual assistance, forceps, vacuum, etc. Studies have documented that this process can reach pressures of from 120 to over 500 mmHg on a newborn’s head and neck—an extraordinary amount of force on such small and delicate structures.

These  emotional and physical stressors during birth can create subluxation, where communication between the brain and body is compromised. For mothers, subluxation commonly occurs in the:

  • Pelvis and sacrum, which can affect recovery, bladder function, and future fertility
  • Lumbar spine, contributing to postpartum back pain and core weakness
  • Upper cervical spine, impacting the function of the brainstem and vagus nerve
  • Thoracic spine, affecting rib motion, breathing, and breast tissue function

For babies, birth-related subluxation most frequently affects the upper cervical spine and cranium, where the vagus nerve and other cranial nerves emerge from the brainstem. When irregular neurodevelopment occurs, it can interfere with vital functions like sucking, swallowing, breathing, and digesting—all essential for a newborn’s transition to life outside the womb. Depending on the birth, we see many babies with subluxations in other areas of their nervous system too. 

Birth interventions, while sometimes medically necessary, can significantly increase the risk of subluxation for both mother and baby. Cesarean deliveries involve surgical trauma to the mother’s abdomen and uterus, creating significant strain on the nervous system. Interventions like forceps or vacuum extraction can exert additional force on the baby’s delicate head and neck. Even common interventions like induction, epidurals, and directed pushing can alter the natural biomechanics of birth, potentially increasing stress on both nervous systems.

This birth-related subluxation often becomes the first component of what we call “The Perfect Storm“— stressors that can overwhelm the developing nervous system. When birth trauma creates subluxation and nervous system dysfunction from the very beginning, it sets the stage for challenges that may extend far beyond the immediate postpartum period. 

Addressing these neurological imbalances early through neurologically-focused chiropractic care can help prevent this storm and support optimal recovery and development for both mother and baby.

Postpartum Hormonal Shifts and the Nervous System

The postpartum period brings one of the most dramatic hormonal shifts a woman will ever experience. Within 24 hours of birth, estrogen and progesterone—hormones that are elevated during pregnancy—plummet. 

Meanwhile, research shows that prolactin rises to support milk production, and oxytocin fluctuates with breastfeeding and bonding. This abrupt hormonal transformation is often described as “falling off a cliff” hormonally, and it profoundly impacts the nervous system.

What many don’t realize is that these hormones don’t just affect reproductive functions—they directly influence neurotransmitters in the brain and the balance of the Autonomic Nervous System. Estrogen regulates serotonin and dopamine, which are crucial for mood. After birth, the drop in estrogen and progesterone leads to a rapid decrease in serotonin levels. A dysregulated nervous system can be associated with “baby blues” and more severe postpartum mood conditions.

Why You Should Get Adjusted Postpartum | PX Docs

This hormonal flux can significantly be impacted by the Autonomic Nervous System, leading to dysautonomia. When the nervous system becomes dysregulated and created hormonal shifts, it can lead to:

  • Difficulty sleeping, even when exhausted
  • Anxiety, racing thoughts, or feeling constantly “on edge”
  • Heart palpitations or chest tightness
  • Temperature regulation issues like night sweats or chills
  • Digestive disruptions such as constipation or reflux
  • Heightened sensitivity to stimuli like noise, light, or touch

The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve and key component of the Parasympathetic Nervous System, is essential for mediating the body’s hormonal responses. It activates “rest, digest, and regulate” functions, promoting calmness, supporting digestion, reducing inflammation, and aiding emotional regulation. 

The Mother-Baby Neurological Connection

The connection between mother and baby goes far beyond the emotional bond—it’s a profound neurological relationship where each nervous system directly influences the other. This concept, known as co-regulation, is especially critical during the postpartum period when a baby’s immature nervous system relies heavily on the mother’s more developed system for stability and organization.

A newborn’s Autonomic Nervous System is still developing and lacks the self-regulation capabilities of an adult. Instead, studies indicate that babies depend on close physical contact with their mothers to regulate their heart rate, breathing patterns, body temperature, and stress hormones. This regulation occurs through a remarkable process of physiological synchronization, where the mother’s body literally helps train the baby’s developing systems through skin-to-skin contact, heartbeat, breathing rhythms, and vagal tone.

When a mother’s nervous system is regulated and balanced, her baby tends to settle more easily, feed more effectively, and develop more securely. Conversely, when a mother experiences nervous system dysregulation due to subluxation, stress, or hormonal imbalances, her baby often exhibits signs of distress.

This neurological connection creates both vulnerability and opportunity. If left unaddressed, dysregulation can create a challenging cycle where mother and baby continuously trigger each other’s stress responses. However, when a mother receives Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care that improves her nervous system function, the benefits can naturally extend to her baby through this co-regulatory relationship.

Common Postpartum Challenges and Their Neurological Roots

Many postpartum challenges that are typically viewed as separate issues—breastfeeding difficulties, sleep problems, mood conditions, physical recovery complications—actually share common neurological roots. Understanding these connections allows for a more comprehensive approach to postpartum care.

Breastfeeding challenges often have direct ties to nervous system function. The let-down reflex, which releases milk from the breast, depends on optimal Parasympathetic Nervous System activation through the vagus nerve. When a mother experiences subluxation that affects vagal tone, milk transfer may be compromised despite adequate milk production or an overproduction. 

Sleep difficulties—a nearly universal postpartum challenge—are deeply connected to Autonomic Nervous System balance. A nervous system stuck in sympathetic dominance (fight-or-flight mode) makes it difficult to relax into deep, restorative sleep, even when exhausted. This can create a frustrating cycle where a mother is desperately tired yet unable to sleep when given the opportunity. 

For babies, neurological dysregulation often looks like:

  • Shortened naps
  • Frequent night waking
  • Difficulty transitioning between sleep cycles.

Postpartum mood challenges represent perhaps the most significant intersection of neurological, hormonal, and psychological factors. While traditionally viewed through a purely psychological or hormonal lens, vagus nerve dysfunction—plays a crucial role in these factors. 

Physical recovery complications like persistent pelvic pain, incontinence, diastasis recti, and headaches often have neurological components that extend beyond simple tissue healing. Subluxation can disrupt the nerve signals needed for proper muscle engagement, coordination, and pain regulation.

How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care Helps Postpartum

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers a unique approach to addressing postpartum challenges by focusing on the root cause—nervous system dysfunction—rather than simply managing the signs and symptoms. This care begins with a comprehensive assessment that includes detailed neurological INSiGHT Scans, which provide objective measurements of Autonomic Nervous System function, stress patterns, and areas of subluxation.

These advanced scans serve as a “window” into the nervous system, allowing doctors to pinpoint exactly where and how subluxation is affecting neurological function. This precise information guides the development of personalized care plans tailored to each mother and baby’s specific needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Why You Should Get Adjusted Postpartum | PX Docs
Why You Should Get Adjusted Postpartum | PX Docs
Why You Should Get Adjusted Postpartum | PX Docs

For mothers, postpartum chiropractic adjustments offer numerous benefits:

  • Restoring proper pelvic function after the physical demands of pregnancy and birth
  • Reducing neurotension in the upper cervical spine to improve vagus nerve function and parasympathetic tone
  • Enhancing nervous system communication to support hormone balance and regulation
  • Improving sleep quality and duration through better autonomic balance
  • Supporting proper muscle engagement for core recovery and reduced back pain
  • Promoting optimal breast tissue drainage and nerve supply for breastfeeding
  • Support co-regulation

For babies, gentle pediatric adjustments can help:

  • Release neurotension in the upper neck and cranium from the birth process
  • Improve cranial nerve function for better sucking, swallowing, and breathing coordination
  • Enhance vagus nerve function for improved digestion and colic prevention
  • Support proper head shape development and potentially avoid torticollis and plagiocephaly 
  • Establish balanced nervous system patterns during this critical developmental window

Pediatric adjustments especially, the pressure of an adjustment is often compared to testing the ripeness of a tomato—light and precise. These adjustments work by stimulating specific neurological receptors, providing the brain with updated information that allows it to reestablish proper regulation and function.

Honoring Your Postpartum Journey Through Neurological Support

The postpartum period is not just a brief phase to “get through”—it’s a profound neurological, physical, and emotional transition that deserves dedicated support and care. By understanding the central role of the nervous system in this journey, mothers can make informed choices that support optimal recovery and development for both themselves and their babies.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers a unique and valuable approach to navigating the postpartum period by addressing the root causes of common challenges rather than just managing traits. By restoring proper neurological function through gentle, specific adjustments, this care can help create a foundation of balance and regulation that supports healing, bonding, and thriving during this critical time.

If you’re preparing for birth or currently in the postpartum period, consider incorporating Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care into your support plan.

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The Real Reason Stretching Isn’t Fixing Your Baby’s Torticollis

Pediatric Chiropractic

If your baby’s head is stuck tilting to one side, you’ve probably been told it’s just a tight muscle. “Stretch it out, do some tummy time, and wait it out,” they say.

But here’s what most pediatricians won’t tell you: torticollis isn’t just about tight muscles. It’s about what happened to your baby’s nervous system during birth.

You’re Not Alone in This Journey

We see this pattern week after week. A mom comes in exhausted, holding a baby who cries during every diaper change, struggles to nurse on one side, and can’t seem to get comfortable no matter what position you try. The pediatrician noticed the head tilt at the 2-month checkup, referred you to physical therapy, and sent you home with stretching exercises that make your baby scream.

Those stretches aren’t working because they’re treating the symptoms, not the root cause. And while you’re waiting and stretching, that subluxation in your baby’s upper spine is affecting far more than just their neck. It’s impacting their ability to eat, sleep, drain fluid from their ears, and hit developmental milestones.

Nathan’s Story: From Struggle to Thriving

Let us tell you about Nathan. His mom brought him in after a traumatic emergency C-section left him with torticollis, plagiocephaly (flat head), digestive issues, and eczema covering his face. He was locked up from his neck all the way down to his lower back. The tight neck muscles caused ear misalignment, leading to repeated ear infections that began at just a few months old.

Nathan’s occupational therapy wasn’t helping. He was even fitted for a helmet to correct the flat spot on his head, but he still looked miserable and uncomfortable all the time. He couldn’t hit his milestones because his entire system was stuck in overdrive.

Within the first month of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, Nathan’s digestive issues and eczema cleared up. By month two, everything changed. He started sitting up, crawling, pulling himself to stand, and he hasn’t had an ear infection since starting care.

Understanding Torticollis: It’s More Than Meets the Eye

1. Torticollis Is a Neurological Problem, Not Just a Tight Muscle

When doctors diagnose torticollis, they’re looking at the obvious sign: your baby’s head tilts to one side with their chin pointing the other way. They see tight muscles and a limited range of motion. But what they’re missing is what’s happening underneath.

Torticollis happens because of subluxation. Subluxation has three parts:

  • Misalignment within the neurospinal system
  • Abnormal tension or fixation within these neurospinal segments and regions
  • Neurological interference and imbalance, where the nervous system gets stuck sending stress signals instead of calm, coordinated ones

Think of it like a computer with too many tabs open. When your baby’s nervous system is overwhelmed with stress signals from that subluxation, everything slows down or crashes. Their body can’t coordinate properly, muscles stay tight, and they’re stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

2. Birth Trauma Is the Most Common Cause

The amount of pulling, twisting, and pressure placed on a baby’s head and neck during birth interventions is significant. Forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, and even C-sections can create subluxation in the upper cervical spine.

Add that to difficult positioning in the womb, being stuck in the birth canal, or a long labor, and you’ve got what we call the Perfect Storm. These layers of stress compound on each other, and the result is a nervous system that can’t regulate properly.

3. Why Stretching Alone Doesn’t Work

Physical therapy stretches work on the muscles, but they don’t address the subluxation that creates the tension in the first place. It’s like trying to push a car with the parking brake on.

Many parents tell us the stretches make their baby cry and seem to make things worse. That’s because when the nervous system is stuck in stress mode, any additional discomfort just adds to the tension. The body fights back instead of relaxing.

When you release the subluxation first with gentle chiropractic adjustments, the nervous system can finally calm down. Then the stretches and positioning exercises actually work because the parking brake is off.

4. The Hidden Consequences of Unresolved Torticollis

Here’s what concerns us most: when torticollis isn’t fully resolved at the neurological level, it doesn’t just go away.

That subluxation can contribute to:

  • Ear infections because tight neck muscles affect Eustachian tube drainage
  • Respiratory infections like croup and RSV because the body can’t move mucus and secretions properly
  • Developmental challenges as kids grow, including gross motor delays, fine motor challenges, sensory processing issues, and even ADHD

The foundation wasn’t stable, so development gets harder at every stage.

There’s Hope: A Gentle, Effective Path Forward

If your baby has torticollis, you don’t have to choose between painful stretches and just waiting it out. There’s a gentle, effective approach that addresses the root cause.

Advanced INSiGHT scans can pinpoint exactly where the subluxation is located and determine its severity. Then, with safe and gentle adjustments, the tension can be released and balance restored to your baby’s nervous system. Parents often see changes within just a few visits.

Sometimes our little ones just get stuck in stress mode, and when we ease that nervous system tension, everything can shift.

Ready to Help Your Baby Thrive?

At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we believe your baby deserves to feel comfortable, develop on track, and thrive. And you deserve to feel empowered and supported on this journey. We want to help. Don’t wait for torticollis to resolve on its own; give us a call today to schedule a consultation for your baby.  

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What To Expect in the Scan Room 

Uncategorized

If you’re like most parents, you want answers. Real answers about what’s going on with your child’s health—not just guesses or “wait and see” approaches.

Maybe your little one struggles with sleep, digestion, or frequent ear infections. Perhaps your school-aged child struggles to focus or sit still. Or maybe your teen is battling anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere.

Here’s what we’ve learned after working with thousands of families: these seemingly different challenges often share a common thread—a wound-up, dysregulated nervous system that’s stuck in overdrive.

And here’s the empowering part: when you can see what’s happening in your child’s nervous system, you can finally address the root cause instead of just managing symptoms.

Why the Nervous System Matters More Than You Think

Think of your child’s nervous system as the control center for their entire body. It manages everything they don’t have to think about—breathing, heartbeat, digestion, immune function, sleep-wake cycles, and even how they respond to stress.

When the nervous system is functioning well, your child can adapt, learn, grow, and thrive. But when it’s stressed or dysregulated—whether from birth trauma, falls, illness, or accumulated daily stressors—it’s like driving with your foot stuck on the gas pedal with no way to tap the brakes.

The result? A body that can’t rest, digest properly, fight off infections effectively, or regulate emotions and behavior.

Enter: Neurological INSiGHT Scans

This is where modern technology meets proactive parenting. Neurological INSiGHT scans are completely safe, non-invasive tools that allow us to see exactly where stress may be “stuck” in your child’s body.

These aren’t guesses. They’re objective measurements that create a personalized roadmap for your child’s care—and yes, they make pretty cool pictures for the fridge, too!

Let’s walk through the three types of scans and what they reveal:

1. NeuroThermal Scan: The Autopilot Assessment

This thermal scan compares temperatures from one side of the spine to the other, showing us how well the autonomic nervous system is functioning.

Remember, the autonomic nervous system operates on autopilot—controlling breathing, heartbeat, digestion, immune responses, and more. (Okay, now that we mentioned breathing, you’re probably thinking about it.)

When we observe temperature imbalances, it indicates where the nervous system is working overtime—and where it requires support.

2. Surface EMG Scan: The Tension and Energy Map

This scan maps out how yours or your child’s neuromuscular system is functioning and where their body is holding energy or storing stress.

Think of it as a stress blueprint. It shows us tension patterns, areas of hyperactivity, and regions that may be exhausted or uncoordinated.

This scan is especially revealing for:

  • ADHD and focus challenges
  • Sensory processing struggles
  • Seizure disorders
  • Motor coordination issues
  • Fertility challenges (for parents!)

When kids can’t sit still or seem constantly “revved up,” this scan often shows us why—their nervous system is literally stuck in a high-energy state.

3. Heart Rate Variability (HRV): The Stress Resilience Test

You may have heard of HRV if you use a device like the Oura ring, Whoop, Garmin, or Apple Watch. While those devices track certain aspects of HRV, our clinical technology gives us the complete picture.

HRV measures how well yours or your child’s body handles stress and whether the “gas pedal” (sympathetic) and “brake pedal” (parasympathetic) of their nervous system are working together in harmony.

What healthy HRV means:

  • Good stress resilience
  • Ability to calm down after activation
  • Better sleep quality
  • Improved focus and emotional regulation

What low or dysregulated HRV reveals:

  • Chronic stress patterns
  • Stuck in fight-or-flight mode
  • Poor recovery and adaptation
  • Vulnerability to illness and burnout

From Scans to Solutions: Your Child’s Personalized Care Plan

Here’s what makes this approach so powerful: these scans, combined with your child’s health history and your insights as a parent, give us the objective information we need to create a truly customized care plan.

No cookie-cutter protocols. No guessing games. Just targeted, nervous system-focused care designed specifically for your child’s needs.

What the Scan Experience Is Actually Like

We understand that bringing your child in for something new can be a source of uncertainty. Here’s what to expect:

When you arrive for your first visit, our team will greet you warmly, and give you a quick tour of the office.

The scan room itself is designed to be comfortable and non-intimidating. The scans are:

  • Completely painless (no needles, no invasive procedures)
  • Quick (usually completed in minutes)
  • Safe (no radiation or harmful exposure)
  • Appropriate for all ages (from newborns to great-grandparents)

Many children find the process fascinating—especially older kids who love seeing the colorful scans of their own nervous system!

We start with the HRV scan. Depending on their age, we will either use an ear clip for our little ones, a finger sleeve sensor for our big little kids, and our older kids and teenagers will be able to use the finger pad like the adults. This is the longest scan and will take 3 minutes. The stiller they can sit the better! But rest assured, this scan is designed with kids in mind and factors in for movement and activity being present.

Next will be the thermal scan. You or your child will be given a gown for this one if they’re willing to wear it. If not, no worries! Our scan techs are amazing at adapting and can always lift their clothing if needed. They have a handheld device that they will roll up the back and neck, and behind the ears.

The last scan, the EMG scan, is for everyone ages 5 and up. If your kiddo is 3 or 4 and having lots of struggles like ADHD, SPD, or seizures, we may try and do this scan as well. This one the gown will stay on, and another handheld device will be held for a few seconds at a time at different levels of the back and neck. This one can be a little cold!

That’s it! Worried your child won’t cooperate? Our scan techs are amazing and meeting kids where they’re at and doing everything they can to make the experience fun and successful.

Taking Charge of Your Child’s Health Starts With Information

As parents, you know your child better than anyone. You notice the patterns, the struggles, the moments when something just feels “off.”

But without objective data, it’s challenging to know where to start or whether the path you’re on is actually working.

These scans provide the missing piece. They validate your parental instincts with measurable evidence and provide a clear starting point for addressing the root cause of your child’s health challenges—not just covering up symptoms.

The Bottom Line

Whether your child is dealing with colic, chronic ear infections, ADHD, anxiety, sensory issues, or you simply want to optimize their health and development—it all comes back to nervous system function. When the nervous system is balanced and regulated, the body can heal, grow, and thrive the way it was designed to.

These scans are your window into understanding what’s really happening beneath the surface. They’re your tool for making informed decisions. They’re your roadmap for getting your child back on track.

Ready to see what’s really going on inside your child’s nervous system? Reach out to RCW to schedule your scan today and take the first step toward truly understanding—and transforming—your child’s health from the inside out.

You deserve more than “let’s wait and see.” You deserve answers. And your child deserves a nervous system that supports their best, healthiest, most vibrant life.

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How To Raise Healthy Kids Naturally

Pediatric Chiropractic

Your child has been sick six times since September. You’ve tried everything — vitamins, essential oils, probiotics, even that expensive immune booster your friend swears by. But nothing seems to work. The antibiotics clear one infection just in time for the next one to start. You’re exhausted, your child is miserable, and deep down you know there has to be a better way.

Here’s what nobody’s telling you: You’re doing everything right, but in the wrong order.

It’s like trying to remodel a house while the foundation is cracking. No matter how beautiful the upgrades, nothing will hold if the base isn’t solid. The same is true for your child’s health. You can add all the supplements and remedies you want, but if their nervous system — their foundation — is stuck in stress mode, nothing else can work properly.

The truth is, your child is stuck in a pattern that can be shifted once you understand the right sequence.

The Medicine Cabinet Shuffle

If you’re like most parents we see, you’ve been caught in what we call the “medicine cabinet shuffle” — trying remedy after remedy, therapy after therapy, with limited results. You’ve been told your child will “grow out of it” or to just keep adding more interventions.

But here’s what the research shows: children who receive antibiotics before age two are more likely to struggle with asthma, respiratory allergies, eczema, celiac disease, obesity, and ADHD later in life.

Now, let’s be clear: antibiotics aren’t inherently bad. They can absolutely be lifesaving. The problem is we’re treating the symptoms without ever asking why the immune system is struggling in the first place.

It’s like having a bucket with holes in it. You can keep pouring water in, but until you patch the holes, you’ll never fill the bucket.

Your Child’s Nervous System: The Air Traffic Controller

Here’s the game-changer that most parents never learn: Your child’s nervous system is like the Air Traffic Controller of their entire body — it coordinates every other system, especially the immune system.

When the nervous system is stressed and stuck in “fight or flight” mode, it cannot coordinate proper immune responses, digestion, or sleep. This is why supplements and remedies often fail — you’re trying to boost a system that’s fundamentally dysregulated.

Why Most Approaches Fail

Most parents are taught to attack the symptoms, not address root causes. It’s like pushing a car with the parking brake on — therapies and remedies can’t work when the nervous system is locked in stress mode.

The “Perfect Storm” of modern childhood — prenatal stress, birth interventions, early antibiotics, and environmental toxins — creates a stressed nervous system from day one. Without addressing this neurological stress first, you’re just managing symptoms, not building health.

The Four Pillars (In The Right Order)

When you get the foundation right first, everything else can finally fall into place. Here are the four pillars that support your child’s health — and they must be addressed in this specific order:

1. Sleep Comes First

Sleep is when the body does its deepest healing and immune system regulation. Consistent poor sleep in children contributes to immune problems, focus challenges, anxiety, and depression. If your child isn’t sleeping well, nothing else you do will be as effective as it could be.

2. Exercise and Play

Movement isn’t just about burning energy. Exercise and play activate brain pathways critical for learning, immune response, and nervous system regulation. When kids move their bodies, they’re literally training their brains and immune systems to function better.

3. Clean Eating

This means focusing on nutrient-dense foods while minimizing processed sugars and chemicals. But here’s the relief: 80/20 consistency beats perfection. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be consistent enough that your child’s body has what it needs to thrive.

4. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

This is the key that unlocks everything else. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care helps restore balance to the nervous system, releasing that parking brake so all your other efforts can actually work. When the Air Traffic Controller is functioning properly, everything else falls into place.

Building Real Resilience

The goal isn’t just to stop the current cold or infection. The goal is to build real resilience — to help your child’s body handle whatever comes its way without constant illness.

When you address the nervous system first and follow the four pillars in order, you’re not just managing symptoms. You’re giving your child’s body the foundation it needs to heal itself and stay strong.

Your Next Step

If you’re ready to stop the endless cycle and build your child’s health from the foundation up, it’s time to take a different approach. At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we understand that your child doesn’t need more labels or medications — they need their nervous system to shift from stressed to regulated. We are ready for your call, so please don’t wait to contact us today to schedule a consultation for your child.

It’s time to stop pushing that car with the parking brake on. When you release it, you’ll be amazed at how naturally your child can thrive!

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You’ve Tried Everything for Speech… Here’s What Everyone Overlooks

Pediatric Chiropractic

You’ve been there. Sitting in yet another speech therapy appointment, watching your child struggle through the same exercises you’ve practiced countless times at home. You’ve followed every recommendation, invested thousands of dollars, and dedicated hours each week to speech drills and muscle exercises. Yet here you are, months or even years later, with your little one still struggling to communicate clearly while other children their age chatter away effortlessly.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not missing anything as a parent. The gap isn’t in your dedication or your child’s effort. The missing piece is that nearly 1 in 12 U.S. children ages 3-17 experience voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders, and the vast majority are receiving the same traditional approach that focuses on the “output”—the speech muscles and sounds—while completely missing what’s happening “upstream” in the brain and nervous system.

The real problem isn’t that your child needs more speech drills or muscle exercises. The problem is that stress and interference within their nervous system is disrupting the very foundation of how speech develops and functions.

Meet Coen: When Everything Changed

Let us tell you about Coen, whose transformation perfectly illustrates what we’re talking about. Before finding neurologically-focused chiropractic care, Coen had a severe speech delay with difficulty initiating sounds and very little sound production. His parents were exhausted, searching everywhere for answers beyond traditional speech therapy because everything they read stated that “Coen’s struggles were neurological in origin.”

They kept asking themselves, “There must be some way to stimulate his nervous system!” When they finally found a PX Doc trained in neurological care, the scans revealed exactly what they suspected—there was a disconnect with how Coen’s nervous system was processing information and coordinating actions like movement and speech. His parents said, “Looking through his scans and talking with the doctors, it all made sense why he was struggling and why progress had been very slow.”

Then came the breakthrough. About two months into neurologically-focused care, “it seemed like a switch flipped for Coen. He started producing way more sounds than before. He began initiating sounds and words on his own without prompting from others… lately, he has just been talking away!”

Today, Coen has gained about three years of progress in just three months and has finished speech services, having met all his goals in record time.

Understanding How Speech Actually Works: The Three-Step Process You Need to Know

Here’s what most parents (and even many providers) don’t understand: speech production is a complex, sequential 3-step neurological process.

Step 1: Input

First, sensory and auditory signals are received by the brain. This includes hearing sounds, feeling the position of the tongue and mouth, and processing visual cues from watching others speak.

Step 2: Integration

The brain processes and integrates this information, creating a plan for how to coordinate all the different muscles needed for speech.

Step 3: Output

Finally, the brain sends coordinated signals to speech muscles to produce the desired sounds and words.

Here’s the crucial insight: While most people assume speech delays stem from muscle problems in the output stage, the real issues typically occur “upstream” in the brain and nervous system’s input and integration phases.

When subluxation and nervous system dysfunction interfere with these early stages, no amount of muscle exercises or speech drills can fully compensate for the neurological breakdown happening in the brain. This is why your child can work so hard in speech therapy but still struggle—you’re working on step 3 when the problem is in steps 1 and 2.

The Real Culprits: Understanding Subluxation and Its Impact

Subluxation refers to misalignment and neurological interference within the nervous system that disrupts brain-body communication pathways. This interference:

  • Affects nerve signals controlling speech muscles
  • Leads to difficulties in motor planning (apraxia)
  • Creates abnormal muscle tone and coordination issues in the mouth, face, and respiratory muscles

The connection to birth: Birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, and C-sections can physically injure the delicate upper cervical area and brainstem regions that house critical nerves controlling speech and communication. Even “normal” births can create stress on these vital areas.

The Vagus Nerve: Your Child’s Communication Highway

One of the most critical—yet often overlooked—factors in speech development is the vagus nerve. This nerve controls the vocal cords through its recurrent laryngeal branch, and when it’s not functioning properly, it leads to:

  • Problems with vocalization, pitch, volume, and speech clarity
  • Difficulty with the precise coordination of breathing and swallowing required for clear speech
  • Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system keeps children stuck in “fight or flight” mode

When the vagus nerve is not working properly, it keeps your child’s nervous system in a stressed state, which further exacerbates speech and communication problems. Your child literally cannot access their full communication potential when their nervous system is stuck in survival mode.

Why Speech Delays Signal Deeper Developmental Issues

As a parent, it’s important to understand that speech is a complex function that develops only after more foundational milestones have been achieved. These include:

  • Nervous system regulation
  • Gross motor coordination
  • Gut-brain health
  • Basic sensory processing

If your child’s brain and body are still working on these foundational “projects,” they simply don’t have the neurological resources available to focus on higher-level functions like speech, socialization, and emotional regulation.

This explains why many children with speech delays also struggle with:

  • Digestive issues
  • Sleep problems
  • Sensory processing challenges
  • Missed gross motor milestones

It’s all connected through the nervous system. Recognizing this connection empowers you to address the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.

Taking Charge: A Different Approach to Your Child’s Speech Development

Understanding the neurological foundations of speech development puts you in the driver’s seat of your child’s health journey. Here’s how a neurologically-focused approach addresses the real root causes:

Step 1: Identifying the “Perfect Storm”

This begins with examining your child’s case history, particularly birth trauma and early life stressors that create neurological dysfunction. You know your child’s history better than anyone—trust your instincts about what might have contributed to their challenges.

Step 2: Advanced Neurological Assessment

Specialized INSiGHT Neurological Scans can precisely locate and measure subluxation and nervous system dysfunction that conventional providers cannot detect. These scans provide objective data about how your child’s nervous system is functioning.

Step 3: Gentle, Specific Care

Through gentle, specific neurologically-focused adjustments, proper nerve function and brain-body communication can be restored, allowing your child’s natural speech development to finally unfold as it should.

Your Role as an Empowered Parent

You are your child’s best advocate. If traditional speech therapy isn’t producing the progress you know your child is capable of, trust your instincts. You have the right to:

  • Ask questions about the neurological foundations of your child’s speech challenges
  • Seek providers who look at the whole child, not just the symptoms
  • Explore care that addresses root causes rather than just managing effects
  • Expect real progress, not just slow incremental changes

Your child’s struggles are not a reflection of your parenting, their effort, or a lack of trying hard enough. They may simply need a different approach—one that addresses the neurological interference preventing their natural abilities from emerging.

Moving Forward with Hope and Purpose

Every child has an innate drive to communicate and connect. When that drive seems blocked or delayed, it’s often because something is interfering with their nervous system’s ability to coordinate this complex process.

At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we understand that the neurological foundations of speech development doesn’t mean abandoning speech therapy—it means ensuring that your child’s nervous system is optimized so that traditional therapies can be more effective.

The breakthrough your family has been searching for may be closer than you think. It might just require looking at your child’s speech challenges through a different lens—one that honors the complex, incredible connection between the nervous system and communication. So if you’re ready to dive into the true root cause of your child’s speech delays, please reach out to RCW today!

Remember: You know your child best. Trust your instincts, ask the deeper questions, and don’t settle for “this is just how it is” when your heart tells you there’s more to the story.

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Why Nothing Seems to Work for Your Anxious, Overwhelmed Child

Pediatric Chiropractic

Your child melts down over the smallest things. They can’t sleep. They refuse to go to school. The tantrums are getting worse, and you’re walking on eggshells, never knowing what might set them off next. You’ve tried behavioral programs, therapy sessions, and maybe even medication, but nothing seems to stick. In fact, everything you try seems to make their anxiety and aggression worse.

You’re not alone, and you’re not failing your child.

4.4 million children in America struggle with anxiety, and the numbers are climbing every year. What most parents don’t realize is that their child’s anxiety isn’t a behavioral problem that needs to be managed – it’s a neurological problem that can be solved.

Damon’s Story: From Despair to Hope

When 8-year-old Damon started having self-harming thoughts and refusing to go to school, his mom felt hopeless. His emotions were coming out as anger and aggression, and things were getting progressively worse for his entire family.

Damon had already been through a behavioral program, but his mom felt like everything she tried was making his anxiety and aggression worse. She was worried about what school would look like and how he would adapt as he got older.

When they discovered the real root cause wasn’t in Damon’s head – it was stuck in his nervous system – everything changed. For the first time, his mom felt heard and hopeful. There was no judgment; they felt understood and finally had some answers as to why Damon was struggling. And even better, there was a solution.

Understanding Why Your Child’s Nervous System Gets “Stuck”

Here’s what you need to understand: your child’s anxiety isn’t a character flaw or behavioral choice. It’s their nervous system stuck in a constant “fight or flight” state. Unable to access the “rest, digest, and regulate” mode that’s essential for emotional well-being.

When the nervous system is out of balance, even simple daily activities can feel threatening to your child’s brain and body, triggering anxiety responses that seem disproportionate to the situation. This stuck state is caused by subluxation – stress and tension that builds up in the nervous system and interferes with proper brain-body communication.

Think of it this way: your child isn’t choosing to be anxious or defiant. Their nervous system is literally unable to find the “off switch” for their stress response.

The Perfect Storm That Creates Childhood Anxiety

Subluxation buildup often starts earlier than you might think:

Pregnancy: Maternal stress hormones cross the placenta and impact your baby’s developing nervous system. This isn’t about blame – it’s about understanding that stress affects developing systems in ways we’re only beginning to comprehend.

Birth Stress: Interventions like C-sections, forceps, or vacuum extraction can create physical trauma to the delicate upper neck and brainstem area, where crucial nerves are housed.

Early Childhood: Falls, illnesses, emotional stress, and even frequent antibiotic use continue to add layers of stress to an already overwhelmed nervous system.

Without addressing these root causes, children don’t simply “grow out of” anxiety. They often grow into more complex neurological challenges.

The Vagus Nerve Connection Most Doctors Never Mention

Here’s the key piece most healthcare providers miss: the vagus nerve is your child’s “brake pedal.” It’s responsible for activating the calming, healing side of the nervous system, which allows them to self-regulate and feel safe.

When subluxation interferes with vagus nerve function, your child loses access to this natural calming mechanism. Making it nearly impossible for them to settle down on their own.

This explains why traditional behavioral approaches often fall short. They’re trying to teach coping skills to a child whose nervous system is physically unable to access the calm state needed to use those skills effectively. It’s like trying to teach someone to drive while their brakes don’t work.

Taking Back Control: How to Address the Real Root Cause

As a parent, you have more power than you realize. The first step is understanding that your child’s struggles stem from a neurological imbalance that can be measured and addressed.

We utilize advanced INSiGHT Scans that can detect and measure the presence and severity of subluxation and nervous system dysfunction in your child. These scans show exactly where stress is stuck in your child’s nervous system, and help create a personalized plan tailored to their unique needs.

Through precise, gentle chiropractic adjustments, neurologically-focused chiropractic care works to release stuck stress from the sympathetic nervous system, activate the vagus nerve, and restore balance to the nervous system as a whole. The goal is to help your child’s body learn when it’s safe to relax, and when it’s appropriate to activate the stress response. Giving them access to both sides of their nervous system.

Imagine your child being able to:

  • Handle everyday stressors without complete meltdowns
  • Sleep peacefully through the night
  • Go to school without the morning battle
  • Communicate their needs instead of acting out
  • Access their natural ability to calm down and regulate

This isn’t just wishful thinking. It’s what happens when you address the neurological root cause instead of just managing symptoms.

Your Next Step Forward

If this all sounds familiar to you, know that you’re not powerless in this situation. Your child’s anxiety isn’t a life sentence, and you don’t have to resign yourself to years of behavioral management and medication trials.

At RCW, we understand the neurological basis of childhood anxiety and have the tools to measure and address nervous system dysfunction. We utilize advanced neurological scanning technology, INSiGHT Scans, and take a comprehensive approach to nervous system health.

Your child’s healing journey starts with understanding that their struggles are real and, most importantly, can be addressed. So if you are ready to advocate for your child’s neurological health and help them access the calm, regulated state they deserve, don’t wait to reach out to RCW today. 

You know your child best. Trust your instincts, ask the hard questions, and don’t settle for “they’ll grow out of it” when your parental intuition tells you there’s more to the story.

Your child’s nervous system has an incredible capacity for healing and adaptation. Sometimes it just needs the right support to remember how to find balance again.