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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
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.
Dad, Are You Running on Empty?
I want you to take a moment right now and ask yourself: When was the last time you felt truly energized? Not coffee-jittery or adrenaline-pumped, but genuinely rested and ready to tackle both work and family life?
If you’re drawing a blank, you’re not alone. Nearly 15% of fathers are experiencing perinatal (before, during, and after pregnancy) anxiety, and up to 50% of dads face postpartum depression alongside their partner. That “dad bod” everyone jokes about? It’s not just about skipping the gym—it’s your body trying to tell you something critical about your nervous system.
The Truth About Dad Stress (That Nobody’s Talking About)
Here’s what’s happening: Your nervous system has two primary modes—the sympathetic “fight or flight” response and the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. When you’re constantly juggling work deadlines, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and trying to maintain relationships, your body gets stuck in sympathetic dominance. You’re essentially driving with the gas pedal pressed to the floor 24/7.
This chronic activation causes your body to continuously release cortisol and other stress hormones. While these hormones are life-saving in true emergencies, they create serious health problems when constantly elevated. Your nervous system wasn’t designed to handle this level of sustained stress, leading to what we call dysautonomia—a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system that impacts nearly every bodily function.
The Cascade Effect: How Stress Impacts Everything
Chronic sympathetic dominance and elevated cortisol directly contribute to:
- Increased abdominal fat and muscle loss (the infamous “dad bod”)
- Suppressed testosterone production
- Reduced muscle recovery
- Disturbed metabolic function
- Inflammation affecting everything from cardiovascular health to immune system
- Brain fog, memory issues, reduced patience
- Diminished ability to regulate emotions
These aren’t character flaws—they’re neurological responses to chronic stress.
Why Traditional Self-Care Advice Often Falls Flat
Here’s where many well-meaning health advice givers miss the mark. They tell you to “just exercise more” or “eat better,” but when your nervous system is already exhausted, finding the energy to implement these changes feels impossible.
The cruel irony? You need these healthy behaviors to heal, but chronic stress has depleted the very reserves you need to start these practices. This is why willpower alone isn’t enough—you need to address the root cause of your fatigue at the neurological level first.
Until your nervous system shifts out of survival mode, sustainable lifestyle changes remain extremely difficult to implement and maintain.
The Dad Health “Cheat Code”: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
Here’s where the game-changer comes in. Neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments directly address subluxation—neurological interference that keeps your nervous system stuck in stress mode.
These gentle, precise adjustments help restore proper communication between your brain and body, allowing your nervous system to finally shift out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-recover mode.
This is why dads who receive Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care report:
- Better sleep quality
- Improved energy levels
- Reduced pain and tension
- Enhanced mood
- Gradually improving physical health
Think of it as hitting the reset button on your overstressed nervous system—creating the foundation for all other health improvements to build upon.
What Makes This Approach Different
At Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we use advanced INSiGHT Scan technology to precisely measure nervous system function and identify exactly where stress and subluxation are impacting you most. This scientific approach allows for personalized care plans based on objective measurements, not just generic recommendations.
The focus is specifically on the neurological component of health rather than just musculoskeletal pain, addressing the root cause of your signs rather than just temporarily masking them.
Dad, You Deserve to Feel Your Best
You deserve to feel your best, not just for your family, but for yourself. Neurologically-focused chiropractic care isn’t just another thing to add to your already overwhelming to-do list. It’s the essential first step that makes everything else possible.
By addressing the root cause of your exhaustion at the nervous system level, you’ll finally have the energy to implement those other healthy habits you know you should be doing.
Countless dads have experienced this transformation. Within just weeks of beginning care, they report better sleep, improved mood, reduced pain, and the return of energy they haven’t felt in years.
Your family needs you at your best, and that starts with taking care of your nervous system health. If you are ready to take the first step, scheduling a comprehensive Neurological INSiGHT Scan, give RCW a call today!
It’s time to stop running on empty. Your best dad years are still ahead of you!
It’s the middle of the night, and you’re jolted awake by your child’s warm forehead and flushed cheeks. Your heart races as you scramble for the thermometer, confirming what you already knew – your child has a fever. Like most parents, your instinct might be to immediately reach for fever-reducing medication. But what if everything we’ve been taught about fevers is actually incomplete or even incorrect?
The Misunderstood Healing Response
Did you know that fever-reducing medications might actually prolong illness in some cases? What if that elevated temperature isn’t an enemy to be fought, but an intelligent healing response orchestrated by your child’s brain and nervous system. One that’s actively fighting infection, activating the immune system, and doing a very important job!
Fevers account for approximately one-third of all pediatric office visits in the United States. That’s millions of worried parents rushing their children to doctors each year, often unnecessarily. What’s even more concerning is that many parents administer fever-reducing medication for temperatures below 100.4°F, which isn’t even technically a fever!
What a Fever Really Is
A fever is not simply an elevated temperature—it’s a sophisticated response produced by your child’s brain and nervous system. Specifically, the hypothalamus which acts as the body’s thermostat.
When your child’s immune system detects pathogens like viruses or bacteria, it releases chemicals called pyrogens that signal the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature via prostaglandins. This creates a controlled, intentional increase in temperature that’s quite different from dangerous overheating that occurs in conditions like heat stroke.
From a neurological perspective, a fever is actually a sign that your child’s nervous system is regulating properly, actively coordinating a complex immune response to eliminate pathogens and restore health.
The Powerful Benefits of Fevers
Here’s what’s happening when your child has a fever:
- Slowing down pathogens: Many bacteria and viruses replicate optimally at normal body temperature. Even a modest increase in temperature can inhibit their reproduction and spread.
- Enhancing immune function: Higher temperatures actually accelerate white blood cell production and improve their mobility and effectiveness. Research indicates that fevers increase the number of circulating neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.
- Activating the healing process: The fever is literally your child’s immune system kicking into high gear. Creating an internal environment where healing can happen more efficiently.
When Fever Patterns Indicate Deeper Issues
A child’s fever patterns—whether they spike high fevers easily, struggle to develop fevers when fighting infections, have prolonged low-grade fevers, or never develop a fever when they should—often indicate there might be dysfunction within their neuro-immune system.
If your child’s fever response is consistently excessive OR suppressive, it could be a sign of underlying nervous system dysfunction, sometimes triggered by early life factors like:
- Prenatal stress
- Birth trauma (especially from interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or c-sections)
- Frequent early antibiotics
These can disrupt proper neurological development and affect how a child’s body mounts fever responses.
When Fevers DO Warrant Medical Attention
While fevers are generally beneficial, certain situations require professional care:
- Any fever in infants under 3 months
- Fever above 102.2°F in children 3-6 months old
- Persistent fever above 102.2°F for more than two days in children over 6 months
Watch for accompanying signs like lethargy, difficulty breathing, severe headache with neck stiffness, refusal to drink leading to dehydration, or a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed.
Remember that even when medical intervention is necessary, this doesn’t invalidate the premise that fevers themselves are beneficial. The goal is to approach them with understanding while recognizing situations that truly require attention.
Supporting Your Child’s Fever Without Suppressing It
Instead of immediately reaching for medication, consider these supportive approaches:
- Focus on hydration: Offer room temperature water, diluted electrolyte drinks without artificial colors, herbal teas for older children, or homemade popsicles.
- Create a healing environment: Ensure extra rest, a comfortable room temperature, lightweight clothing, and light blankets that can be easily removed.
- Consider tepid sponging: If your child is uncomfortable, try sponging with lukewarm water, but avoid cold baths, which can cause shivering and actually raise core temperature.
- Get your child checked for nervous system dysfunction (subluxation): Consider having your child’s nervous system checked by a neurologically-focused chiropractor to ensure proper communication between the brain and immune system.
From a neurological perspective, these supportive measures create an optimal environment for the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system to function properly, leading to more effective fever patterns and faster recovery.
Empowering Your Approach to Childhood Illness
At RCW, we understand fevers from a natural and neurological perspective that transforms how we approach this common childhood experience. Rather than fearing fevers, we can recognize them as evidence of a well-functioning neuroimmune system organizing an intelligent healing response.
If you are ready to schedule a consultation, please reach out to us today!
When we support rather than suppress this process, we honor the body’s innate wisdom and help our children develop resilient, self-regulating immune systems!
