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Parents, this information may leave you a bit frustrated or upset, but we need to address a problem that’s been going on for far too long. Pediatricians have been telling parents that certain conditions are just a part of childhood and that their children will grow out of them. However, this is simply not the case.
If you have been up all night with your child who is experiencing colic, chronic constipation, reflux, or ear infection after ear infection, it’s essential to know that these issues will not simply go away on their own. If your child is struggling with tons of tantrums, meltdowns, developmental delays, and difficulty sleeping, don’t let anyone tell you that it’s just a phase.
We understand that as a parent, you know when something is wrong with your child. You may have been told to wait it out, but we want to assure you that there is more going on. Just as your gut tells you. The science behind these conditions is related to the function and development of the central and autonomic nervous system. An area that pediatricians may not understand very well, but is the absolute specialty of neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractors.
What Happens When There is Stress Built Up on the Nervous System?
Whether your child is two months old or fifteen years old, we have found that the neurology behind colic, sensory processing issues, autism, ADHD, anxiety, constipation, and chronic autoimmune challenges are virtually the same.
It all comes down to the nervous system being subluxated, stressed, and stuck in what’s called sympathetic dominance, or imbalance.
Over time stress and tension are placed on the nervous system from early childhood stressors. Stressors like prenatal distress, birth interventions, and trauma, and the exposure to toxins early in life. This leaves the entire nervous system dysregulated and out of balance, leading to a condition called dysautonomia.
This is why it’s so important to look for the root cause of their challenges. Instead of just labeling it and sending you and your child off to different specialists. We can help address the overactive and overstimulated sympathetic side of the nervous system in children with colic, sensory issues, and anxiety. Our office is very focused on functional neurology.
If you only chase symptoms, you’re not addressing the root cause. The nervous system controls everything from digestion to immune function, respiratory system, social-emotional regulation, and neurological development. By focusing on the nervous system first, you can get everything else figured out and functioning again much easier.
Challenges you’ve been told your children will “grow out of” like colic and chronic ear infections, can actually lead to chronic autoimmune challenges, allergies, and a compromised immune system. That makes it easier to catch every cold that comes around. Especially if each time they get sick they’re prescribed more antibiotics and other medications that further suppress gut-immune function.
Additionally, behavioral issues like tantrums, meltdowns, and hyperactivity are often dismissed as typical childhood behaviors. But these behaviors can be symptoms of larger issues related to neurological development. They can cause anxiety, hyperactivity, and emotional challenges in school and later in life.
The Perfect Storm Pathway
Regardless of where you are in this perfect storm pathway, you deserve to know what’s really going on with your child. Keep learning about their health, and consider using advanced technology like our INSiGHT Scans to measure and locate the stress and subluxation in the nervous system.
We specialize in adjustments that release stress, and lower sympathetic tone. These can help your child get out of the “storm” caused by these challenges. By getting the parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve activated and “online” once again, so much natural healing and health restoration can occur. Even older children can benefit from this kind of care. The nervous system remains plastic and can be changed even after years of stress.
Our office is neurologically-focused and uniquely equipped to address the common themes and threads behind all of these challenges. We provide drug-free action steps that can help your child and your family.
If you or someone you know has been told to simply wait and see, please share this information. Help spread the truth about the impact that neurologically-focused chiropractic care can have on your family’s life.
We are here to help you restore hope, find answers, and take action for the health and well-being of your child.
As a parent, nothing can prepare you for the distress of seeing your baby cry inconsolably for hours on end. If your little one is crying for more than three hours a day and seems impossible to comfort, there is a good chance they are experiencing colic. This diagnosis affects about 25% of infants, leaving many families feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
It’s important to understand that colic isn’t just regular fussiness or tummy troubles that babies outgrow. It’s not just gas pains, food sensitivities, or issues with tongue and lip ties. Instead, colic often stems from deeper neurological imbalances and disruptions in your baby’s nervous system signaling and digestion.
Research has shown that colic isn’t something babies grow out of, and is a condition that requires attention and understanding. It is in no way your fault as a parent, nor is it a reflection of something you’re doing wrong. Understand that colic is a neurological imbalance and dysfunction that disrupts aspects of an infant’s well-being. Including sleep, digestion, and soothing mechanisms, can help you find the right care for your baby.
So, if you’re a parent who is overwhelmed by your baby’s persistent crying and you suspect there’s more to it than just typical infant behavior, this is for you. We’re here to offer insights beyond traditional medicine and to introduce drug-free solutions. Neurologically-focused chiropractic care has helped numerous families find relief for their little ones.
Exploring Colic’s Root Causes
As mentioned, colic often originates from something called subluxation and vagus nerve dysfunction rather than just gas pains or food sensitivities. Subluxation refers to areas of misalignment and tension in the spine. Vagus nerve dysfunction can disrupt vital functions such as digestion, immune response, and relaxation. Understanding these underlying issues is crucial for effectively addressing colic and promoting your baby’s well-being.
The Science Beyond Surface Symptoms
Colic affects approximately one in four infants, leading to prolonged crying episodes and challenges with traditional soothing methods. The origins of this neurological dysfunction can often be traced back to pregnancy. Maternal inflammation or a high-stress pregnancy can shift a baby’s nervous system into a state of dysautonomia. Where the fight-or-flight response dominates, affecting crucial functions like sleep and digestion.
During childbirth, birth stress and interventions such as forceps, vacuum extraction, or C-sections can further exacerbate these issues. The upper neck and mid-back area houses and protects the vagus nerve. A vital nerve responsible for sleep regulation, digestion, and relaxation—can experience misalignment and tension. This leaves your child’s nervous system trapped in sympathetic fight-or-flight mode, hindering their ability to find comfort and calm.
The Road to Relief From Colic
The journey to understanding and addressing colic can be daunting, especially when conventional wisdom may suggest that colic is a passing phase. The truth is that unresolved colic can lead to other health challenges, such as constipation, ear infections, and developmental delays. However, there is hope!
Specialized care protocols, including advanced technology like INSiGHT Scans, can guide precise care plans. These scans provide invaluable insights into your baby’s nervous system function. Pinpointing regions of dysfunction and subluxation and guiding the development of a precise care plan tailored to your child’s needs.
Once armed with this comprehensive assessment, we start with gentle neurologically-focused adjustments aimed at restoring proper nervous system function. While activating the vagus nerve and alleviating digestive issues associated with colic.
Taking Action for Your Baby’s Well-Being
If you find yourself exhausted, yearning for real answers to the root causes of your child’s colic, we’re ready to take that next step with you. Please reach out to RCW today to schedule a new patient consultation and exam for your baby. Restoring nervous system function brings fast relief, helping your baby thrive!
As parents and dedicated pediatric chiropractors at Rochester Chiropractic and Wellness, we have witnessed the struggles that countless children face – battles against unresolved anxiety, poor sleep, low immunity, and inflammation, despite the tireless efforts of you parents striving to support your child’s health. This struggle leaks into their behavior, marked by frequent meltdowns and an inability to self-calm or regulate. These persistent challenges may be indicative of a constant activated stress response causing struggles for their delicate nervous systems.
The alarming truth is that over 77% of today’s youth suffer from chronic health conditions, with neurological and mental health disorders standing out as the most prevalent. The latest clinical research points to dysfunctional nervous system patterns that serve as the main drivers when it comes to these conditions.
Specifically, when your child becomes stuck in “fight or flight” mode, the cascade of stress hormones disrupts vital processes like digestion, immunity, and development. The restorative parasympathetic “rest and digest” activation becomes suppressed, spiraling into a relentless cycle known as the “Perfect Storm.”
If your child is stuck in the “Perfect Storm” of symptoms, leaving you feeling helpless in your pursuit of solutions – rest assured this is a scenario that resonates with so many parents, and it’s crucial for you to recognize that you are not alone. Understanding that these challenges are linked to the nervous system is pivotal in navigating the journey toward better health for your child.
How Kids Get Stuck in a Fight or Flight Stress Response:
Your child’s nervous system, like a switch, goes between active and relaxed modes. When there’s a short-term danger, it goes into “fight or flight” mode. But problems happen when the stress reaction stays for too long.
The Vagus Nerve’s Function
At the heart of nervous system regulation is the vagus nerve, controlling the activation of the body’s “rest, digest, and regulate” parasympathetic nervous system. This critical nerve regulates digestion, breathing, heart rate, and inflammation and is more tied to restoration. We also know that the vagus nerve is essential to social and emotional regulation, speech, and so much more.
Impaired vagal tone traps your child in fight or flight, leading to a condition called dysautonomia. Dysautonomia (or out-of-balance autonomic nervous system) can then lead to a host of other chronic health challenges in kids.
What Getting Stuck in Fight or Flight Looks Like in Kids
Here are signs that your child may be stuck in fight or flight mode:
- Heightened baseline anxiety, worry, and panic responses
- Frequent emotional meltdowns and outbursts
- Disrupted sleep and nightmares
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Increased food sensitivities and allergies
- New onset headaches or body aches
- Overreaction to minor frustrations
- Poor focus and concentration troubles
- Frequent illnesses and decreased immunity
- Persistent fatigue or hyperactivity
When your child’s nervous system gets overloaded and stuck, churning out stress chemicals, it turns into a range of symptoms that can disrupt health and development. Leading to:
- Anxiety and Mood Changes
- Cognitive and Behavioral Challenges
- Physical Hurdles (including): Headaches, body tension, abdominal pain, low energy, and immune weakness
- Growth and Development Delays
How to Get Our Kids Out of Fight or Flight Long Term
Parents, you hold immense power in nurturing your child’s well-being at home. It’s always a great idea to engage daily in breathing exercises, helping with the relaxation response. You can try gentle movements like yoga to process cortisol. Ensure optimal nutrition to replenish drained reserves, and consider natural supplements for gentle inflammation modulation. Prioritize restorative sleep for holistic health.
However, time and again, we meet parents who have tried everything under the sun to help their child learn to calm, regulate, and balance their emotions and nervous system, but to no avail.
In cases where the nervous system seems stuck in fight or flight, the crucial first step is Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care.
These adjustments target vagus nerve stimulation and release pent-up stress within the sympathetic nervous system, proving way more impactful than traditional methods.
As adjustments start to help restore better sleep patterns and enhance neurological health for your child, you can then introduce breathing exercises, calming activities, and nutritional programs.
So, if your child is expressing symptoms tied to a stuck-on, fight-or-flight nervous system, and you’ve exhausted every avenue without success, consider addressing nervous system dysregulation and subluxation as the missing link.
In a world that is full of intimidating diagnoses, politically-driven agendas, judgy mom groups, social media, trigger warnings left and right, and the Target checkout lady saying “sleep while you can,” it’s so hard to know where to turn to for advice when you find out that you’re pregnant.
With all of this, the transition to motherhood sometimes feels more like a loss than the most joyous and monumental moment of our lives. It’s okay to feel alone and lost. I mean, truthfully, we are saying goodbye to the only versions we’ve known as ourselves: the maiden. We really won’t ever be the same. But what if that’s exactly what it’s supposed to be like? It’s okay to mourn our old selves in this season. To realize that we are closing the door on the life we had before… but what’s next?
How Can the People Around Us… Affect Our Pregnancy?
What if we started looking at the pregnancy journey and the motherhood transition a little differently than our society does? It starts with who and what we surround ourselves with. Today’s world is muddled with materials, opinions, and options when it comes to pregnancy, so who we choose to be in our circle is most important. Have you ever heard the saying, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with?” Who you choose to be around and listen to are the people who have the most influence in your life. And at a time when you are most vulnerable, keep your birth team and circle tight. Have a circle that supports, empowers, and encourages you in all your choices during your pregnancy.
I was sitting in an auditorium with thousands of other women when I heard a story that changed my life. Did you know that when an elephant is giving birth, other female elephants will surround her? It’s fascinating. 40 tons of elephants in the wild kicking up dirt, making loud noises, and warning other predators and attackers that they will not get to their sister while she is the most vulnerable. It’s beautiful. What’s even more special is when the baby elephant is born, the sister elephants will cover him with dirt and sound their trumpets obnoxiously loud; encouraging and cheering their sister on as they share with the entire animal kingdom what just occurred.
This! This is what it should be like when other women are going through their perinatal season of life. Whether it’s a season of fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum, we should never stop encouraging one another.
Trust Your Mighty Inner “Mom Gut”
And as the elephant in the middle. The pregnant one. Know your power, too, that you are the best mom for your baby and that you have been given a “mom gut” that you should trust over everything else. That you have choices when it comes to anything concerning you and your baby. YOU are the one. And you can do this. It’s okay to log off sometimes and find the resources that fit what you need instead of the ones that please everybody else. It’s okay to be different. It’s important to go with your gut.
Our babies are hitchhikers on our nervous systems, so whatever we are feeling, so are they, which is why it’s important that we are their #1 protector.
We do this best when our nervous systems are adaptable to the stressors around us that we can’t necessarily control. We should be able to sprint across the street but then sit down and have a relaxing and digestible lunch right after. That’s how adaptable and resilient we are.
My prayer for you today is that you will step into this motherhood transition feeling empowered and confident, knowing that you are the mom your baby needs. That you step into the role of mom with grace. You will never be perfect, and that’s what is so perfect about it. That you are allowed to change your mind, change your provider, change your course… That your body was made to grow this baby. Your body was chosen to birth this baby. And you were made to nurture and love this baby.
