27/10/2025
We Often Red-Flag Forceps, Vacuum, or Intervention Births 🚨
(And why chiropractic care is so important for these little ones)
Every birth is powerful — but not all births are gentle on a baby’s delicate nervous system.
During a forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery, or even a caesarean section or prolonged labour, a newborn’s head and neck experience unnatural forces of traction, rotation, or compression. These interventions can literally change how the top bones of the neck (the atlas and axis) sit in relation to the skull and spinal cord — the very area that houses and protects the brainstem, which controls breathing, digestion, sleep, and the body’s ability to self-soothe.
Even a few grams of pressure can irritate these nerves or surrounding soft tissues, leading to subtle (and often missed) signs such as:
🌱Difficulty latching or feeding
🌱Colic or reflux-like symptoms
🌱Poor sleep or excessive crying
🌱Constipation or wind
🌱Difficulty settling or a “stiff” body posture
As chiropractors, we view these signs not as “fussy baby behaviour,” but as messages from the nervous system under strain.
Gentle, specific paediatric chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper motion and alignment in the spine and cranial system — supporting better nerve communication, comfort, and development.
When we say we “red-flag” forcep or vacuum deliveries, it’s because we know how crucial those early mechanical stresses can be. Early chiropractic care doesn’t just help babies feel better — it supports their neurological foundation for growth, digestion, immunity, and milestones.
Every baby deserves to start life with a calm, connected nervous system.
If your birth involved forceps, vacuum, induction, or a long pushing phase, it’s worth having your baby’s spine and nervous system checked by a pediatric chiropractor.
Because how we’re born can shape how we function. 💛