Science is now starting to document something chiropractors have been observing and warning about for years. For decades chiropractors have been warning the public of the danger to newborns from the currently common birth processes used today. Birth is a natural phenomenon that should not be viewed or treated as a medical condition. However, in an attempt to “manage” the birth process, many problems are created. The most prevalent danger chiropractors have been warning about when it comes to the birth process is the creation of subluxations. Numerous articles and symposiums have relayed scientific documentation of damage that occurs to the nervous system in the neck of newborns during the common birth process. This damage ranges from mild subluxations in the upper neck to more serious subluxations involving spinal cord damage and central nervous system problems. Abraham Towbin, MD, a prominent Harvard pediatrician said "The birth process, even under normal and controlled conditions, is potentially traumatic." In addirion, current research suggests that over 80% of all children may be subluxated at birth.(2)
Many authorities suggest that the position of the mother coupled with the pulling from the delivering physician has a lot to do with the creation of these subluxation related problems. When the delivering mother is lying on her back she is not only working partially against gravity but she has reduced the pelvic opening size. These two factors then require the attending physician to pull harder on the head of the child. This increased pulling and twisting during the birth process (During delivery the head is rotated about 90 degrees and presses against the trunk by the contraction of the uterine muscles.(3)), coupled with a decrease in the pelvic opening and a non alignment with gravity often set the stage for birth trauma, subluxation and the resulting problems. Health consequences to the newborn from birth trauma range from immediate and severe to hidden problems that may take years to surface. Some of the more immediate and tragic results that have been documented are spinal cord and brain stem injuries, brain bleeding and swelling, neurological deficits, breathing problems and even sudden infant death syndrome.
The long-term consequences are as varied as the nerve system itself. Some of the more commonly mentioned problems that have been linked to traumatic birth are learning disabilities, headaches, visual and hearing problems, certain palsies, sleep disorders and a host of immune functional problems.(3)
Experts are suggesting that birth be handled as a normal and natural process. Many experts suggest the birthing position of choice is in an upright position of either sitting or squatting. The less force used, if any, the better. Chiropractors have been stressing for years the importance of having a newborn checked for vertebral subluxations. The importance of a developing child being free from nerve interference from subluxation can not be understated.
(1) Tobwin, A.: "Latent spinal cord and brain stem injury in newborn infants." Develop Med Child Neuro 1969: 11:54-58
(2) Gutmann, G.: Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome In Infants and Small Children. English translation in International Review of Chiropractic 46(4):37, July 1990. Original German paper published in Manuelle Medizin 25:5, 1987.
(3) Biedermann, H: Kinematic Imbalances Due to Suboccipital Strain in Newborns. J Manual Medicine 6:151-156, 1992.
