We get this question ALL. THE. TIME. Can Chiropractic help with my child's constipation? We have seen newborns, babies, toddlers, and young adults that all struggle with being regular, and have had great success at helping them get things moving! 💩
What prompted me to write this blog post was a young patient I saw yesterday. At just 4 weeks old, this newborn was having trouble pooping. She was cranky, couldn't sleep, and was constantly straining. Just imagine. I would be cranky too if I had not gone in a few days! I got her adjusted, working primarily on her lumbar spine, sacrum, and upper neck. Later in the evening as I was about to board a flight to Chicago for the Thanksgiving weekend I received this wonderful text...
What a relief for this little one, not to mention for the brand new parents as well.
!!! #blowout !!!
We talk a lot about poop in our office . It may be awkward to discuss, but it's a crucial part of our everyday lives. When the plumbing gets backed up, so does the rest of our life! Chronic constipation can cause extreme abdominal pain, constant crying, straining, and even prolapse. Medical treatments including medication, suppositories, anal massage, and enemas are the absolute last thing any parent wants to do with their children. I have heard it all. Not only are these treatments traumatizing, but they do not alway prove effective. These approaches typically need to be performed over and over because they do not address the cause of the constipation, just the constipation itself.
Chiropractic adjustments look to find the cause of constipation. We look to find stress and tension in the nervous system; the system that controls bowel motility. When we find a subluxation, or restriction in the spine and nerves, it means the body can't function the way it is supposed to! Adjustments are natural, safe, and effective. Gently getting the spine and pelvis moving properly allows the nerve supply to properly control the gut. The goal of chiropractic is to restore proper function. We look to the nervous system first for this.
If your child is crying and constipated, please get in touch. No parent wants their baby to be dependent on MiraLAX. Pediatric chiropractors are wonderful at helping overcome constipation, and we have had a lot of success at Sprout Family Chiropractic with this exact issue.