By Dr. Franca Alterman of Alterman & Johnson Family Chiropractors in Jacksonville Beach, Fl and Blooming Bellies, Mommy and Me Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fl
I saw baby V yesterday as a new patient, she was 4 days old and had great difficulty latching on to breastfeed. I examined her and observed that no matter what position she was in, her head always tilted to the left side. Even when she was suspended upside down, her head tilted to the left. The range of motion in her neck was so restricted that she was not able to fully turn her head to the right. Her mom had been a chiropractic patient in our Blooming Bellies office during her pregnancy and, as is usually the case, the birth was quick, very quick. More like "fast and furious" This fast birth may sometimes cause some issues for babies who are not coming down the birth canal with good neck and head alignment. It's possible that her neck was traumatized by the birth process causing her discomfort when trying to get into a proper breastfeeding position. I worked on her spine and also on her TMJ. In the evening I received this message from the midwife who had attended the birth: "I saw (parents' names) today after you adjusted their newborn. She nursed more than 5 sucks for the first time ever! I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it. Amazed! I need some of your cards! I mean seriously she nursed like a champ when I got there and that was the only difference!"
This is what fills my heart!!
Later in the evening I went to adjust our patient J who was in labor, and even though she was being induced, the labor was stalling a lot. She had already been there 48 hours! She was exhausted, as was her doula, who had been with her the whole time. I examined her spine and found that her sacrum (one of the lowest bones in her spine was misaligned posteriorly (towards the back), I also found neck misalignments. Thankfully, I had brought my Impulse adjusting instrument (because you just can't imagine what it's like trying to adjust a 9-month pregnant mama, hooked up to several tubes and needles in a hospital bed, while she's having a contraction) Fiuuuu!!! Anyway, I did a manual adjustment in her neck and used the instrument in the rest of her spine. I also adjusted her doula, hehehe... she needed it as much as the mom. I left at about 11 pm and a beautiful boy was born a few hours later. Today I received a message from her: "Thanks so much for coming, I so appreciate the needed adjustment. (Baby's name) arrived at 3:17 this morning safe and sound. Your care and support were so helpful and vital to getting him here"
Congratulations to mama and baby for a job well done!
HAPPENINGS IN OUR BIRTH COMMUNITY
We have such a variety of people and talent in Jacksonville's birth community. Today we're passing information received from them so that you can stay up to date with all the goings on. If you'd like your event to appear here, please send information to [email protected]
From Michelle Baur - Prenatal Yoga
Classes every Monday night and Bay and Bee 7-8 pm www.jaxprenatalyoga.com
From Zirah McGraw - Doulananda
Doula week is March 22-28. Meet the Doula Event happened to fall in that week. Repeats every month. www.jacksonvilledoulas.com
From Dr. Gary Myers
Myers Pediatric Dentistry is opening our second location at Beach and Hodges on April 6. No longer will Jax folks have to drive down Blanding to reach us! www.tooth2tooth.com
From Elizabeth Luke- First Coast Doulas
Resorative yoga asanas and presentation on comfort in birth. Community Yoga - An iyengar Yoga School. Fernandina Beach. www.firstcoastdoulas.com
From Kimberly Hellmuth
ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) meetings are the 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am. We rotate partks around town, so moms can easily bring their kids. www.fb.com/icanofnorthflorida