The Hidden Stress of Birth: How It Affects Your Baby's Nervous System

Why Pediatric Chiropractic Care is About More Than Just Pain Relief

As nervous system chiropractors, one of the most common questions we get is: “Why would a baby need to see a chiropractor?”

We totally get it. On the outside, babies look soft and flexible. But what many people don’t realize is that birth is one of the most physically demanding events a body will ever experience, especially for someone so tiny.

Whether your birth was fast or long, whether it was a home birth or a cesarean, even when everything goes beautifully, it’s still a big process for your baby’s body to go through. Their skull and spine are designed to shift and mold as they move through the birth canal or are delivered surgically. But that doesn’t always mean they come through without tension or misalignment.

What We Know from Research

A study by Dr. Viola Frymann, an osteopathic physician, looked at over 1,500 newborns in their first few days of life. She found that about 90% of babies showed some level of strain in their neck, skull, or cranial system. Only 10% had no signs of trauma. Another 10% had clear, visible trauma even to the untrained eye.

That study has stayed with us throughout our training and in practice. It matches what we see in the office every single day. Even babies who seem totally fine can have small restrictions in how their nervous system is communicating with the rest of the body.

Why This Matters

The nervous system is the body’s command center. It controls digestion, sleep, immune function, motor development, and more. If something is creating tension in the spine or skull, it can interfere with those important systems. That can look like reflux, colic, latching difficulties, constipation, poor sleep, or just a general sense that your baby is uncomfortable in their own body.

This is where chiropractic care—especially the kind that focuses on the nervous system—comes in.

What Makes Our Approach Different

At Sol Chiropractic, we don’t just guess. We use Insight Neuro scans, a gentle and non-invasive way to measure how your baby’s nervous system is adapting to stress. These scans give us an inside look at how their little body is functioning and where we can help bring balance.

Our adjustments for babies are incredibly gentle. There’s no cracking, popping, or forceful movements. Most of the time, we use about the same pressure you’d use to check the ripeness of an avocado. It’s soft, intentional, and designed to help their nervous system regulate and thrive.

Above is showing a before, middle, and after scan of their initial care plan. They came in with colic, constipation, lack of sleep, and overall discomfort (left photo: the before showing he was tanking in his energy and revving on his gas pedal.) Midway through care he was already sleeping through most of the night, pooping more consistently! At their final scan after 4 months he was starting to crawl, pooping every day, sleeping well rested, and was a happy baby! (right photo: final progress scan - he has increased his reserve energy through the adjustments, and balanced between his gas and brake pedals (fight or flight and rest and digest).

It’s Not About Fixing Problems, It’s About Helping Them Thrive

We don’t wait for symptoms before checking babies. Just like you wouldn’t wait for a cavity to see the dentist, we believe early chiropractic care can help babies start life with better adaptability and regulation.

Supporting the nervous system from day one sets the stage for better health, stronger development, and a smoother transition into the world.

If you're curious about how your baby is adapting after birth, or if you're already noticing some of the things we mentioned, we’d love to walk alongside you and your family.

We’re here to listen, to support, and to help your little one thrive from the very beginning.

With Radiance,

Dr. Sabrina & Dr. Parker Livingston DC, MS