What is paediatric chiropractic?

Our newborns grow and develop rapidly - with this process comes new brain connections and brain-body pathways. During the early phases of life, brains grow and are positively stimulated by movement, social engagement and sensory experiences.

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It is amazing to observe how each day brings an incredible change in your babies awareness of you and the world around them. 

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Chiropractic at KRC can help you set your family up for optimal health by assisting in creating a well functioning nervous system. 

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Why do I see babies and children? 

In 2016 I became a parent for the first time. I can honestly say that being pregnant was an incredible journey, I've been fortunate enough to experience two uncomplicated pregnancies. Being a chiropractor, I see changes in peoples bodies every day that amaze me. To experience such profound physical (and sometimes emotional!) adaptations, pre and post birth, affirmed how adaptable and intuitive the human body is. 

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My first birth was prolonged. I had an epidural and forceps delivery - the experience was very positive for me. The team at Queen Mary were very communicative about the options available and I felt I had a voice at every junction. After my sons birth, I noticed that he was understandably very sore when his head was touched and he had some restriction when turning his head due to the forceps delivery. 

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I had Tarran checked by our chiropractor and took him to see an osteopath in the first few weeks to help with his discomfort and improve his range of movement. 

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Breast feeding was quite a traumatic experience for the first 10 weeks. I experience engorgement as my milk supply came in that didn't settle down quickly. A combination of engorgement, a small baby that found it difficult to get a deep latch plus lots of confusing and conflicting advice around tongue tie and palate shape led to severe loss of tissue and open wounds to my breasts. I started to heal around week 10/11 and then breastfed comfortably until around 6 months when baby started on some formula to help with feeds when I returned to work. He transitioned to full time formula a couple of months later. 

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My second baby arrived 7 years later in 2023. Her arrival was a story of two halves......the first half was a textbook slow and steady progression to 5cm. The short walk to the delivery suite had me fully dilated 10 minutes later and ready to push! The rapid progress of the labour meant that the option of pain relief was no longer available. With focus and calm breath work, my daughter arrived 2 hours later.

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With and incredibly attentive midwife we had a far better start to breastfeeding. Some early switches to bottle feeding with expressed milk helped my engorgement and the mild nipple damage healed quickly, allowing for a quick return to comfortable breastfeeding. 

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These experiences of transitioning to a parent, observing the development of my babies and experiencing the benefit of hands-on care, in particular with my son, has led to my desire to extend my practice to include babies, toddlers and children.

Some reasons why you may bring your baby in:

• Body asymmetry - baby may lie in a banana-like shape

• Head may be rotated 

• Flat areas on the head

• Irritable and fussy

• Difficulty latching or taking bottle on certain sides

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What to expect when you see Dr Stacey:

Your baby will be assessed thoroughly looking at both the babies neurological and physical presentation. This is done by observing baby throughout the consultation and performing some paediatric specific tests that check primitive reflexes and neurology, neck range of movement and head shape, developmental hip checks, spine and pelvis function. 

Reducing tension and imbalance that may be present in a babies body can help to:

• settle a fussy baby

• improve the ability to latch and feed

• improve movement patterns

• help improve sleep

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The assessment and treatment process is very fluid depending on how settled baby is. There will be plenty of time for baby to feed and have a break and cuddle with their parents/caregivers. Your baby will likely need to go to singlet and nappy layer so a thorough check can occur. We will explain what we're checking and finding as we go and discuss options for care. You will be included in your babies care plan with some home-care advice and activities. 

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Meet Stacey Medway, one of our chiropractors at Knox Rehab Clinic.