Summary:
What Is Birth Trauma and Why Does It Happen?
Birth trauma doesn’t mean something went catastrophically wrong. It’s the physical stress your baby’s body experiences during delivery—and it happens far more often than most parents realize.
During birth, your baby navigates a tight space. Their head, neck, and spine endure significant pressure. Even in natural, uncomplicated deliveries, forces of 60 to 90 pounds can be applied to a newborn’s delicate neck.
Add interventions like vacuum extraction, forceps, or C-section, and that stress intensifies. About 30% of babies in the U.S. are born via C-section. When you include assisted deliveries, the numbers climb even higher. Each of these puts strain on the upper cervical spine—the area that houses your baby’s vagus nerve and brainstem.
How Birth Trauma Affects Your Baby's Nervous System
Your baby’s nervous system is the command center for everything—digestion, breathing, sleep, immune function, growth. When birth creates misalignments in the spine, it can interfere with how well that system communicates.
Research shows that approximately 90% of newborns experience some form of strain through the neck and cranial areas following birth. Another study found that about 80% of infants have some level of nerve dysfunction after delivery. This isn’t about broken bones or obvious injury. It’s about subtle misalignments—called subluxations—that disrupt nerve signals.
The vagus nerve is particularly vulnerable. This long nerve runs from the brainstem down through the neck, chest, and abdomen. It’s responsible for calming your baby’s body, regulating digestion, and supporting healthy sleep. When the upper neck is misaligned, the vagus nerve can’t do its job properly.
That’s when you start seeing symptoms. Excessive crying. Reflux. Trouble latching. Ear infections. Colic. Your baby isn’t just fussy—their nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to relax and regulate.
Many parents are told these issues are normal and will resolve on their own. And yes, some babies do outgrow them. But others continue to struggle. The longer nerve interference goes unaddressed, the more it can impact development, sleep patterns, and even behavior as your child grows.
The Vagus Nerve Connection: Why It Matters for Colic and Reflux
If you’ve never heard of the vagus nerve, you’re not alone. But it’s one of the most important nerves in your baby’s body—and birth trauma often affects it directly.
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, often called “the wanderer” because it travels so far through the body. It controls the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest, digestion, and calm. When it’s functioning well, your baby can eat comfortably, sleep soundly, and soothe easily.
When birth trauma creates misalignment in the upper cervical spine, it can compress or irritate the vagus nerve. This disruption affects everything the nerve controls. Digestion slows down or becomes uncomfortable, leading to reflux and colic. Your baby struggles to calm down after crying because their nervous system can’t shift out of stress mode.
Studies show that colicky infants who receive gentle chiropractic care cry significantly less and sleep significantly more. That’s not because the adjustment “fixes” colic directly—it’s because restoring proper alignment allows the vagus nerve to function the way it should.
Reflux works the same way. The ring of muscles at the bottom of the esophagus isn’t fully developed in infants, which is why spitting up is common. But when nerve interference is adding to the problem, that reflux becomes more frequent, more uncomfortable, and harder to manage. Gentle adjustments can improve nervous system communication, helping the digestive system work more efficiently.
Ear infections are another common issue linked to vagus nerve dysfunction. When the nerve isn’t regulating properly, fluid drainage in the ears can be affected. Misalignments in the upper neck can also impact the structures around the Eustachian tubes, making infections more likely.
This is why so many parents in Hudson County, NJ are turning to pediatric chiropractors. They’re not looking for a quick fix or a magic cure. They want to understand what’s happening in their baby’s body—and address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
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How Does a Pediatric Chiropractor Help Infants?
If you’re picturing the kind of adjustment you’ve seen adults receive, stop right there. Chiropractic care for infants is completely different—and incredibly gentle.
The pressure used on a newborn is about the same as what you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Some practitioners describe it as the pressure you’d comfortably use on your own eye. That’s it. No cracking, no twisting, no force.
We use what’s often called a “pinky-touch” technique. We apply light, precise pressure to specific areas of the spine—usually the upper neck—to encourage proper alignment. Many babies sleep through their adjustments. Others might fuss briefly, then relax as tension releases.
What Happens During an Infant Spinal Screening
When you bring your baby to Roses Chiropractic in Bayonne, NJ, the first step is always a thorough assessment. We’ll ask about your baby’s birth—was it long or short, were there interventions, how has feeding and sleep been since coming home?
We’ll gently examine your baby’s spine and neck, feeling for areas of tension or restricted movement. This isn’t painful. Most babies stay calm, and parents are encouraged to hold their little one if it helps them feel secure.
If misalignments are found, we’ll explain what we’re noticing and how it might be connected to the symptoms you’re seeing at home. Then, if an adjustment is needed, we’ll use that pinky-touch pressure to encourage the vertebrae back into proper position.
Sessions are quick—usually 10 to 15 minutes. There’s no lengthy treatment plan designed to keep you coming back forever. The goal is to remove nerve interference so your baby’s body can do what it’s designed to do: heal, grow, and thrive.
After the adjustment, some babies show immediate improvement. Others need a few sessions before you notice changes. Every baby is different. But research consistently shows that gentle chiropractic care is safe and effective for infants, with adverse events occurring in less than 1% of cases.
You’re not committing to anything invasive or risky. You’re giving your baby’s nervous system the support it needs to function properly—without drugs, without side effects, and without waiting months to see if they “grow out of it.”
Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Newborns and Infants?
This is the question every parent asks—and it’s the right question to ask. Your baby’s safety comes first, always.
The research is clear: chiropractic care for infants, when performed by a qualified pediatric chiropractor, is exceptionally safe. Adverse events are estimated at about 1 in 250 million pediatric visits. Studies show that serious complications are virtually nonexistent when proper techniques are used.
Not all chiropractors work with infants, and that matters. Pediatric chiropractic requires specialized training. Practitioners learn the unique anatomy of a newborn’s spine, which is mostly cartilage at this stage. They understand how much pressure is appropriate, how to assess an infant’s nervous system, and how to adjust without causing discomfort.
Dr. Roses has extensive experience caring for infants, including his work at St. Clare’s Home for Children in Elizabeth, NJ. He’s seen firsthand how gentle adjustments can support a baby’s health and development. He’s also a father and a lifelong Bayonne resident, so he understands the concerns parents in Hudson County, NJ have when it comes to their children’s care.
The techniques we use are nothing like adult chiropractic. There’s no forceful manipulation. No sudden movements. Just gentle, targeted pressure that encourages the body to release tension and restore balance.
If your baby has been struggling with colic, reflux, or constant fussiness, we offer a safe, natural option. You’re not choosing between chiropractic care and your pediatrician—you’re adding another layer of support to help your baby feel better.
Many parents wish they’d known about this sooner. They spent weeks trying different formulas, gas drops, and reflux medications, only to find that the real issue was nerve interference from birth. Once that was addressed, everything else started to improve.
Helping Your Baby Thrive Naturally in Hudson County, NJ
Your baby’s crying isn’t random. Their reflux isn’t just bad luck. And you’re not failing as a parent.
Birth is hard on tiny bodies, even when everything goes smoothly. Misalignments happen. The vagus nerve gets compressed. The nervous system gets stuck in stress mode. But none of that has to be permanent.
Gentle chiropractic care addresses the root cause—restoring proper alignment so your baby’s nervous system can function the way it should. No medications. No invasive procedures. Just safe, research-backed support for your infant’s developing body.
If you’re in Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, or anywhere in Hudson County, NJ, and your baby is struggling, you don’t have to wait it out. Schedule an Infant Spinal Screening with Roses Chiropractic and find out what’s really going on.
