The arrival of a new baby into the world is a monumental event for mom and baby! Birth is a huge adjustment for your baby as they adapt to life outside of the womb. They go through a significant amount of change in their first year of life, and this period of time is an important turning point in their development.

 

Chiropractic Care in the First Year of Life

Contrary to what is commonly believed, chiropractic care is of HUGE value to patients of any age – but especially in their first year! In light of the fact that childhood is characterized by exceptionally rapid growth and development, it is wildly important to make sure that your child’s nervous system is balanced so that their body can adapt to the rapid changes.

During the first year of life, babies will often encounter a few “common” (but NOT normal) issues. Things like colic, constipation, and ear infection are what parents brace themselves for as their baby moves through their first year. But what if we told you that when babies are regularly adjusted from birth, they experience these things LESS often, and when they do experience them, it is less intense? 

 

At Blossom Family Chiropractic we know the impact that chiropractic adjustments have on the immune system of kiddos and we know that infants who are regularly adjusted experience less of the “common” issues. 

 

The #1 Reason Why New Parents Should See A Chiropractor

Taking your newborn to the chiropractor on a regular basis is like making an investment in their health and their growth. Babies can benefit from chiropractic care from the moment they are born until the time they take their first steps. Gentle chiropractic adjustments give your baby the nervous system balance that they need to readily reach their movement milestones (rolling, crawling, walking) and provide them with the cognitive resources they need to learn how to self-regulate and adapt to the world around them. 

 

Taking care of your health involves more than just attending to it in the here and now; rather, it also involves making preparations for the future. This also applies to your newborn infant!

Newborns And Chiropractic: Reasons Babies Need A Regular Adjustment

If you’re looking for an alternative to conventional treatment, chiropractic care is a great option because it focuses on the nervous system. Maintaining a healthy nervous system is essential since it regulates the functioning of the entire body. The health benefits include, among other things, a better immune system, less stress and anxiety, and better sleep.

 

Chiropractic care gives your baby more energy, helps them digest food better, and relieves the symptoms of colic as well as other gastrointestinal problems (or prevents them altogether!).

 

How often should I take my baby to the chiropractor?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, but seeing a chiropractor regularly is generally suggested. At Blossom Family Chiropractic we use in-depth assessments and data to determine your child’s care plan and only adjust when necessary! 

 

If your child is experiencing any kind of acute health issues, your chiropractor may suggest more frequent visits. Consistency, after all, is the key to achieving great results. 

 

During the duration of care, the practicing chiropractor who sees your child will be able to evaluate what your child’s specific requirements are and provide recommendations based on what they find. We suggest finding an ICPA-certified chiropractor who uses the appropriate technology to develop a care plan. 

Takeaway

 

As parents, we want what’s best for our children but we don’t always know what’s best for them so it won’t hurt to heed the advice of those who have gotten through it. Know and take what resonates with your child’s needs. Do your own research and trust your gut instinct. At the end of the day, what matters is that your child gets the best you have hoped for them. 

 

If you are in St. Petersburg, Florida, and looking for an ICPA-certified pediatric chiropractor to balance your sweet, new baby’s nervous system, reach out to us!

 

To book an appointment to get you and your infant evaluated and on the perfect track for development, visit https://blossomfamilychiropractic.com/contact-us/ and reach out to us! 

 

 

Did you know that chiropractic care can significantly impact your baby’s health long into the future?

Your newborn babies’ tiny bodies are going through a lot of changes as they develop and grow. They are developing their sense of smell and taste, learning to calm themselves when they are upset, gaining control over their limbs physically, and becoming more curious about their environment. These changes and transformations can make even the sweetest babies have some BIG feelings. 

Finding out what to do for them at the right times or how to prevent or treat problems to help them stay healthy can be a challenge for new parents. Whether your baby is experiencing behavioral, digestive, physical, or developmental issues, chiropractic care will help.

Why Chiropractic Care is the Best Choice for Babies

Even though chiropractic care may seem like an unconventional choice for infant care, there are a number of ways that it can help babies grow, develop, and function optimally. Chiropractic care has been shown to have many positive effects on infants, including better sleep, easier digestion, and a stronger immune system.  

Chiropractic care for babies is also a favorite for holistic families who prefer not to turn directly to medications when their child is sick. Because chiropractic adjustments help an infant’s nervous system better adapt to illness, many families choose chiropractic care for their babies when they are sick.

How Does Infant Chiropractic Care Work?

At Blossom Family Chiropractic, we know that babies are usually born with some form of “trauma”. Because a baby passes through its mother’s birth canal and is powerfully pushed out, it is not uncommon for its nervous system to be off balance at birth. Chiropractic care for babies brings balance to their nervous system, which allows their bodies to focus on growing and hitting all of their milestones! 

It’s normal for parents to be skeptical about the benefits of chiropractic care for infants. They seem so tiny and fragile, after all. Don’t worry because the chiropractors at Blossom Family Chiropractic are experts in pediatric care, so you can rest assured that your baby is in good hands. They correct the spine and pelvis of infants with gentle pressure and touch to help regulate the nervous system.

Reactive vs. Proactive Chiropractic Care for Babies

When families come into our St. Petersburg office, they are generally there for one of two reasons. Their baby is either experiencing a specific discomfort (like constipation or colic) or they are aware of the benefits of proactive chiropractic care for their baby! Whichever phase that families come into Blossom Family Chiropractic for, they are welcome with open arms.

Reactive

Reactive care is the “immediate response” to a challenge that your child is currently facing. For example, if your kiddo is born with torticollis, we will reactively care for them by adjusting to directly improve their stiff movement. If you bring your kiddo in and tell us that they have recurring ear infections, we will reactively work on their ear canals to improve drainage and lessen the frequency of their ear infections. We are reacting to a specific situation. 

Proactive

BUT, why wait for symptoms when you can prevent them from coming? Prevention is always our preferred method.

Regular chiropractic care proactively helps support your baby’s immune system. A strong immune system is important for overall health, and it can also help protect your baby. When babies are well-adjusted, they don’t get sick as often. We also know that well-adjusted babies adapt better to their environment and are likely to meet and exceed their milestones.

Early chiropractic care provides the framework for peak performance later in life.

As parents, our goal has always been to give our children the best of everything. We understand that at Blossom Family Chiropractic. But often, families overlook what’s ahead and just focus on the present. We are fixated on providing them with healthy meals or engaging them in an active lifestyle, all in the hope that those are enough to get them in tip-top shape. Taking your kids to the chiropractor is a fantastic first step toward building a lifetime of wellness in their bodies. If you are a family in St. Petersburg, Florida who is ready to set your little one up for a lifetime of wellness, click here to book an appointment with us!

Gut feeling

“That gut feeling” is a real thing! Your stomach aches from a stressful situation, or you’ve got knots in your stomach from making a decision. Do you know the feeling we are talking about? You’ve got a little nervous system in your gut, the enteric nervous system, which communicates with your brain through the autonomic nervous system. The millions of nerves that line your gut send signals to your brain that elicit emotional responses and physical responses within your body! We talk A LOT about “fight or flight” responses around here, and your gut can trigger that response. 

The problem is that when your gut can’t send the right signals to your brain, your brain stops a SUPER important thing – the ability to poop well.

 

Your “gut brain” has a major effect on your poop probs!

Those millions of nerves that line every inch of your gut communicate directly to your brain through your vagus nerve. Imagine it like a constant conversation. The gut says, “hey, brain, it’s time to get rid of this waste that I’ve been working hard to make.” The brain should get the message via the vagus nerve and say, “cool, let’s start a bowel movement.” This sort of conversation should be everflowing between your gut and your brain. 

But sometimes your gut and your brain lose connection

Since the vagus nerve plays a large role in the conversation between your gut and your brain, when that nerve is not functioning the way that it should, it breaks the connection. When this disconnection happens, your gut becomes inflamed. That inflammation does a few things. 

1. An inflamed gut SLOWS or STOPS the communication from the nerves in your gut to the Vagus Nerve 
2. An inflamed gut makes it incredibly hard to use the bathroom 
3. Gut inflammation can also affect your mental health 

So, of course, the ultimate goal is to keep communication flowing between your gut and your brain. But how?

To keep the conversation going between your gut and your brain, your Vagus Nerve needs to be free of interference.

This is where chiropractic care comes in! During an adjustment with a neurologically focused chiropractor, like us, we assess the function of your vagus nerve. At each and every adjustment, we work to restore the function of your nervous system so that your brain can communicate effectively with the rest of your body – especially your gut!

Chiropractic adjustments for vagus nerve

At Blossom Family Chiropractic, we take a neurological approach to chiropractic care. We know how important the vagus nerve is to your entire body and how you feel. When we assess each patient at our St. Petersburg office, we use advanced technology to measure HOW their vagus nerve is functioning. 

With our very specific adjusting techniques, we are able to help your vagus nerve communicate at its best capacity with your brain. Our in-depth scans show us exactly where the miscommunication is so that we can adjust at the precise place. 

If you are in St. Pete, Florida area and are having digestive issues, book an appointment with us so we can help your vagus nerve function at its best!

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you are exhausted. You’ve tried everything you can imagine to get your baby to sleep. You need rest, your baby needs rest, and your entire family needs rest. But no matter what you’ve tried, no one is getting the rest that they need.

We know your story. We see parents every day who walk into our St. Petersburg office hardly able to function – sometimes with tears in their eyes – begging for answers.

Claire’s parents were in your shoes. Before they found Blossom Family Chiropractic, Claire had not slept a single night through. The entire family – including Claire – was exhausted. Claire was not getting the rest that she needed for her body to restore and develop at its best.

Since bringing Claire in for pediatric chiropractic adjustments, she is sleeping so much better!  Since she started getting adjusted,  she has slept 9 nights – 7 hours – uninterrupted. Prior to chiropractic care, there was not one night she slept through the night.

How does Chiropractic care help your baby sleep better?

We are about to get into some super cool science. But we know your mind is exhausted, so we will make it short and sweet.  At the base of your baby’s skull is the root of a major nerve that wanders through their entire body. It’s called the vagus nerve. 

The vagus nerve controls the whole parasympathetic part of the nervous system. That’s responsible for sleep digestion, immune function, growth and development, and relaxation. Still, following? We’re almost done. 

We call that parasympathetic part of the nervous system our brake pedal. And what happens is when there’s irritation in that area or any kind of inflammation, or what we call subluxations in that area, it turns off our brake pedal and puts us full-on gas pedal mode and that fight or flight stress mode. So we’re going, go, go all the time.

Your baby can experience that “go, go, go” feeling just like we can. Except for their little bodies that usually look like trouble sleeping, fussiness, digestion issues, etc.

Pediatric chiropractic adjustments focus on the vagus nerve

Our gentle chiropractic adjustments remove the inflammation around the vagus nerve so that your baby’s body has the ability to find and press its “brake pedal”.  These safe and precise adjustments help your baby’s brain communicate to the rest of the body that it is time to rest and restore. When your baby feels the release of the gas pedal (that go, go, go feeling) they can settle into better sleep, their body can digest food better and everyone gets the rest that they need.

Pediatric Chiropractor in St. Petersburg, Florida

Sleep deprivation will make you feel awful. At Blossom Family Chiropractic, we want to support your baby, and the rest of your family, so that you can all get the restorative sleep that your body needs. 

If you are in the St. Petersburg, Florida area and your infant is struggling to sleep, reach out to us to book an appointment.

Did you know that your MENSTRUAL HEALTH is directly related to your NERVOUS SYSTEM?!

Your menstrual cycle and your hormones move together! During each phase (week) of your menstrual cycle, your hormone levels rise and fall. That shift in hormones is the root cause of the physical changes and mood fluctuations that happen during the month. As hormone levels shift, your body is working overtime to maintain a balance that will keep you feeling your best.

The delicate balancing act is controlled by your nervous system. The intricate system of nerves not only controls muscle movement and reaction, but it also is the communication pathway between your brain and involuntary body functions – like your menstrual cycle. As your nervous system picks up the signals that hormone levels are fluctuating, it tells the body to react appropriately. Your nervous system should adapt to each phase. During menstruation, your body should release the thickened uterine wall. During ovulation, your body should prepare to host sperm.

But what happens when the signals from your body don’t make it all the way to your brain?

Sometimes your nervous system has roadblocks – that we call subluxations. These blocks in the communication pathway stop some signals from reaching your brain. Since the brain is not receiving the signal, it cannot react appropriately. Super science-y, right? Here’s a real life example. We are going to compare “Suzy” who has a lovely period week and “Jessica” who wishes she could fast-forward the dreadful week.

When Jessica enters the menstrual phase of her cycle she experiences a HUGE mood swing. She often feels out of control of her emotions and lashes out. On the day that she begins bleeding, she experiences very painful cramping and symptoms similar to IBS. Her period is full of clots and did we mention, painful?

Suzy, on the other hand, often does not even know her period is coming – she may track it on an app but she experiences no physical symptoms. She bleeds lightly and her cramping is minimal – if at all. Her period does not interfere with her life as Jessica’s does.

Why is Suzy so “lucky”? Her nervous system is able to adapt to each phase of her menstrual cycle. It receives every signal that the body sends and reacts the right way. Her body will say “hey, our period is starting soon, can you make sure your uterine wall is ready to slough off?” and the brain says “Yes! I will make it happen!”

While in Jessica’s case, there is a block somewhere in her nervous system, and when her body says “hey, our period is starting soon, can you make sure your uterine wall is ready to slough off?” the brain literally does not get the memo so it has no way to prepare her uterus to do the work. So when it’s time for Jessica’s uterine wall to slough, her hormone levels are off and it is incredibly painful.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Menstrual Health

At Blossom Family Chiropractic, our focus is your nervous system. We base all of our adjustments on the health and adaptability of your nervous system, which we are able to measure through state-of-the-art equipment.

Meaning, we can look at the scans and measurements and see when your nervous system has those roadblocks that would make your menstrual cycle abnormal.

Each adjustment helps remove those blocks – subluxations – from your nervous system, which allows the signals to flow freely to your brain. When your brain receives all the correct signals, it can respond in all the right ways!

So, if you want a cycle like Suzy, routine chiropractic adjustments will most definitely help!

Blossom Family Chiropractic – Family Chiropractor in St. Pete, Florida

As a practice with a focus on pregnancy and children, we work with women who are ready to support their body’s ability to adapt. Once the nervous system is supported, we often see resolution of infertility struggles – which are directly related to nervous system health.

If you are in St. Petersburg, Florida or surrounding areas and you are struggling with your menstrual health, let’s see if chiropractic care is the missing link! reach out to book an appointment with us!