Many new parents are surprised by the difficulty of breast or bottle feeding, which can be a major source of frustration and overwhelm. This is especially true as mom is going through hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and healing from growing and then delivering a human into the world. During pregnancy, there is a major focus on mom’s mental and physical health. However, postpartum, the attention is typically primarily directed to the newborn. However, there should be more of a focus on both mom AND baby as their health and wellbeing is interconnected. Dr. Dani is a Denver based pediatric and perinatal chiropractor who loves addressing the dyad of both mom and baby in respects to nervous system regulation and overall health.

If a baby is struggling with feeding, it’s absolutely important to first address the underlying cause. Seeking out bodywork and lactation support (IBCLC) is imperative to discovering the “why.” However, if there is feeding dysfunction- there’s usually an uncomfortable baby, which absolutely means an uncomfortable mom. If mom both mom and baby are uncomfortable and upregulated, it’s likely going to be harder to get baby into a comfortable position, obtain and maintain a good latch, and/or have an effective feed.

Co-regulation can be defined as the nervous system state of one human having the ability to impact someone else’s nervous system state. For example, if you’re around someone who is moving super quickly, bopping from one task to another, speaking in a fast, high pitched and slightly irritated tone… do you tend to feel like they are a human that calms you? Likely not. Conversely, if you’re around someone using a slow, low tone, and exhibiting a sense of calm, you yourself are likely to feel more calm. If we can decrease a mom’s stress/tension and help her nervous system relax, this will absolutely benefit their baby’s nervous system. Moms are also typically uncomfortable from feeding positions, frequent carrying & holding to soothe, have tension in the neck and shoulders, and are just plain tuckered out. Now logically, if moms are uncomfortable and feel as though their baby isn’t feeling their best, feeding isn’t optimal, or their worried about baby’s development; their nervous systems will absolutely be a bit ramped up. So, why wouldn’t we treat both mom and baby in order to achieve the best functional outcomes, mental health, and overall wellbeing of both mom and baby? If we’re addressing tension in baby to improve feeding mechanics, why not go one step further to make sure mom is feeling okay and help to regulate her nervous system for additional support?

Through gentle adjustments, myofascial release, craniosacral fascial technique, nervous system regulation techniques, teaching parent-infant massage, at-home recommendations and referrals (when needed) to ensure that ALL needs are being met, Dr. Dani (a perinatal and pediatric chiropractor) can help babies by also helping moms.