Mums are generally delighted with the progress baby makes with each check-up. Some wonder when baby should have a spinal check-up. The following is a guide of when baby should have a spinal check-up.

• When does your baby need a spinal check-up?
• Soon after birth process
• More urgent if difficult birth (forceps, suction) or caesarean birth
• Baby is a poor sleeper or baby dislikes being held
• Inability for baby to breastfeed
• If baby favours one side for feeding
• When baby starts to hold their head up
• Baby constantly arches backward or constantly kicks out their legs
• Colic (20% of babies have infantile colic – Chiropractic helps)
• When baby sits up
• When baby starts to crawl
• When baby starts to stand
• When baby starts to walk
• If baby has any problem with their movement patterns – reflex locomotion

 
To check out our information on Reflex Locomotion in Babies CLICK HERE!

The brain controls everything and relies on unhindered communication with every part of the body (every muscle, joint, organ, tissue, cell) for normal growth and development and the ongoing repair of the body. The importance of a developing baby being free of nerve interference usually caused by the birth process cannot be overstated.  All infants even those that appear healthy may have subluxations due to traumatic birth syndrome.  Every baby, including your precious little one deserves the best chance at a healthy happy life. Our children deserve to be treated naturally; Chiropractic care is one part of providing the best development opportunities for your baby.

Vitamins for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

It’s important for pregnant women to obtain at least 27mg of ion per day to ensure that she does not get anaemia due to the increased blood supply she produces to support the growing foetus.

Calcium and Vitamin D are important for maintaining the bone integrity of a pregnant women and supporting the skeletal development of the foetus. Pregnant women should consume 1200mg of calcium and 10iu of vitamin D per day.

Whilst all of these nutrients and vitamins are said to have benefits for mother and child, you should not under any circumstances substitute qualified medical advice with information found in this article. The author does not give or purport to give any medical or healthcare advice and is not qualified to do so.

For more information about Australian vitamins visit Australia’s vitamin information website. Navigate to HealthyComparisons.com.au’ Vitamins for Pregnancy page for more information about vitamins and to compare vitamins for pregnancy.

© Kristy Lee 2008. You are welcome to reproduce this article as long as URLs are active and no changes are made to the text.

By Kelly Gough

Now the cooler weather is upon us, it’s time to start thinking about your winter breastfeeding wardrobe. With some clever planning your breastfeeding clothes will take you right through winter and beyond with ease. A few easy tips will help you put together a stylish kit without breaking the budget.

Stay Warm – breastfeeding tops really do make a difference and keep your back and belly warm during winter. No more exposed skin - brrrr! The difference from regular clothes, is that breasfeeding clothing is designed to keep you covered while giving you quick and easy access for feeding. It really does makes breastfeeding more comfortable in cooler weather.

Great Lengths – choose a selection of sleeve lengths so your breastfeeding tops will take you through all seasons, giving you much better value for money. T-shirts, and ¾ sleeves are great under a jacket for winter and perfect on their own for spring and summer. Creating a versatile fashion kit will mean you have something to wear all year round.

Layer Up - add a nursing tank and layer up under jackets, cardigans and winter PJs. A great bra replacement for sleeping and an old-favourite to keep you warm during those cold night time feeds.

Grab a hoodie - a winter must-have and one of the leading trends for winter. Our Funky Nursing Hoodie is a comfortable casual basic that will take you from home, walking and to mother’s group with ease long after you finish breastfeeding.

Get Stripey - not stroppy that is from the cold and a hungry baby! Stripes are another big influence this winter, so be sure to add them to your wardrobe including accessories such as scarves or beanies. Black, red and grey are hot colours this winter so look for stripes in these colours.

Classic Style – choose tops that you can still wear long after you finish breastfeeding. By selecting designs with discreetly hidden openings no one will know you are wearing a breastfeeding top. Stretch your dollar just that little bit further with classic designs that will become wardrobe favourites for years to come.

Remember that just because you’re breastfeeding, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your sense of style! With fashion breastfeeding tops you can still take your baby out with friends for coffee and discreetly feed in public. Best of all, it does wonders for your self-esteem when you have something nice and new to wear.

Kelly Gough is a business mum who manages Nuvo Maternity, an online boutique and nursing wear label that specialises in fashion breastfeeding clothes and tops.

Babies and Infants can benefit from a Chiropractic check-up of their spine and nervous system. Mums are amazing women doing everything within their power to ensure their baby’s health and wellbeing during pregnancy. Then there is the magnificent birth and arrival of their precious little one and mums natural instinct is to be protective. You have your baby’s eyes, ears, heart checked – what about the system that controls everything – baby’s nervous system?

Why is it necessary to have the precious little baby checked by a Chiropractor?

The answer is quite simple really. Baby has gone through quite a lot in the birthing process. It is not unusual for baby to have subluxations and some misalignment of the spine. Towbin A, reported in the article on latent spinal cord and brainstem injury in newborn infants – Develop. Med. Child Neurol., 1969. “The birth process … is potentially a traumatic, crippling event…. mechanical stress imposed by obstetrical manipulation — even the application of standard orthodox procedures may prove intolerable to the foetus. The view has been expressed clinically that most signs of neonatal injury observed in the delivery room are neurological…”. Chiropractors are trained to correct subluxations and spinal misalignments. It is therefore important to have baby’s spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor sooner rather than later. Mums are amazed by how much better baby tends to sleep, feed and behave after their Chiropractic check-up.

Why do babies feel so much better after a chiropractic check-up? 

The chiropractor identifies and treats any subluxations and misalignments in baby’s spine, this generally allows baby to move more freely, also it removes any interference to transmission of messages through the spinal cord and nerves to the baby’s body, organs, tissues etc. The interference free communication through the nervous system enables the baby to naturally grow and develop optimally.

Want more information feel free to see our website: http://gfc.dr-robyn.com

Dr Robyn Leeder is a Melbourne Chiropractor, with a practice in Greensborough for the past 11 years. She has special interests in womens health, pregnancy and paediatrics supplemented by post graduate courses. She is also currently studying to be a diplomate of the prestigious American Chiropractic Neurology Board.