Your Baby’s Movements are Building Their Brain—Literally

From the moment your baby enters the world, their tiny movements, those automatic kicks, stretches, and grips, aren’t just adorable, they serve a larger purpose. They are critical neurological building blocks that lay the foundation for lifelong development. But did you know it starts even earlier than their birth day? It starts in the womb.

By the third week of pregnancy, your baby has already formed the basic shape and structure of their brain and spinal cord. Not only are these structures formed, but they’re also performing important tasks for future brain development. Primitive reflexes are automatic, innate movements that babies develop in the womb to help with adaptation to the world.

These primitive reflexes aren’t random reactions. They are precisely wired programs within the nervous system, helping to create the neural connections that will shape everything from reading and writing skills to emotional regulation and physical coordination. It’s further evidence of the innate intelligence of the mother-baby connection.

Labor and birth are a baby’s first major workout. The twists, turns, and movements they make during delivery are essential in activating their nervous system and building neural pathways. Baby must first descend into the pelvis and vaginal canal, tuck their head, rotate to align with the mother’s pelvis, extend as their head is born, rotate again but in the other direction, then the rest of their body is born. These innately coordinated movements are called the cardinal movements of labor. While all of this is going on, the baby is activating their reflexes to aid in the process. During the moro reflex, you may notice when a baby is startled by a loud noise or sudden change in their position, they take a deep breath in, raise their arms quickly, and begin to cry in search of their mother. This reflex is essential for survival for the newborn, ensuring connection with caregivers and even preventing SIDS. This reflex is activated in labor by the sensation of pressure of contractions and position changes in the womb. Another reflex, called the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, plays an important role by helping baby rotate through the birth canal. This reflex (also called ATNR) helps children drive motor skills, eye tracking, reading, writing, and overall coordination. The rooting reflex, which is essential for showing hunger cues and latching at the breast, is activated in labor to help the baby rotate as they descend down the birth canal. The palmar grasp reflex (you know the one where the baby so sweetly holds your hand) actually helps them navigate the birth canal, and will help with fine motor and handwriting skills throughout their childhood. The spinal Galant reflex, which helps the baby crawl, develop and maintain posture, transmit sound to the ears while in the womb, and aids in bladder and bowel control, also helps with the descent during the pushing phase of labor.

So you can see how these movements are priming your baby’s future development. I also see these as little signs of communication. They’re signals from baby to mama communicating their perfect symbiosis, sharing their rhythm and ensuring their presence. It’s a silent conversation, an unspoken secret language deepening their bond.

A smooth birth process helps ensure that these movements can activate their reflexes and their reflexes Chiropractic Newsletter Discover Chiropractic Continued on page 2 Provided and published by ICPA. For more information, visit discoverkidshealth.com 2 are integrated properly, setting the stage for optimal brain development. However, if the birth process is difficult, whether due to prolonged labor, interventions, or positioning issues, it can interfere with these natural movements. In addition to that, the forces of birth can potentially lead to subluxations (misalignments in the spine) that affect the baby’s ability to process and respond to their environment. This creates modified movement patterns and neurological input, which can alter the trajectory of their brain development.

This is where pediatric chiropractic care plays an essential role. These reflexes need to be fully activated at certain times, and in certain orders, then they need to integrate or disappear at certain times, and this process allows a child to access higher, more sophisticated cortical functions. By ensuring the nervous system is functioning optimally, chiropractic adjustments help babies integrate reflexes properly, supporting coordination and development, and improve nervous system communication. This impacts learning and sensory processing, enhancing movement patterns, making milestones like crawling and walking smoother. Pediatric chiropractic allows a greater sense of connection to oneself, which leads to more ease with learning, emotional regulation, and development.

For pregnant mothers, Webster perinatal chiropractic care is a game changer. This specific approach helps balance the pelvis and sacrum, reducing nervous system stress and easing the birth process for both mom and baby. A balanced pelvis means the baby may have more room to move and develop those essential in-utero reflexes.

A baby’s nervous system is like an open highway for growth, learning, and connection. But subluxations create roadblocks, interfering with this natural process. When spinal misalignments disrupt nervous system communication, babies may experience difficulty latching and feeding, increased fussiness or colic, and even delayed milestones or poor coordination. Your baby’s early reflexes aren’t just movements, they are laying the groundwork for lifelong learning, emotional resilience, and physical spatial awareness. Ensuring their nervous system is functioning at its best through pediatric chiropractic care allows them to grow, develop, and thrive.

We know that movement is life. Even if your baby didn’t experience all the cardinal movements of labor, you can help activate these neural pathways once they’re born by doing things like the breast crawl, skin-to-skin contact, and baby wearing. The more input they have through movement, touch and connection, the more likely we are to assist their brain development.

When in doubt, snuggle that baby. You have that sacred unspoken language that only the two of you share. Trust in the power of this innate bond; it’s yours to nurture with love and presence. -

Stephanie Libs, DC

Appears in Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine Issue #85

Setting Health Goals for the New Year: Prioritizing Spinal Health

As we embark on a new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on our health and well-being and set goals for the future. While many people focus on resolutions related to diet and exercise, it's equally important to prioritize spinal health in our health goals. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of setting health goals that include spinal health and provide tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy spine in the upcoming year.

1. Reflect on Your Current Spinal Health

Before setting new health goals, take some time to reflect on your current spinal health. Consider any issues or discomfort you may have experienced in the past year, such as back pain, stiffness, or poor posture. Reflecting on your current spinal health will help you identify areas for improvement and set realistic goals for the future.

2. Set Specific and Measurable Goals

When setting health goals for the new year, be specific and measurable. Instead of vague goals like "improve spinal health," set specific goals such as "improve posture by incorporating daily stretching exercises" or "reduce back pain by getting spinal checks weekly." Setting measurable goals will help you track your progress and stay motivated throughout the year.

3. Prioritize Prevention and Maintenance

In addition to addressing existing spinal issues, prioritize prevention and maintenance to keep your spine healthy in the long term. Incorporate habits and activities that promote spinal health, such as regular exercise, proper posture, ergonomic workspace setup, and structural chiropractic care. By prioritizing prevention and maintenance, you can reduce the risk of future spinal problems and enjoy better overall health and well-being.

4. Incorporate Spinal-Friendly Habits into Your Routine

Make spinal health a priority in your daily routine by incorporating spinal-friendly habits into your lifestyle. Practice good posture when sitting, standing, and walking. Take regular breaks to stretch and move throughout the day, especially if you have a sedentary job. Invest in ergonomic furniture and tools to support proper spinal alignment. By making small adjustments to your daily habits, you can promote better spinal health and reduce the risk of discomfort and injury.

5. Seek Professional Guidance and Support

If you're unsure where to start or need help achieving your spinal health goals, don't hesitate to seek professional guidance and support. Consult with a structural chiropractor or healthcare provider who specializes in spinal health to develop a personalized plan tailored to your needs and goals. A qualified professional can offer expert advice, treatment options, and ongoing support to help you achieve and maintain a healthy spine.

Conclusion

As you set health goals for the new year, don't forget to prioritize spinal health. By setting specific, measurable goals, prioritizing prevention and maintenance, incorporating spinal-friendly habits into your routine, and seeking professional guidance and support, you can achieve and maintain a healthy spine for years to come. Here's to a happy and healthy new year!

Migraines-The Background

Migraine Headaches are all too common. Almost everyone knows someone who suffers from migraines, or suffers from migraines themselves... trying to find relief through through various treatments can be difficult on the way to finding a solution. 

Migraines is the THIRD most prevalent illness worldwide. In the U.S., 38 million people are affected, including men, women and children. Of those, more than 4 million have chronic daily migraines (at least 15 migraine days per month).  That is over 12% of the population, including children… which often goes undiagnosed. An estimated 10% of children suffer from migraines!

When someone is suffering from a migraine, it is often accompanied by a collection of neurological symptoms including: visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, and tingling or numbness in the extremities or face.

According to migraine research foundation: 

• "Healthcare and lost productivity costs associated with migraine are estimated to be as high as $36 billion annually in the U.S.

• In 2015, the medical cost of treating chronic migraine was more than $5.4 billion, however, these sufferers spent over $41 billion on treating their entire range of conditions.

• Healthcare costs are 70% higher for a family with a migraine sufferer than a non-migraine affected family.

• American employers lose more than $13 billion each year as a result of 113 million lost work days due to migraine.

• U.S. headache sufferers receive $1 billion worth of brain scans each year.

• Migraine sufferers, like those who suffer from other chronic illnesses, experience the high costs of medical services, too little support, and limited access to quality care.

• Beyond the burden of a migraine attack itself, having migraines increases the risk for other physical and psychiatric conditions."

What causes a Migraine? 
The diagnosis of a Migraine is typically made if people have a combination of symptoms and after other disorders have been ruled out. Part of the process can be sorting out whether it is an actual Migraine or a different type of Headache. 
The international Headache society breaks them down into two broad categories: "migraine with aura" and "migraine without aura".
The exact cause is unknown, but is thought to be a combination of factors including vascular and neurological, with hormonal and environmental triggers. 

Unlocking the Puzzle- A Missing Piece

When patients come into our office suffering from chronic migraines, they have typically already seen headache specialists, they have seen the best neurologists in the South East, and have undergone MRI’s and brain scans. They have changed their diets in an attempt to remove “triggers”, and they are going through various combinations of medications (Such as Treximet, Imitrex, or Migranal) in an effort to find something that will help them for more than a short while. 
Most have tried Botox and various alternative approaches including acupuncture and conventional chiropractic in an effort to find a treatment for their relief. 

When we do sit down and talk with them, they are typically tired and frustrated… and have been told to “Learn to live with it” or "It is all in your head".  Most of them are a little doubtful and skeptical that their condition can be helped and that their health can go in a different direction from its current trajectory.

As we sit down and go through a consultation, we are able to find out more about their health history and begin to piece together the puzzle to see the whole picture. In our office our focus is on correcting the Structural positioning of the head and neck, rather than focusing on the secondary conditions. The truth is that Structural Correction has benefits that go beyond treating or curing a specific illness or disease. Correction of upper cervical structural shifts does one thing thing: 

It restores the self-healing, restoring potential within your own body. 

Our bodies are meant to be healthy and thriving; when this is not the case we need to find what is preventing the body’s self-healing mechanisms and true, vibrant potential. The most important piece: A fully functioning, healthy brain and nervous system. 

Atlas Correction Procedure

One of the most common and missed pieces of the puzzle in the causes of migraine headache is a structural shifting of the head and neck. This can result in  disturb normal circulation to the brain and create a situation opportune for headaches. This is called an Atlas Displacement Complex.

This missing piece, when not corrected, is why many therapies and treatments are able to take the pain away for a time, but do not significantly change  the environment that is leading to the headache in the first place. 

At Align Chiropractic here in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, we utilize a gentle procedure that is designed to restore normal structural position and biomechanics to the head and neck. The procedure is a very low force correction, is subtle, and almost imperceivable to the patient. Research has shown significant improvement in utilizing this unique approach.

The patients suffering from migraine typically begin noticing and feeling improvements in the intensity and frequency of their headaches very quickly.

1. Woodfield, H. Charles, III. “Effect of Atlas Vertebrae Realignment in Subjects with Migraine: An Observational Pilot Study.” Accessed online: 24 May 2016. <https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/630472/.

2. Palmer JP, Dickholtz MD. Improvement in radiographic measurements, posture, pain & quality of life in nonmigraine headache patients undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care: a retrospective practice based study. J Vert Sublux Res. 2009 Jun;1:1-11.