Chiropractic for a Premature Infant With Feeding Dysfunction: Case Study

This compelling case study details the successful chiropractic treatment of a 7-week-old infant, born five weeks premature, who was suffering from severe feeding dysfunction and digestive distress. The baby was unable to breastfeed and could barely take a bottle, relying almost entirely on a nasogastric (NG) tube. The chiropractic examination revealed significant cranial and spinal pattern imbalances, including a global extension pattern that resulted in a high palate and likely compressed key cranial nerves responsible for swallowing and tongue movement (CN IX, X, and XII). The author explains that such misalignments can be caused by the intense biomechanical forces of birth. The treatment consisted of specific, light-contact SOT adjustments to the infant’s sacrum, upper cervical spine, and cranium. The results were immediate and profound. After the very first visit, the infant could take nearly all his nutrition from a bottle, allowing for the removal of the NG tube. Within a few more adjustments, his digestive issues resolved, and he was able to successfully transition to breastfeeding. This case serves as a powerful example of how chiropractic care can address the root biomechanical causes of complex physiological issues in infants, leading to life-changing outcomes for the child and family.