Adjusting Newborn Twins

(reprinted from an article originally written on 12-11-06. Last week, the babies in this story turned 4!!!!Happy Birthday, B and L!)
Last Monday I had the blessing of adjusting newborn twins! Their mom has gotten adjusted for her entire pregnancy twice per week, sometimes three times. She understands, as I do, that the body is a beautiful piece of work, and when you put energy into the system to encourage balance and flow, you get a body that does what it’s supposed to, and beautifully! Her pregnancy was gorgeous: her body flowed to each next step as it was designed to do. She fed it well, gave it lots of water and rest, lots of friends around and a supportive mate, lots of laughter and peaceful moments, and kept her nerve system beautifully clear by getting adjusted regularly! (As well as regular acupuncture and massages!)

The babies are beautiful. Think of the essence of a newborn; these are beings that have been so recently plucked from God that they emanate goodness and purity in a magnificent way. It is a very sacred task, adjusting a newborn. I am providing connection on such a deep level to one who was, so recently, totally connected. (or two, as the case may be!)

Some people can’t understand why I would want to adjust babies and children. “Their backs don’t go out!” they say. And here’s what I say. Chiropractic is about clearing the way for the nervous system to work beautifully. When a child is born, there is a certain amount of stress placed on the spine, whether that child is born vaginally or c-section. There is pulling and tugging, after nine months of progressively smaller quarters and increasing squished-ness. And I say: if I can help a child’s nervous system to work better on the first day out, will this contribute to a lifetime of better health? You Bet!

Adjusting newborn infants is a delicate art. Obviously, a chiropractor does not use the same kind of technique with a baby as with an adult! It is done with the tips of the fingers, a slight pulsation over the spine, like you are pressing on a soap bubble and trying not to break it.

From my short session with the babies in their hospital room, I learned quite a bit about their positions in the womb. I could tell from the boy’s spine that he had been pretty comfortable in there. The girl had more tension in her lower back than I expected and I could tell that there was a twisting that had occurred in the womb which was affecting her spine. I later learned that throughout the pregnancy, she was positioned like a pretzel, whereas her brother was straight. When the girl was born (two minutes exactly after the boy) there was a literal KNOT in her umbilical cord, indicating some serious flips and flops during her stay. My fingers already knew that offering the baby girl a chance to start life without imbalance is a great gift.

Adjusting an infant is magical. They take deep breaths, stick their tongue out at me, roll their eyes and make big sighs. I feel so connected to even hold a little one who’s so new, but to have the honor to give them their first adjustment, to know that I am really affecting the rest of their life in a positive way, is truly the best part of my otherwise fantastic job.