Contribution of chiropractic therapy to resolving suboptimal breastfeeding: a case series of 114 infants.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the circumstances, clinical features, role, and results of chiropractic management of infants who were referred to a chiropractic clinic for failure to adequately feed at the breast.


METHODS
Clinical case series of 114 infant cases of hospital-diagnosed or lactation consultant diagnosed feeding problems that were treated with chiropractic therapy in addition to routine care and followed to short-term result.


RESULTS
The most common age of referral was 1 week (mean, 3 weeks; range, 2 days-12 weeks), and the most common physical findings were cervical posterior joint dysfunction (89%), temporomandibular joint imbalance (36%), and inadequate suck reflex (34%). Treatment was chiropractic therapy in addition to any support given elsewhere. All children showed some improvement with 78% (N = 89) being able to exclusively breast feed after 2 to 5 treatments within a 2-week time period.


CONCLUSIONS
Cooperative multidisciplinary care to support breastfeeding was demonstrated in this population. Chiropractic treatment may be a useful adjunct to routine care given by other professionals in cases of diagnosed breastfeeding problems with a biomechanical component.
Miller
Joyce E
JE
Advanced Professional Practice Chiropractic Paediatrics, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK. jmiller@aecc.ac.uk
Miller
Laura
L
Sulesund
Ann-Kristin
AK
Yevtushenko
Andriy
A
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000379:methods*; D013391:Sucking Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome