Feeding Difficulties In Infants

breast feeding, tongue-tie, bottle feeding, painful breast feeding, difficulty feeding, infant body tension

Feeding issues among infants are becoming increasingly common and can affect up to 25-50% of infants, including those who are breastfeed and/or bottle-feed. Specific issues can include improper latch, oral-ties, body tension, torticollis (decreased head and neck mobility), or other physical/neurological issues that can make feeding difficult.

Signs and Symptoms of Feedign Difficulties:

Feeding difficulties in infants can present in a variety of ways. Signs and symptoms can include any of the following and typically consist of multiple of the options below:

Difficulty Latching: Problems latching onto the breast or bottle can be one of the first signs of feeding difficulties.
Reflux or Frequent Vomiting: While some amount of spitting up is normal, frequent vomiting or signs of discomfort during feeds may be a concern.
Failure to Gain Weight: Inconsistent or insufficient weight gain often indicates feeding problems.
Gagging or Choking During Feeds: This could indicate a problem with swallowing.
Short, Unfulfilled Feeds: If an infant frequently feeds but never seems satiated, it might be a sign of a feeding issue.
Extended Feedings: Alternatively, feedings that frequently last longer than 45 minutes can also be a sign of feeding difficulties.
Disinterest in Feeding: If the infant seems disinterested in feeding when they should typically be hungry, it could suggest feeding issues.
Changes in Bowel Movements: Infrequent stooling or changes in the color and consistency of the infant's stool could be signs of feeding problems.
Excessive Fussiness or Sleepiness During Feeds: While some fussiness or sleepiness can be normal, excessive amounts during feeds may indicate feeding difficulty.
Other Signs and Symptoms:Painful Breastfeeding with or without nipple damageChomping or gumming of the nipplesMilk LeakageNoises when feeding (ex: smacking or clicking)Popping on and off of the breast frequently

Cuases of Feeding Difficulties:

Feeding difficulties in infants can occur due to a variety of reasons. Some common causes can include:

Oral Motor Issues: Problems with the muscles and nerves in the infant's mouth can affect their ability to suck, swallow, and chew. Conditions like tongue tie or high arched palate can cause such issues.
Maternal Milk Supply: For breastfeeding infants, a low or excessive milk supply in the mother could lead to feeding difficulties.
Premature Birth: Premature infants often have underdeveloped feeding skills and may struggle to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing.
Neurological Disorders: Conditions such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy can impact an infant's ability to feed properly.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can make feeding uncomfortable or painful, causing the infant to refuse to eat.
Nasal Congestion: Even common childhood illnesses like cold, allergies, or sinus infections can make it hard for an infant to breathe and feed at the same time.
Sensory Issues: Some infants have heightened sensitivities to the textures and tastes of foods or prefer bottle feeding to breastfeeding (or vice versa).
Cardiopulmonary Issues: Infants with heart or lung disorders can struggle with feeding because feeding increases their work of breathing.
Structural Anomalies: Structural abnormalities in the esophagus or trachea, such as esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula, can also cause feeding difficulties.

How Chiropractic Paired With Manual Therapy Can Help!

A chiropractor who can provide manual therapy and other rehabilitative exercises can make a significant difference in helping infants with feeding issues. It involves using hands-on techniques to improve feeding mechanisms by addressing structural and functional imbalances. Here's how:

Muscular Imbalances: We utilize targeted touch to release tight muscles and stimulate underactive ones around the mouth, jaw, neck, and upper body that might be hindering efficient feeding.
Structural Alignment: Manual therapy can help correct any structural misalignments in an infant's jaw or skull that might affect feeding. Conditions such as torticollis, where the neck muscles cause the head to tilt, can be effectively treated this way.
Craniosacral Therapy (CST): We use this gentle approach to improve the functioning of connective tissues (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, influencing the rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid. This can positively affect normal sucking and swallowing mechanisms, optimizing feeding conditions.
Myofascial Release: This technique can be used to alleviate tension in the facial muscles that could be preventing the infant from opening their mouth wide enough to latch properly.
Reducing Tension and Stress: Manual therapy techniques can soothe and relax infants, reducing tension and stress that may interfere with successful feeding. In a relaxed state, babies can feed more easily and efficiently.
Tongue-tie, Lip-tie, or Buccal-ties: If a frenulum (thin tissue that connects the tongue to the mouth floor, lip to the gum, or cheeks to the gums) restricts too much movement, a manual therapist can support pre and post-op to help improve mobility and decreased body tension. Typically making the procedure easier on the pediatric dentist and improving over results for the infant post-op.