We all have a stupid human trick deep within us. Mine just so happens to be being able to tell which breast a baby prefers over the other just by palpating the back of their head. Luckily for me, it comes in handy for my job.

On a daily basis I hear from moms about how their baby can or can’t eat very comfortably or efficiently. Most of the time it’s a pretty easy fix from a chiropractic standpoint, barring no significant structural or medical issues. 

One of the things I look for is a restriction in the motion at the joint where the head and the neck meet, this contributes to a problem with turning the head. When a baby is placed at the breast and tries to turn their head, it’s almost like there is something in the way that’s not allowing them to do the action (really it’s just that this joint isn’t allowing for proper rotation). When the head is unable to fully rotate (or able to do it comfortably) the baby will get frustrated because they have to work that much harder to get milk. They will cheat (like us adults do) when they are trying to get full rotation and will typically arch their upper back or throw their head back, trying to get a proper latch. 

One of the most commonly used joints is that of the jaw (known as the temporomandibular joint). When the jaw isn’t able to function (for whatever reason, tongue tie, lip tie, misalignment, etc) the baby is not able to properly latch. Think about it. If you have ever had your jaw feel out of whack after a night of sleep or resting your chin on your hand, it can be hard to open that bad boy up all the way. You’ve obviously read the post about tongue and lip ties, so you already know how that can affect the biomechanics of the jaw (if you haven’t yet, go here). 

I try to tell all of my mom friends and patients that even though breastfeeding is one of, if not the, most natural things on earth it doesn’t come naturally to most. There always seems to be a learning curve for the mom and the baby, so don’t get discouraged and keep on trying. 

If you feel like your baby is having a hard time latching and you think it could be from either of the above, I highly recommend reaching out and having them evaluated to see if we can help you on your journey of breastfeeding. Feel free to shoot me a text during those late night feedings at (210) 323-2163 and I’ll be happy to help as soon as I wake up.