At the end of the baby's initial visit to our office, the mother happened to ask if chiropractic could possibly help the post natal depression she was suffering from. My reply was that perhaps chiropractic could be helpful and we would discuss it on the baby's next visit. When the baby was brought back to see me a few days later, he was sleeping better, pooping better and had a generally happier disposition. (I wish every baby responded that quickly.) I asked Mom how her depression was. She replied, "I haven't noticed it. I think it's gone!" That's exactly what I thought would happen once she got some rest and the anxiety of not knowing why her baby was so uncomfortable was gone. This is a scenario I've seen many times. Baby feels better and sleeps better and Mom's depression subsides. Chiropractic care helped improve Mom's mood even though she never received a chiropractic adjustment herself.
This isn't an observation that only I've had. A recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics called "Mama, please stop crying: lowered postnatal depression scores in mothers after a course of chiropractic care for their infants" showed there is significant improvement in mother's post natal depression when their children are under chiropractic care. The researchers didn't speculate why the depression subsided, but only recorded that it did. My clinical observation is that the improved rest and peace of mind helps the mother's mood improve. There can certainly be other contributing factors, but this seems to be very key.
It's not only new moms that become depressed when they don't sleep and are anxious about the well being of someone very close to their heart. That can happen to all of us. The conclusion is happy baby = happy mom.
