As caregivers, we often witness our children facing various health challenges, from infancy through their teenage years and beyond. Sometimes, these challenges are seen as temporary, something they will eventually "grow out of." However, recent insights into pediatric health suggest a different perspective: children do not necessarily grow out of symptoms; rather, they grow into them! Let's delve into this concept from a physiological standpoint, particularly focusing on the role of the nervous system in shaping our children's health.
To understand how to resolve these issues, we must go to the source and when it began. For so many, the stress was piled on during the conception and prenatal stages when the nervous system was first forming in utero. Our nervous system controls every function of the body, from basic physiological processes like breathing and digestion to complex behaviors and emotional responses. The development of the nervous system is initiated first in utero as the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord are the first to develop. This foundation lays the groundwork for the rest of the body to develop while in utero and as the child grows through adolescence. It’s a sophisticated network of neurons and neurotransmitters that constantly communicate and regulate various bodily functions.
The Early Causes
1. The Role of Epigenetic Influences and Stressful Fertility & Prenatal Stage:
Even before birth, our children's health is influenced by epigenetic factors—external elements that can modify gene expression. Stressful fertility and prenatal stages can impact the developing nervous system, setting the stage for potential health challenges later in life.
Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal development, impacting the nervous system's regulatory mechanisms. High levels of stress hormones circulating in the mother's bloodstream can disrupt the delicate balance of neurotransmitters and hormones crucial for fetal growth and development, laying the groundwork for future challenges in childhood.
2. Birth Interventions and Trauma:
The birthing process is the first significant event in a child's life. Medical interventions such as cesarean sections, forceps or vacuum delivery, the use of ptocin and epidural or prolonged labor can exert undue stress on the newborn's nervous system, affecting its ability to regulate vital functions. This stress gets locked into the body from the start and causes altered motion and function, or dyskinesia. Birth trauma can manifest as neurological dysfunctions, altering the trajectory of the child's health from the very beginning. Understanding this journey sheds light on the role of epigenetic influences, prenatal stressors, birth interventions, and a host of challenges encountered in early life that shape the health and well-being of our children.
3. Bombardment of Environmental Toxins:
It is the final bombardment of environmental toxins that usually sends the system into the chaos cascade. It is at this point that the body is unable to regulate, detox, and the nervous system is not firing on all cylinders. Toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, air pollutants, and plastics can disrupt the delicate balance of the nervous system, exacerbating already existing dysregulation. It is at this point that the body is unable to handle the barrage and challenges become apparent.
Resulting Symptoms
1. Early Challenges:
These are the first signs or symptoms that our children are not functioning optimally. These little road bumps are often dismissed as common childhood difficulties that they will soon “grow out of” once their digestive system matures. They include difficulties in nursing, colic, and constipation. These are common challenges that reflect underlying nervous system dysregulation. Chronic ear infections and gut-immune challenges further underscore the intricate interplay between the nervous system and immune system during early development.
2. Spectrum of Challenges:
As children grow, early challenges morph into cognitive (busy brain, anxiety, depression) sensory (avoiding or seeking), and behavioral challenges that range from sensory processing disorders to autism spectrum disorders. These manifestations often stem from disruptions in the nervous system's ability to process and integrate sensory information effectively. Emotional regulation and focus are essential skills that rely heavily on a well-functioning nervous system. Disorganization in these areas may indicate underlying nervous system dysregulation rather than mere behavioral traits.
3. Transition to Adolescence and Adulthood:
The journey of childhood dysfunctions extends into adolescence and adulthood, where the repercussions of early-life stressors become more pronounced. Hormonal shifts, emotional turmoil, and life experiences begin to build up within the system. The dissonance in the nervous system continues to manifest as exhaustion, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, dysautonomia, and a myriad of somatic and psychological symptoms. When looking back, many of these teens and adults can confirm a combination of in-utero stress, birth trauma, or unresolved childhood challenges.
What’s Next?
Understanding that children grow into symptoms rather than out of them highlights the importance of addressing underlying nervous system dysregulation. Pediatric adjustments aim to release tension, restore balance, reorganize neural pathways, and stabilize the nervous system, promoting optimal health and well-being from infancy through adulthood. The adjustments address past stress that has been deeply embedded into the system as well as acute stresses that have not yet taken a stronghold. Through gentle adjustments we address the root causes of childhood dysfunctions, facilitating the body's innate ability to heal and thrive.
By supporting our children's nervous system health early on, we can help them navigate life's challenges with resilience and vitality. It is our goal to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive!