September 29th, 2025

For some parents and infants, breastfeeding can be a beautiful and relatively seamless experience. For others, it can feel overwhelming. Every breastfeeding journey is unique. No one can fully prepare a mother, baby, or father for the experience, but there are ways to make it easier and more comfortable.
When a baby struggles to latch properly, develops colic from a shallow latch, or makes clicking and gulping sounds while feeding, breastfeeding can quickly become stressful. Mothers may experience nipple pain, blistering, or bleeding. Parents, especially the breastfeeding mother, often have back and neck pain sometimes from the birth process, but definitely from the hours spent feeding and looking down at their baby, and the accumulative sleepless nights. Many families on this journey need support and assistance.

Possible Causes of Breastfeeding Issues Where Chiropractic May Help
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Biomechanical restrictions affecting latch and suck
Babies can be born with restrictions, such as tongue ties, or develop musculoskeletal tightness from the birthing process or their position in utero (for example, breech). Tight neck muscles, cranial asymmetries, andmovement can create tension around the jaw and tongue. This may change the baby’s mouth position, tongue mobility, or head posture, making it harder to establish a deep latch, a good lip seal, and a coordinated suck.
Gentle manual therapy and mobilisation by a chiropractor trained in paediatrics aims to restore normal movement, helping the infant achieve a more effective latch. Several clinical case series describe improvement in feeding after this type of care.
Maternal posture and musculoskeletal pain
New parents, especially breastfeeding mothers, spend hours in static or awkward positions feeding and carrying their baby. Neck, shoulder, and back pain can make it harder to position the baby comfortably and to sustain feeds for long enough. Poor positioning can in turn affect milk transfer and overall breastfeeding success.
Chiropractic care can include gentle manual therapy, postural advice, and ergonomic adjustments to reduce pain and help improve feeding positions. Even professional lactation bodies recognise that musculoskeletal pain and poor biomechanics can contribute to breastfeeding difficulties.
Working Together
Chiropractic care is not a recommended stand-alone solution. The best outcomes often come when it is combined with support from a skilled lactation consultant (IBCLC) and maternal health professionals. With the guidance of these providers, gentle care from a paediatric-trained chiropractor can be one of the supportive options for families experiencing feeding challenges.
Research into chiropractic and breastfeeding is still limited. Most of the available studies are case reports, case series, or very small trials. While many report improvements in breastfeeding (often between 70% and 100% of cases after just a few visits), the research has limitations and more high-quality studies are needed.
If you are experiencing challenges with breastfeeding, or discomfort and pain when feeding, please reach out. At Sprouting Health Chiropractic, we are here to support you and your family on your breastfeeding journey.
 
References

• Fry, L. M. (2014). Chiropractic and breastfeeding dysfunction: A literature review. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, 14(1). Retrieved from https://jccponline.com/Breastfeeding.pdf
• Holleman, A., Nee, J., & Knaap, S. F. C. (2011). Chiropractic management of breast-feeding difficulties: A case report. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 10(3), 199–203. Retrieved from https://www.chiropractors.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Chiropractic_Management_of_Breastfeeding_Difficulties_A_Case_Report.pdf
• Miller, J. E., Miller, L., Sulesund, A. K., & Yevtushenko, A. (2009). Contribution of chiropractic therapy to resolving suboptimal breastfeeding: A case series of 114 infants. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 32(8), 670–674. Retrieved from https://www.chiropractors.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Contribution_of_chiropractic_therapy_to_resolving_suboptimal_breastfeeding_A_case_series_of_114_infants.pdf
• Australian College of Chiropractic Paediatrics (ACCP). (n.d.). Chiropractic evidence-based management of breastfeeding difficulty. Retrieved from https://www.accp.asn.au/chiropractic-evidence-based-management-of-breastfeeding-difficulty

Chiropractic Board of Australia. (2023). Statement on paediatric care. Retrieved from https://www.chiropracticboard.gov.au/Codes-guidelines/Position-statements/Statement-of-Paediatric-care.aspx