The Vagus Nerve and Your Baby: What New Moms in Orange County Should Know About Tension, Birth Trauma, and Gentle Infant Chiropractic Care
Understanding the Vagus Nerve and Why It Matters for Your Baby
If you are a new mom in Costa Mesa or anywhere in Orange County, you have probably heard someone mention the vagus nerve at least once. It has become a popular topic in the world of holistic health, especially for babies who struggle with fussiness, reflux, digestive discomfort, latching challenges, or tension in their tiny bodies. But what exactly is the vagus nerve, and why do so many birth providers and pediatric chiropractors talk about it?
The vagus nerve is one of the major communication highways between your baby’s brain and body. It influences digestion, calming, swallowing, heart rate regulation, sleep, and overall comfort. When the vagus nerve is functioning well, babies tend to be more relaxed, able to feed effectively, digest smoothly, and settle easier. When the vagus nerve is stressed or irritated, you may start to notice tension patterns that affect daily life.
Many parents are surprised to learn that the vagus nerve can be impacted as early as birth. The way a baby enters the world can play a huge role in how their body feels and how well the vagus nerve communicates.
How Birth Can Impact the Vagus Nerve
Birth is a powerful experience for both mom and baby. Whether it is a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth, the process can create pressure on a baby’s neck, jaw, shoulders, or upper back. Because the vagus nerve travels from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen, any tension in these areas can influence how the nerve functions.
Some of the most common birth experiences that may create vagus nerve tension in newborns include:
Long or very fast labors
A prolonged pushing phase or a birth that happens very quickly can put pressure on your baby’s neck and head. This pressure may irritate the pathways around the vagus nerve.
Instrument assisted births
Vacuum or forceps can change how the head and tissues move, which may affect the soft structures surrounding the vagus nerve.
Cesarean births
Babies lifted through a small incision often experience tension in their neck and upper body. This can influence the vagus nerve and how well they regulate digestion and calming responses.
Baby’s in-utero positioning
Breech, transverse, or sunny side up babies may already have tension before birth that carries into their first weeks of life.
None of this means anything is “wrong” with your baby. It simply means their body may need a little support to unwind these patterns so they can function in a more relaxed and regulated way.
Signs of Vagus Nerve Tension in Babies
As a pediatric chiropractor in Costa Mesa, I see these signs often in newborns and young infants. Many parents come in saying they knew something felt off, but they could not quite explain what was happening.
If your baby is experiencing vagus nerve tension, you may notice one or more of the following:
Feeding challenges
Difficulty latching, clicking during feeds, tiring quickly, breaking latch frequently, or preferring one breast can indicate tension through the jaw, neck, or cranial nerves that influence the vagus nerve.
Reflux or digestive discomfort
The vagus nerve plays a huge role in digestion. Babies with tension may spit up often, arch their back during feeds, seem uncomfortable lying flat, or show signs of painful gas.
Colic or excessive fussiness
If your baby struggles to settle or seems to go into a stressed state easily, vagus nerve tension may be contributing.
Straining to poop or constipation
Because the vagus nerve helps move digestion along, tension can make it harder for babies to have regular, comfortable bowel movements.
Difficulty turning their head or favoring one side
This often points to tightness in the neck that can influence the vagus nerve.
Poor sleep or frequent waking
Babies who cannot settle into a relaxed state often show disrupted sleep patterns.
Hunched shoulders or tense body posture
Some babies look like they are holding tension in their upper body, similar to how adults carry stress in the neck and shoulders.
You might notice just one sign or several. What matters is that you trust your instincts. If something feels off, your concerns are valid.
How Infant Chiropractic Supports the Vagus Nerve
Many new moms in Orange County reach out to our Costa Mesa office because they want a natural, gentle, research supported way to help their baby feel more relaxed and regulated. Pediatric chiropractic is not about cracking or forceful adjustments. It is incredibly light, calming, and specific. Think of the amount of pressure you would use to check the ripeness of an avocado. That is the level of pressure used with infants.
When we work with babies, the goal is to help release tension patterns that may be affecting the vagus nerve and their overall comfort.
Here is how chiropractic care helps:
Releasing tension around the upper neck
This is where the vagus nerve exits the skull. If this area is tight, the nerve may not function as smoothly.
Infant Chiropractor in Costa Mesa CA
Improving mobility through the spine and rib cage
When the body can move more freely, the vagus nerve can communicate better with the digestive system and calming centers.
Supporting jaw and cranial movement
These areas influence latching, swallowing, and the cranial nerves that work closely with the vagus nerve.
Helping the nervous system shift into a calmer state
Many parents tell me their baby sleeps deeply after their visit or finally seems relaxed in their body.
Addressing birth tension gently and safely
Every adjustment is tailored to your baby and follows their lead. Babies often smile, coo, or melt into relaxation during care.
What to Expect During an Infant Chiropractic Visit
If you are a new mom who is unsure about trying chiropractic care, you are not alone. Most parents who come in for the first time are curious but cautious. My goal is always to create a safe, calm, family centered environment.
Here is what your visit will look like:
First, we talk about your baby’s birth story, feeding patterns, sleep, and what concerns you most. You know your baby better than anyone, so I listen carefully to your observations.
Next, I do a gentle assessment. I look at how your baby turns their head, how they use their body, how their spine moves, and where they may be holding tension. Babies communicate with us through small cues, and I always follow their comfort level.
If an adjustment is needed, the pressure used is similar to pressing on a tomato without denting the skin. Babies often visibly relax. Some even fall asleep during the session.
Many moms say the appointment feels more like a calming body session rather than anything medical or intimidating. My goal is for both you and your baby to leave feeling supported, understood, and empowered.
Benefits of Supporting the Vagus Nerve With Chiropractic Care
When the vagus nerve is functioning well and the body is not in a stressed or tight pattern, babies tend to experience improvements in many areas of daily life.
Parents often notice:
Infant Chiropractor in Costa Mesa CA
• Better latch and feeding
• Calmer digestion and less reflux
• More frequent and comfortable bowel movements
• Less arching and fussiness
• Improved sleep
• More relaxed posture
• Easier head turning and better range of motion
• Happier, more content moods overall
Many families come in seeking help for one issue and end up noticing improvements in several unexpected areas. The body is deeply connected, and when we support the vagus nerve, so many functions work better overall.
Serving Families Across Costa Mesa and Orange County
Blooming Chiropractic is located in Costa Mesa, CA and we care for families throughout Orange County, including moms and babies from East Side Costa Mesa, West Side Costa Mesa, Mesa Verde, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Corona Del Mar, Newport Heights, Huntington Beach, and Fountain Valley.
If you are local and looking for answers, support, or a natural way to help your baby feel more comfortable, you are in the right place.
If you think your baby may have vagus nerve tension or you want support from a pediatric chiropractor who specializes in infant care, I would love to help.
Call or text our Costa Mesa office at (657) 845-1669 or book an appointment online to get started.