Uncovering the Hidden Cause of Failure to Thrive
Is your baby struggling to gain weight despite countless tests and specialists? Does your intuition tell you there’s a deeper issue beyond gut function and nutrient absorption? Nearly 80% of Failure to Thrive cases have no clear medical cause. But that’s actually good news—it often means the root issue lies in the central and autonomic nervous system, areas traditional medicine rarely examines. Again and again, we find a common link in these little ones: an overstressed, fight-or-flight nervous system ❌ keeping their bodies from thriving. To learn how this complex and confusing condition can be naturally supported.
If your child has been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive or is struggling with latching, eating, digestion, or overall comfort, this video is for you. We’ll explore the crucial connection between birth trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and digestive challenges—unpacking why conventional medical explanations fall short in 80% of cases.
Much like colic, failure to thrive is often attributed to digestive issues such as poor nutrient absorption. While this explanation holds some truth, it is incomplete. The autonomic nervous system plays a critical role in digestion, regulating essential functions such as latching, swallowing, absorption, and elimination.
When the nervous system is out of balance—stuck in a state of stress and dysregulation—the first system to be affected is digestion.
The two most commonly overlooked sources of stress and dysfunction in infants are:
1. A highly stressful pregnancy and maternal inflammation
2. Birth interventions, including C-sections, vacuum/forceps deliveries, induction, or prolonged labor
Each of these factors places excessive stress and tension on a baby’s developing nervous system, often pushing it into a prolonged fight-or-flight mode. This, in turn, suppresses digestive function.
Since the nervous system is the command center for digestion, any interference or miscommunication between the brain and gut—known as subluxation—can hinder nutrient absorption and weight gain.
Once this neurological interference takes hold, the nervous system shifts into sympathetic dominance and autonomic imbalance. This explains why so many cases of failure to thrive remain unexplained by traditional medicine—because conventional pediatricians and neurologists do not assess for subluxation or nervous system dysregulation.
At the core of this brain-gut connection lies the Vagus Nerve. This critical nerve extends from the brainstem, through the neck, and into the abdomen, playing a key role in digestion, absorption, and overall health and development.
The Vagus Nerve is highly sensitive to birth trauma, inflammation, and toxins—factors that often contribute to the neurological dysfunction underlying failure to thrive. The first step to addressing this issue naturally—without drugs—is to pinpoint the underlying stress, subluxation, and nervous system dysfunction.
We do this using two advanced diagnostic tools: the NeuroThermal Scan and Heart Rate Variability exam. These tests help us identify the exact levels and locations of nervous system interference between the brain and digestive system.
Once we locate these areas of dysfunction, we use safe, gentle, and neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments to:
✅ Release chronic sympathetic stress
✅ Restore brain-gut communication
✅ Improve digestive function
✅ Stimulate the Vagus Nerve
✅ Help your child get back on track to healthy growth and development