05/02/2026
I mentioned this in the video, but I want you to be able to read it for yourself 👇
Two prospective cohort studies looked at healthy, full-term newborns after routine vaginal births:
• Looney et al., Radiology (2007)
• Rooks et al., AJNR (2008)
They found that 26–46% of asymptomatic, neurologically normal newborns had small, birth-related subdural hemorrhages on MRI.
Not from complicated deliveries.
Not from forceps or vacuum.
From normal labor pressure.
Important context:
These babies were typically completely fine, and these findings often resolved on their own.
So why does this matter?
Because it highlights something most parents are never told. Birth, even when “normal,” is physically stressful.
Which is why I focus on two things in my office:
• Supporting mom’s body during pregnancy so baby can be in the best position possible for delivery
• Checking baby after birth to make sure everything is moving and developing the way it should
This isn’t about fear. It’s about understanding and preparation.
If you want to read the full research, here are the exact study names:
“Prevalence and Evolution of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Asymptomatic Term Infants” — Looney et al., 2007
“Intracranial Hemorrhage in Asymptomatic Neonates: Prevalence on MR Images and Relationship to Obstetric and Neonatal Risk Factors” — Rooks et al., 2008
Thank you to for putting on an amazing Lyceum conference this year, bringing chiropractors from around the world together and reinforcing why what we do is so important.
