A newborn in Columbus, Ohio, has a brand new demeanor ever since being treated by a chiropractor, her parents say.

Lily Freeman, just 2 months old, wasn’t a happy baby, her father, Joseph Freeman, told Fox News Digital.

When his daughter was born, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice. 

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About a week after the birth, Freeman and his wife, Stephanie Murdock, noticed that the baby exhibited extreme fussiness, grimacing, clenched fists, and stiff arms and legs.

Murdock, who was breastfeeding, went on a strict diet, cutting out all dairy and eggs, hoping to spark some change.

“When she was placed on her back, she would cry uncontrollably,” Freeman said. “The only thing that worked was holding her upright. We knew something was wrong.” 

The couple took their baby to four different doctors, who concluded that since she was gaining weight and was healthy, she probably had colic — which would improve in three to four months.

“As her parents, we could not just sit back and wait it out,” Freeman said. “We knew she had invisible pain.”

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The couple posted on social media, searching for answers from fellow parents. Many recommended they see a chiropractor.

“We had no previous knowledge that chiropractors treated children,” Freeman said. “We were extremely skeptical because Lily was only 2 weeks old.”

When evaluating a baby, a chiropractor said the movements of the spine’s joints will help determine where adjustments are needed. (iStock)

Freeman and Murdock took their baby to see Dr. Josh Russell at Ability Chiropractic in Hillard, Ohio. The doctor explained to them that the birthing process can be “traumatic” for mother and child.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Russell said that he and his colleague, Dr. Tyler Morman, often treat babies with colicky behavior.

They typically perform a “thorough exam” and investigate the child’s history, including the details of the pregnancy, labor and delivery.

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“The whole premise of chiropractics is to help the nervous system function the way that it should,” he said.

“When you have a lack of mobility within the spine and tightness in musculature … that interferes with the nervous system’s communication to send signals to the rest of the body.” 

A chiropractor compared the pressure of an adjustment to checking “a peach or a tomato for ripeness.” (iStock)

When evaluating a baby, the movements of the spinal joints will help determine where adjustments are needed, Russell said.

When adjusting, the doctor said the appropriate pressure is what might be used to check “a peach or a tomato for ripeness.”

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“It’s a sustained pressure, holding a specific area that needs to move better,” he said. “Once that nervous system interference is gone, we see huge changes.”

Freeman, the baby’s mom, told Fox News Digital after the second chiropractic visit, he and Murdock noticed a “huge change” in their little one’s mobility and demeanor.

Dr. Josh Russell at Ability Chiropractic in Hillard, Ohio, treated baby Lily Freeman. (Audrey Art/Ability Chiropractic)

“She started smiling for the first time since she was born,” he said. “We could place her on her back without her uncontrollably crying.” 

He added, “She was able to sleep without waking up every 20 minutes in pain. It was a beautiful thing to witness Lily transform into a totally different baby.”

Some claim practice is ‘overwhelmingly safe’ 

Russell said he sees family members ranging in age from one day old to 99 years old.

Babies, toddlers and kids who may be having trouble with eating, sleeping or bowel movements could find great benefit from an adjustment, according to the chiropractor.

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For toddlers, Russell claims that chiropractic care can also help with hyperactivity.

Regarding parents’ worries that an adjustment could hurt their baby, he stated that the practice is “overwhelmingly safe.”

Babies, toddlers and kids who may be having trouble with eating, sleeping or bowel movements could find great benefit from an adjustment, according to a chiropractor.  (iStock)

“I haven’t had any adverse reactions to chiropractic care,” he said. 

“Our protocol … is a thorough exam, very light adjustments. It’s really nothing crazy.”

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Freeman encouraged other parents to “do their research” and consult with a chiropractor before undergoing treatment.

“Knowledge is power, and we had to advocate for Lily,” he said. “You have to be the voice for the voiceless.” 

Lily Freeman, pictured at left, changed into a “totally different baby,” her father said. (Joseph Freeman; iStock)

Dr. Lora Tanis, a New Jersey chiropractor who is also the president of the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics, also weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that she “definitely recommends” chiropractic care for babies. 

“Often there are mechanical forces or circumstances that would warrant a spinal evaluation for a baby, and therefore, having a baby evaluated early can potentially avoid future problems,” she said in an email.

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Chiropractors are trained to perform “age-appropriate exams prior to determining if the child is a candidate for chiropractic care,” Tanis added.

Babies who suffer from neuromusculoskeletal conditions will show signs of “greater comfort” following a visit to the chiropractor, she said.

“Many parents report that their baby cries less and sleeps more soundly after chiropractic care.”

“Often there are mechanical forces or circumstances that would warrant a spinal evaluation for a baby, and therefore, having a baby evaluated early can potentially avoid future problems,” one chiropractor said. (iStock)

“Adjustments performed on children are very gentle, precise and appropriate for their age,” Tanis said.

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She encouraged parents to seek chiropractic help for children if they notice abnormal posture or head position, decreased motion of extremities, irritability with movement, or trauma.

Experts warn of risks

Not all experts agree that chiropractic adjustments are safe for newborns.

An observational study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), concluded that “serious adverse events may be associated with pediatric spinal manipulation.”

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Beth C. Natt, M.D., system medical director of pediatrics at Atlantic Health System in New Jersey, echoed those concerns.

“I do not recommend chiropractic care for babies,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Although watching a newborn baby get ‘adjusted’ might be a popular video clip on TikTok, the reality is that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other reputable medical organizations do not recommend chiropractic care for infants due to safety and efficacy concerns.”  

“Infants are wired to adapt to their environment without external interventions like chiropractic care.”

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Claims that chiropractic care can treat conditions like colic, reflux and sleep disturbances are “not supported by rigorous scientific studies,” according to Natt.

Although some believe that infants need to be “realigned” after childbirth, Natt disagreed.

Infants have “delicate and developing bones and joints,” the doctor noted, which makes them “more susceptible to injury from spinal manipulations,” a pediatrician said. (iStock)

“The infant’s body undergoes these natural adjustments and development after birth, and infants are wired to adapt to their environment without external interventions like chiropractic care,” she said.

Infants have “delicate and developing bones and joints,” the doctor noted, which makes them “more susceptible to injury from spinal manipulations.” 

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“There have been documented cases of serious injuries, including fractures and spinal cord injuries, after chiropractic care in infants,” Natt warned.

The doctor recommended parents speak with their pediatricians about their concerns before seeing a chiropractor.

Babies’ developing bones can leave the little ones more susceptible to injuries, the pediatrician said.  (iStock)

The pediatrician can perform an assessment of the infant and determine whether other, less risky therapies are better for the infant, she said.

Natt added, “At the end of the day, we are all aligned — we want to ensure that we care for the health, safety and comfort of our patients.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the AAP requesting comment.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the birth rate in America has dropped to a historic low, decreasing by 3% since 2022. 

The rate has been on a steady decline since 2014, except for a brief 1% increase from 2020 to 2021.

In recent years, the priorities of young Americans have been changing, including the desire to have children, the data suggests.

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Experts say this drop-off could be caused by many factors — including a heightened focus on career goals, the cost of raising children, a priority on personal liberty and mental health, the fear of an uncertain future and growing fertility concerns. 

Career comes first?

Kyle Elliott, a career coach and job search expert based in Santa Barbara, California, told Fox News Digital about a lack of interest in having children among working professionals.

“I am seeing a huge increase in the focus of careers among Americans,” he said. 

“In the past, there were certain expectations in place — now, the path isn’t as predictable or expected.”

“They’re recognizing that it’s more challenging to balance work and life because their careers are taking up more time.”

Many Americans are working 50 to 60 hours per week, according to Elliott.

“Trying to balance that is a lot more difficult than it was 20, 10 or even five years ago,” he said. 

Many Americans today are working 50 to 60 hours per week, which makes having children nearly impossible, one expert suggested. (iStock)

Individuals who work extended hours are more likely to meet their career goals and earn more money, he said — so many find it “helpful” to forgo parenting commitments.

Company policies for parental leave and child care also come into play, Elliott said.

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While some American businesses have improved accommodations for new parents, the U.S. is “still far behind compared to other countries,” he said.

When employees return from maternity or paternity leave, they’re often still responsible for child care, Elliott noted, which can be “really difficult to balance.”

To recruit and retain employees, one expert suggested that companies should continue providing thoughtful accommodations for families. (iStock)

“I think it would benefit both the employee and the employer if organizations provided more accommodations, whether that’s child care or additional leave or more flexibility, such as remote work or work from anywhere,” he said.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity to better support parents,” he said, expressing his professional opinion.

Cost of childrearing

The cost of having a child can be daunting for some young Americans, as inflation remains high in many U.S. states, the Labor Department has reported.

A middle-income married couple with two children can expect to pay about $306,924 to raise a child born in 2023, according to data from Credit Karma.

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This estimate is based on a 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture study.

Cost factors include housing (about 30% of total expenses), food, child care and education, transportation, health care, clothing and other items.

Day care alone could cost up to $17,000 per year in some states, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The cost of child care has become “astronomical,” one expert said. (iStock)

There could also be the added cost of saving for the child’s future, including college planning.

Dr. Michele Borba, a California-based educational psychologist and parenting expert, agreed that finances are a “huge factor” in terms of two working parents deciding to have a baby.

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“The cost of child care is unbelievably astronomical, and it’s unaffordable for a lot of parents,” she told Fox News Digital.

Years ago, “you had a nuclear family, or you had a mom who lived next door … and a lot of times, [people] don’t have that” now. 

Changing culture and politics

The American family unit has shifted from earlier generations, as many couples are choosing to get married at older ages and limit the number of kids they have, if any, experts say.

Borba, author of “Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine,” emphasized an increased focus on mental health and the need for parents to be mentally strong to raise a child.

“We’re seeing not only a halt in pregnancies, but a halt in larger families,” one psychologist said about today’s parenting situation. (iStock)

Many Americans do not have a secure support system to help raise a child, the psychologist noted, and single parenting is “even harder” for unmarried individuals.

A desire for personal freedom can also play a role in a decision not to have children, she noted.

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Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, said he believes politics has played a role in people’s decisions to have children or not.

“Patients often cite their reasons as, ‘I don’t want to add to the carbon footprint’ or ‘I don’t want to contribute to overpopulation,’ while others feel great insecurity about the state of the world and say, ‘The world is too dangerous of a place to raise a child,’” he told Fox News Digital.

Parents are often more stressed than their own children, one psychologist noted. (iStock)

Among those “more moderate” politically, Alpert said, “they worry about what it would be like to raise a kid in the climate of pronouns, boys competing in girls’ sports, and boys and girls sharing locker rooms.”

Other people simply don’t feel the pressure to have kids as people once did, the psychologist noted.  

“In the past, there were certain expectations in place — go to school, meet someone, get married, have kids. Now, the path isn’t as predictable or expected.”

Fear of the unknown

Many adults are also burdened by feelings of uncertainty about the future, Borba said, which can result in a “doom and gloom” perspective when considering whether to bring a human being into the world.

Some parents may ask themselves, “Is this the right kind of place to have a child?” or “Should I bring a human into this world when I don’t feel secure myself?”

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Parenting “isn’t as relaxed” as it used to be decades ago, when parents took more of a hands-off approach and there was less emphasis on accelerated development and hyper-safety, according to Borba.

Parenting “isn’t as relaxed” as it used to be decades ago, one expert said. (iStock)

Kids in previous generations had “a lot more free time, a lot more play,” Borba said. 

“Those are things that aren’t part of our kids’ world right now, unfortunately. A lot of [prospective] parents are growing up in a fear-based world, and that’s impacting their decisions.”

Fertility obstacles

The chances of a woman experiencing fertility and pregnancy problems can be another deterrent to having children.

That’s according to Dr. Jillian LoPiano, a Miami-based OB-GYN and chief health officer at the reproductive telehealth platform Wisp, who told Fox News Digital that the health and cost implications of childbirth could cause couples to decide against becoming parents.

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The U.S. is currently experiencing a maternal mortality crisis, LoPiano said.

In 2021, the maternal death rate was 32 out of 100,000 births, which reportedly doubles and triples the current rates in other similarly resourced countries.

The Caesarean delivery rate increased for the fourth year in a row, according to CDC data from 2023. (iStock)

This could be due to the increase in maternal age, chronic health conditions and pregnancy-related health conditions that can appear at an “extreme age spectrum,” LoPiano said.

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“Lack of access to adequate prenatal care, health care costs and restrictive reproductive health care laws all contribute to poor outcomes,” she said.

Socioeconomic factors and other insecurities also play a role in the declining birth rate, LoPiano told Fox News Digital.

‘Should I have a baby?’

For couples who are on the fence about having a child, Borba encouraged them to use their best judgment.

“Nobody knows yourself better,” she said. “In the end, you know who you are and what you can give, so make the decision based on what’s best for your family and your child.”

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Borba suggested writing down the reasons in a journal and leaning on a trusted support system.

“If you want to stick to a decision, you need to be firm and understand your ‘why,’ which means you need to do a little reflective measure,” she advised.

“In the end, you know who you are and what you can give, so make the decision based on what’s best for your family and your child,” one psychologist said. (iStock)

Borba also emphasized the importance of being on the same page as your partner when it comes to having children.

If mental health is the main concern, she suggested seeking help from a provider who can help clarify the decision.

Long-term effects

Overall, Alpert said, it is natural for birth rates to “ebb and flow” over time.

“There’s probably no reason to be alarmed [by today’s declining birth rates],” he told Fox News Digital.

“A lot of [prospective] parents are growing up in a fear-based world, and that’s impacting their decisions.”

“That said, if there’s a significant decline, the proportion of the elderly population would increase relative to births, which could strain the health care system as more resources are put into medical care for the aging population.”

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There would also be fewer people entering the workforce and less spending, Alpert added — resulting in slower economic growth and potentially adversely affecting the Social Security system. 

FOX Business’ Megan Henney contributed to this report.

The prevalence of cancer among men is expected to skyrocket globally in the coming decades, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

To predict future risk, Australian researchers analyzed the mortality rates tied to 30 different types of cancer among adult men in 2022, based on data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer across 185 countries and territories. 

Based on those findings, they predicted that between 2022 and 2050, men’s cancer cases will spike by around 84% — going from 10.3 million to 19 million.

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Male cancer deaths are expected to increase by 93% in that same time frame, reaching 10.5 million by 2050.

Cases are expected to more than double among men 65 and older, as well as for those who live in areas with a low or medium Human Development Index (HDI, a measure of a country’s average rankings in health, knowledge and standard of living).

Poorer survival is also projected for rare cancers, such as pancreatic.

The findings were published in Cancer, the journal of the ACS.

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In 2020, men were 43% more likely to die of cancer than women, and their diagnosis rate was 19% higher, statistics show.

Men have been shown previously to engage more in modifiable risk factors for cancer, including smoking and consuming alcohol.

They are also less likely to get regular screenings for male-specific cancers, the study authors noted.

Experts predict that between 2022 and 2050, men’s cancer cases will spike by around 84% — going from 10.3 million to 19 million. (iStock)

The 10 cancers with the highest age-standardized mortality rates among men are lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, bladder cancer, and cancers of the brain and central nervous system.

To help reduce the impact of cancers on men, the researchers called for reducing modifiable risk factors and making male-specific screenings more accessible, among other efforts.

Men have previously been shown to engage more in modifiable risk factors for cancer, including smoking and consuming alcohol. (iStock)

“Strengthening health infrastructure, enhancing workforce quality and access, fostering national and international collaborations, and promoting universal health coverage are crucial to reducing cancer disparities and ensuring cancer equity among men globally,” the study authors wrote.

Potential limitations

The researchers acknowledged some limitations of the study, including the quality of the data provided by some countries and territories.

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“Estimates in low-HDI and medium-HDI countries could be less accurate because the majority of these jurisdictions have relatively low-quality cancer registries and/or civil and vital statistics registration systems,” the authors wrote.

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They also noted that some “measures of cancer burden, such as years of life lost or years lived with disability,” were not available in the original data and could not be included in the study.

Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS and physicians for comment.