OSTEOPATHY for Babies and Children

WHY HAVE YOUR BABY ASSESSED ?

It is a common belief that babies and children should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies, because they are ‘so young’.
The reality is very different.
The baby’s head is subjected to a lot of forces, either during the last stage in pregnancy, or during birth, when it is being pushed through the birth canal.

The baby’s cranium has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses, in a ‘normal delivery’. In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft bones overlap and bend as the baby descends.
The baby’s chin is ‘normally’ well tucked down towards its chest to reduce the presenting diameter of the head.

Many babies are born with cranial strains or asymmetries and only a small percentage of them are visible.
In the first few days an unmoulding process occurs as the baby sucks, cries and yawns. This process, however, is often incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult.
This can result in various symptoms soon after birth or later in life.

Osteopathic treatment for infants and children is very gentle and effective.
Specific gentle techniques are used on the body and head to increase mobility and flexibility, enabling the healing ability of the body to effect the release of strains.

WHAT EFFECT DOES RETAINED MOULDING HAVE ON THE BABY?

• Crying, Irritable Baby
  “Crying, irritable baby, needs to be rocked to sleep. Prefers being carried.”
  The baby may be uncomfortable, with a constant feeling of pressure in the head. This is made worse by the extra pressure on the head when lying down.
   
• Feeding Difficulties
  “Baby takes a long time to feed and one feed merges in to the next. He/she may be a ‘windy’ feeder.”
  Feeding is difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses through the head, face and throat. The nerves to the tongue may be irritated as they exit from the skull, which makes sucking difficult.
   
• Gastric Reflux and Colic Pain
  “Regurgitation of milk between feeds, bouts of prolonged crying due to colic and wind.”
  The nerve to the stomach is irritated as it exits from the base of the skull, which impairs digestion. The diaphragm may be stressed or distorted, which further compromises both digestion and the ability of the stomach to keep its contents
   
• Cranial Asymmetry (Plagiocephaly)
  “Cranium with one side that is flatter and/or a bump on the head.”
  A difficult birth and/or an extensive time lying on one particular side in the womb can create an asymmetric cranium. A cranial base strain or a neck imbalance can cause the baby to prefer lying on one side of his head which further exaggerates the flattened area.
   
• Sleep Disturbances
  “Baby sleeps for only short periods, and may sleep little in the day (or night). Wakes up on the slightest noise.”
  The tension on the bony and membranous casting of the skull keeps the baby’s nervous system in a persistently alert state.
   
• Mild Ear Infections
  “Recurrent ear infections, gradually becoming more frequent. Loss of hearing, leads to ‘glue ear’.”
  Retained cranial compression within and around the bones of the ear impedes fluid drainage from the ear, causes partial or complete blocking of the Eustachian tube.
  Chronic infections never fully clear, leaving a vulnerability and a decreased immune system.
   
• Sinus Problems
  “Persistent mouth breathers. Constantly blocked or runny nose. ”
  Impaired growth and drainage of the sinuses and bones of the face due to retained moulding compression.