Baby Osteopaths - How Can They Help?

Author: Felice Karuna (Director, Baby Osteopath at Matakana Osteopaths)

Parents may not be trained to feel tension in their baby’s body like a Baby Osteopath. However, they are often very perceptive. If a child seems to be sleepless, crying, unsettled or a fussy feeder then they may be having problems. Many babies are very sleepy in the first few weeks, and it is often after this period they show signs of distress or discomfort. It is at this point many parents seek help. Babies who have had some form of intervention during birth appear to be most at risk of problems. However, any birth can give rise to tensions and strains in the baby’s body.

Cute baby

Why Treat Babies?

Babies are in more need of treatment than many people realise. Birth can place tremendous stresses and strains on the baby, the long-term effects of which are now more widely recognised. Baby Osteopaths can help resolve these tensions with precise treatment of the baby’s body.

Birth Strains

In normal labour powerful uterine contractions push the baby out. The skull, 29 bones in all, fits together like an elaborate jigsaw puzzle. In a baby these are loosely fitting and can overlap to allow the head to move more easily through the small birth canal. Pressures from birth can cause changes in tension in the baby’s skull and throughout their body. These usually resolve after a few days. Both feeding and crying aid this process by increasing intracranial pressure and help any ‘stuck’ bones to ‘free off’. When these tensions do not resolve on their own, parents may notice an unsettled or uncomfortable infant. Issues may include difficulties with sleeping, feeding, burping, or digestion.

Interventions in Birth

Use of interventions such caesarean section (c-section), emergency c-section, forceps and ventouse, are increasing. These may be needed to ensure the safe delivery of a baby. However, they also can strongly affect the baby’s delicate head, neck, and body. With an emergency c-section, the baby has passed partly through the birth canal, only to become stuck and then forcefully pulled back the other way. Similarly, elective c-section babies are often removed with difficulty. With ventouse and forceps large amounts of pressure are applied through the baby’s head and neck to allow delivery.

Head Shape

There is a growing awareness of the impact of a misshapen head (Plagiocephaly). This is commonly seen following ventouse and forceps deliveries. Shape issues may be noticeable following delivery and can impact on the baby’s development. There are research studies (1,2) that suggest head shape is more than just an appearance issue. Children with plagiocephaly are at higher risk of cognitive and behavioural delays. Head shape issues may also arise through an unnoticed strain in the baby’s neck which pulls the head to one side. After several months this may cause flattening as the baby repeatedly lies on the same area of the head.

Breast Feeding

During breast feeding the baby needs to take the nipple deep into the mouth and use the tongue to rhythmically pulse it against the roof of the mouth to release the milk. Tension around the throat, jaw and base of the tongue may mean that the baby has difficulty with latching or performing the necessary tongue movement to drain the breast. Neck tension may also relate to difficulties with breastfeeding on one or both sides. The baby will fuss and often be happier feeding from a bottle which requires little effort to feed from.

Digestive Upset

Babies have sensitive digestive systems, especially in the early weeks. Stresses and strains of birth can cause tensions around the base of the neck that may irritate nerves that supply the digestive system. Tensions in the stomach and intestinal organs may also contribute to digestive issues. These may give rise to colic symptoms, unsettled behaviour, difficulties with wind and constipation.

If you have any concerns or questions about your baby, please contact Felice Karuna (Director, Baby Osteopath at Matakana Osteopaths)

References

  1. Miller RI, Clarren SK. (2000) Long-Term Developmental Outcomes in Patients with Deformational Plagiocephaly. Journal of American Academy of Paediatrics.
  2. Kordestani RK, Patel S, Bard DE, Gurwitch R, Panchal J. (2006) Neurodevelopmental Delays in Children with Deformational Plagiocephaly. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
  3. Hayden C, Mullinger B. (2006) A Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of Cranial Osteopathy for the Relief of Infantile Colic. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
  4. Lund GC, Edwards G, Medlin B, Keller D, Beck B, Carreiro JE. (2011) Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for the Treatment of Hospitalized Premature Infants with Nipple Feeding Dysfunction. Journal of the American Osteopath Association.
  5. Lessard S, Gagnon I, Troier N. (2011) Exploring the Impact of Osteopathic Treatment on Cranial Asymmetries Associated with Noncytotoxic Plagiocephaly in Infants. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

Also see: Developmental Milestones - 0-2yrs

Check our availablity and book yourself an appointment online, or feel free to get in contact with us directly and we can find a time that suits you. Leading osteopathic providers in the Warkworth area. Matakana Osteopaths, inside the Cinema Complex, 2 Matakana Valley Road, 0985. Ph: 027 571 5799.