Babies, Children & Pregnancy

Osteopathy for Babies, Children and Pregnancy

The benefits of Osteopathic treatment in pregnancy and childhood are becoming much more widely known and many of the mothers and children who come to see us at our practice come on personal recommendation from other parents and allied health professionals.  This text aims to explain why a mother might want to consider Osteopathy for herself or her child. Osteopathy is a hands on therapy designed to release abnormal stresses and strains in the body. This then facilitates the bodies own self-regulating healing forces to resolve the symptoms. One of the basic principles of Osteopathy is that structure governs function, so that if an area of the body is not structurally sound, it cannot function normally. With Osteopathic treatment we are assisting the body’s natural healing forces by applying gentle techniques to the structure to normalize the function.

During Pregnancy the body undergoes many changes…

Softening of the ligaments and the growing uterus cause postural changes and any underlying postural problems may be exacerbated.  Some mums may experience back-ache, heart burn and pubic symphisis discomfort. Often this is due to tight muscles and ligaments in the mother and may influence the position of the baby. Treating the pelvis and Lumbar spine with gentle osteopathic techniques can alleviate tension which may allow the baby to more easily descend into the mothers pelvis.  The birth process involves considerable forces coming to bear on the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis from the contracting uterus.

The bones of the babies skull overlap to aid the passage of the head through the birth canal. The processes of suckling and crying helps the newborn skull returns to a normal shape within 24 hours, however where abnormal compressive forces are retained – from intervention during the birth process, or delayed prolonged labour, these process can be disturbed. Normally the compressive forces followed by expansion – birth – result in a good full first breath and cry which then helps normal growth and development to become established.

Retained birthing compressions without the full expansion from first breath can affect the whole body…

An analogy is a partially deflated beach ball, birth and the first breath should re inflate the ball, but sometimes that process gets stuck. By adjusting and releasing these tensions osteopathic treatment helps the body re organize. Strain and tension in the child should be treated as soon as possible, an old osteopathic saying is “As the twig is bent so the tree shall grow”

Where intervention has occurred in birth or excessive tension remains the jaw and neck can be strained…

This may affect feeding because the baby finds it difficult to turn and latch well and to open their mouth fully. A theory is the nervous supply to the tongue and diaphragm can be irritated by such strains resulting in problems with winding, digestive disturbance, pain and distress. Poor sleep patterns and an inability to establish deep sleep can be attributed to discomfort in the head and neck which is often exacerbated now that babies sleep on their backs & Plagiocephaly (odd head shape) is more common now that babies sleep in that position which may exacerbate any underlying strain. These factors can create difficulty in latching and feeding and the practice is very experienced at advising on feeding / lactation issues.

A post partum check of mother is recommended even if birthing has been intervention free…

The bones and ligaments may be restricted. This can pull on the spine all the way up to the head. Birthing Intervention needs checking. Epidural may create strain in the lower back. Ceserian scar tissue can have excessive tension pulling into the abomen – pelvis. Delayed prolonged labour may over stress the maternal pelvis and spine resulting in discomfort and pain.