Expectant mothers & babies
Osteopathy and Babies
If you have been treated by an osteopath yourself, you may wonder how all those manipulations could possibly be useful (or even safe!) to use on a baby. But osteopathy is not just about clicking backs! A much gentler form of osteopathy, known as cranio-sacral technique, is used on children of all ages (including newborns) to undo stresses and strains which might prevent the body functioning successfully.
- HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR BABY NEEDS HELP?
You may notice some of the following symptoms: - Colic
- Sleeplessness
- Difficulty latching on or feeding
- Constipation
- Recurrent ear infections
- General irritability
- Sticky eye
- Reluctance to tolerate hats
- All of these problems may respond well to osteopathy.
Childbirth is, of course, a natural process and ideally there will have been no need for surgical intervention. But even the most straightforward labour will have imposed extraordinary stresses on the baby.
After 9 months of comfortable relaxation in the womb, floating happily in the amniotic fluid, your baby is suddenly subject to huge compressive forces from the contractions of the uterus pushing it through the birth canal. To accommodate this compression the soft bones of the skull may overlap, twist and bend, sometimes leading to a rather misshapen head. This distortion normally starts to remould during the first few days after birth, but if the remoulding process is slow or incomplete the baby can experience problems which are not always in the head region. Cranial osteopathic techniques can help with the remoulding process, and remove the strain patterns that cause your baby discomfort or pain.
So is the birth process bad?
The birth process, although stressful, is very important in "kick-starting" your baby's systems. When the birth is not completely natural, as in Caesarean section, it can be useful to apply osteopathic techniques to resolve resultant problems.
Hypnobirthing®
HypnoBirthing® is an informal but informative childbirth Education Class like no other, it is rewarding, relaxing and stress-free. It teaches you and your partner how you can confidently approach the birth of your baby in an easier, more comfortable manner that mostly mirrors nature. Whether you choose to have your birth in a hospital or at home, you will be confidently prepared and able to utilise the techniques you will learn and practice.
Our hypnotherapist, Christian Baker, is fully experienced in teaching the principles of HypnoBirthing®. For more details, see his own website
Dads Suffer Too!
Dads may not have hormones softening up their ligaments, but they are (we hope!) suddenly involved in a host of new activities - not just lifting and carrying the baby, but perhaps even finding out how the vacuum cleaner works! Don't be surprised if Dad's body also complains a little. Again, osteopathy can help.
- SELF-HELP ADVICE
- Try to remain active - movement is highly beneficial to the tiny joints in the spine.
- Avoid slouching - allowing your back to hollow out will aggravate any problems in the spine.
- Sit upright in your chair. Slouching may irritate your own spine, or encourage your baby to turn into the wrong position.
Your Own Body
During pregnancy a woman's body has to adapt in a variety of ways to accommodate the growing foetus. As the baby gets bigger, and as the body starts to prepare for birth by softening the strong pelvic ligaments, women can experience an assortment of problems and pains that can be helped by osteopathic treatment.
The pains most people associate with pregnancy are, of course, low back pain and pain shooting down the leg (sciatica), which can usually be treated successfully with osteopathy. Other problems that may occur include: pain as the extra weight at the front of the body pulls the upper back forwards; aggravation of pre-existing conditions as hormonal and weight changes upset the body's balance; pain in the legs, from the pressure of the baby above and difficulty getting the blood back up to the body.
Osteopathy may help all of these problems and help to maintain overall good posture during pregnancy.
Other problems in pregnancy
- Nausea
- Varicose Veins
- Breathing difficulties
By relieving structural stresses, osteopathy can help you avoid some of the unpleasantness often associated with pregnancy.
AFTER THE BIRTH
- Remain active, but don't try to do too much, too soon!
- Use correct lifting techniques - your back is vulnerable.
- Don't leave treatment too late - caring for your baby is a stressful affair and your body can use all the help it can get to deal with physical and emotional problems.
