Online Help - August 2007
Osteopathy for babies
Many people are surprised that babies need osteopathy, but in fact birth is one of the most physically traumatic events our bodies ever go through.
During labour, the baby is subjected enormous pressure from the uterus contracting and pushing the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby has to turn and twist it’s way through the bony pelvis.
The baby’s head absorbs these stresses as the soft bones of the cranial vault can overlap. As a result, many babies are born with odd-shaped heads. In the first few days the shape becomes more normal as the baby, cries, suckles and yawns.
However, the unmoulding can be incomplete, especially if the labour was difficult or assisted with forceps or ventouse. A very fast labour can also leave both mother and baby in a degree of physical and emotional 'shock' which can also be retained as tissue tension.
What can be treated with osteopathy?Symptoms of crying babies, feeding difficulties, sensitive head (e.g. when dressing), sickness, colic and wind, sleeping problems (too little / too much), colds, ear and chest infections, asthma, sinus and adenoidal problems, and torticollis all usually respond well to treatment.
What is the treatment like?Generally, babies are treated with cranial osteopathy. This involves very gentle touch and is safe and often comforting for the baby.
For the first examination we ask you to remove the babies clothes (leaving the nappy on) for examination. If possible we treat the baby in a baby-grow or vest so that they stay warm and comfortable.
If you can feed the baby during treatment it can help the baby stay calm and allows the osteopath to observe the suckling mechanism which is important to the resolution of retained moulding problems.
What about older children?Older children can also benefit from osteopathy for any biomechanical problem, sports injury or following falls, car accidents, operations and dental work.
During the teenage years, the rate of bone growth is not matched by increasing strength in the muscles and ligaments, which can contribute to growing pains and teenager’s slumps!
Osteopathy helps to 'iron out' problems so that they are not stored up for the future.
All osteopaths undergo four or five years training before qualifying, and registering with the General Osteopathic Council.
Part of this process is a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Osteopathy is the only complementary therapy that is regulated by statute.
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