Cranial Osteopathy
Introduction to Cranial Osteopathy for Babies and Children.
The journey of pregnancy and delivery for babies is not usually an easy one. The baby is in an increasingly confined space in the last month of pregnancy and the forces of delivery upon his or her little body are quite incredible, as any labouring woman will know.
Even up to a month before the birth, the baby's head may begin to start moulding so that it is more able to fit into the confined space of the uterus and pelvis. During delivery the baby's head will mould even more as the enormous forces push the baby out through the birth canal, navigating past the mother's pelvis, spine and any remaining cervical restriction.
Of course, the baby's body is absolutely designed for this moulding which facilitates the birthing process. The soft bones of the head approximate, overlap and the skull bends and twists, enabled by the fact that there are many more bones in the skull of a newborn than in an older child or adult.
After delivery, the normal response is that the moulding reverses and the head fills out much like a balloon filling. Breastfeeding and crying are activities which enhance this return to normal.
If this normal response is incomplete, we are left with "retained moulding". This and its related tension, primarily in the head but also in the pelvis and other parts of the body, is what cranial osteopathy is correcting. Retained moulding is made obvious when we see babies with misshapen heads, however it may have no outward appearance yet may be causing serious and distressing symptoms that are often considered just "the luck of the draw'' for both parents and babies.
Induction, forceps or venteuse assisted labour or other events such as rapid, forceful or long labour, large baby, small maternal pelvic size or shape, length of time baby has descended prior to birth...these are some of the situations that increase the chances of retained moulding. Sometimes a baby seems to have had a perfect birth but is riddled with retained moulding; as well as babies having difficult births may not have retained moulding.
Some babies cope quite well with retained moulding and present with no symptoms. However, symptoms may manifest later during childhood, adolescence or even adulthood. For this reason, every newborn would benefit from a check-up with a cranial osteopath.
The role of the cranial osteopath is to correct the retained moulding with subtle techniques that release tension and strain patterns in the skull, neck, spine and pelvis. It is a very gentle, non-invasive procedure...indeed, many babies sleep through the treatment.
Common Conditions Benefited by Cranial Osteopathy
Wind, colic, reflux. Pain and discomfort around feeding, possibly with excess spilling and poor sleeping. Symptoms of a windy baby are commonly due to the compression of the nerve supply to the stomach as it exits the skull, causing tension in the stomach and digestive system.
Breastfeeding difficulties. Baby fusses while on the breast, gets sleepy or prefers one side. Due to mechanical strain in the skull or the compression of nerves to the tongue and cheeks, feeding is painful and/or tiring. Baby will position head to create the least irritation.
Crying, irritable baby. Baby unhappy, won't be put down, wants to be carried constantly. Tension in head and neck leave the baby with constant head pain and bodily discomfort and a greater need to be comforted.
Sleep disturbances. Baby sleeps very little and/or for short periods of time, even though very tired. This can be due to digestive disturbances caused by tension in the head and nervous system. The baby is uncomfortable, restless, on edge and unable to sleep deeply.
Misshapened head, head held to one side. Misaligned bones in the skull cause the head to be pulled out of shape as the baby grows. The baby must put his head in one position so the tension and discomfort are minimised. Some of these disturbances may continue on to toddler and childhood stages.
Constipation. Retained moulding can cause continued digestive disturbances leading to a sluggish bowel and ongoing problems.
Developmental delay. Due to possible mechanical and neurological restrictions of the bones and muscles of the face and mouth, speech development may slow due to the inability of the mouth and tongue to articulate properly. Similar restrictions may interfere with the development of normal milestones, such as reaching out, grasping, rolling over, etc.
Cranial Osteopathy can be really helpful for behaviour problems and learning difficulties. Retained moulding can be involved in the child with attention deficit disorder. Tension in the components of the skull and the nervous system can unsettle the child so that they are unable to concentrate.
Ears, sinus, tonsils, ear, nose and throat infections (also glue ear) can be the result of incomplete fluid drainage, which can be due to mechanical restrictions to the drainage systems and outlets of the sinuses and inner ear.
Eyes. Loss of eye coordination can be the result of the nerve supply to the muscles of eye movement being compromised due to retained moulding.
Neurological problems. Cerebral palsy, for example, can be treated with cranial osteopathy. It is unlikely to cure serious neurological problems with frank pathology, but it may help alleviate some of the symptoms.
Because cranial osteopathy is so gentle, newborns can be treated in the first day or two. Depending on the severity of the problem, the number of treatments will vary: From 2 to 4 for the more straightforward cases, perhaps up to 10 for more difficult cases.
Treatment should be carried out sooner rather than later as skull components begin to join around 5 to 6 years of age. Generally, an improvement is noticed quite quickly. Occasionally there may be some unsettledness as the healing process continues.