Osteopathy for Babies and Children

WHAT IS IT?

Osteopathy is a well known therapy but many would still only consider it for adults. Who would think that a baby needed to see an Osteopath? Osteopathy may not be high on your list of things to try with a toddler with sleeping problems or a child with asthma.

Osteopathic techniques can be adapted to suit even the youngest of babies. Those of us who treat babies would like to see every newborn after birth to release any strains on the skull or neck from the birth process and restore the child to how they were in the womb so that they can start life free of any compensations.

With babies, treatment is ideally given at around 2 weeks old but can be done earlier if necessary. Newborn babies are commonly seen for postnatal check ups after a long, very short, or complicated labour involving forceps, ventouse or emergency caesarean. Many parents bring their baby to us just because they want them to be checked over and to have all the strains from the birth released. Babies are ideally suited to labour and birth, however they can get into less than ideal positions and may get stuck, or the labour can be very long, which can place added physical strain through the baby's body. The skull and the top of the neck are the places where we find most strains. If then forceps or ventouse is necessary to assist the birth, these instruments can themselves leave tensions within the skull and all the way down the baby's body. Other factors which may affect the baby are the medications the mother is given which can pass into the baby's blood stream, and also the mother's stress levels. All of these factors can leave behind tensions and strains within the baby's body as well as altered tissue quality. These factors will not make the child ill but can make them uncomfortable, irritable, shocked or generally unsettled. These symptoms can lead to a baby who maybe cannot feed properly because he or she doesn't like to turn their neck to one side, or one who doesn't sleep well due to being uncomfortable or still shocked from the birth.

Conditions such as colic are often related to tension at the top of the neck and around the umbilicus from where the cord was cut. If these two factors are treated the result will often be a much happier baby who is able to bring up wind easily and so not have any discomfort.

Other problems with feeding may be related to the jaw itself or the nerve supply to the tongue which needs to work hard to allow the baby to suck effectively. If there are tensions through the baby's skull these vital structures can get compromised in their function therefore making things harder for the newborn to coordinate and have the strength needed to suck effectively.

You may think that babies born by caesarian section do not have any of these problems having not passed through the birth canal. However the reason for the planned caesarean could be that the baby is in an awkward position or breach. Sometimes forceps are necessary in caesarian births as the baby has descended a long way down into the mother's pelvis. If the caesarian is an emergency then the baby could be partially descended through the birth canal, or have the cord round their neck, or be in distress. Even if the caesarian was uncomplicated the baby is often very shocked by this method of birth since it is so rapid with no natural build up. These babies can appear very calm and sleepy and Osteopaths can find that this is due to the shock. Treatment can release this shock within the baby's body. As the baby grows there are numerous conditions that Osteopathy can help with:

Teething may be easy or can cause many sleepless nights. The Osteopathic approach works to release the jaw which can become very tight during teething, and de-irritate the nerve endings to calm the area down. Combined with natural remedies such as Camomilla, this approach can often successfully help babies through this stage of development.

Ear infections and colds are common problems. It is vital that the ears are draining properly when a child has lots of mucous, otherwise mucous trapped in the ear can become infected. Osteopathy can restore ear and face drainage, open the lymphatic channels through the body which will help to drain the mucous away, and restore good tissue quality after a temperature or virus.

Glue ear can arise after repeated ear infections and, as above, if the Osteopath can restore or improve drainage then grommets can be avoided. There are some ENT consultants who now recognize the benefits of Osteopathy for these patients.

Constipation has many causes and can be distressing and uncomfortable for children of any age. There could be a dietary or medication reason or the child may not be drinking enough fluid. Treatment can encourage fluid into the gut and de-irritate the gut lining to allow the constipation to ease.

Asthma has become very common. This may be due to rising pollution levels or speedier diagnosis. Osteopathy can play a big role in improving lung health and function and reducing the need for medication. The Osteopath will look at the whole body and make sure there are no other factors irritating the lungs and chest such as tension in the mid back from a fall or tightness in the neck and upper chest from repeated past chest infections.

Learning and Behavioural difficulties can be helped by directly working with the nervous system and helping it to function better. In the case of children with dyslexia, the brain is often not functioning as a whole unit but in sections, and treatment can help to re-integrate this and improve communication between the different areas and therefore improve the child's understanding. Children with Cerebral Palsy can benefit from Osteopathic treatment to their nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Children with autism also often receive benefit from these treatments, as do children with many other learning and behavioural difficulties.

Osteopathic treatment is very far reaching in its influence with babies and children and can help a wide range of complaints along with general health and growth issues. Taking your child to the Osteopath every 3-4 months prevents build up of compensations from falls and illnesses and rebalances their bodies as they change and grow, thus keeping them in good health.

If you would like to discuss your child with an Osteopath please call
07891 043497 or or email info@intouchhealth.co.uk and we will be happy to talk to you.
www.intouchhealth.co.uk

Article written for Winter 2008 issue by

Claire Piper D.O.,D.P.O. for In Touch With Health Osteopathic Practice, Wadhurst and Crowborough