Introduction > Techniques I Use > Mothers & Babies > Head Injuries > Chronic Conditions
Treating mothers and babies is a special interest of mine. My aim is to give a baby the best possible start in life, which includes the pre-birth experience. For this reason I treat pregnant women, paying special attention to pelvic alignment, so the mother and baby have as comfortable a pregnancy as possible followed by an easy birth.
During pregnancy, I use Osteopathy to help a woman’s body adapt to its changes and effectively treat things like nausea, backache, headaches, sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction and more.
In the post-partum period Osteopathy offers mothers the opportunity to recover more quickly after labour and delivery, especially if there has been a medical intervention such as a Caesarian section or episiotomy.
It also speeds up the healing of bruises, tears and incisions. Even after a long period of time has elapsed since labour, e.g. years, Osteopathy can help with chronic problems such as perineal pain, post-operative pain and scar healing. Persistent pain with sexual intercourse may also respond to treatment.
Breast milk supply can be an issue for some mothers. Treatment of the nerve supply that arises from the spine and runs to the breasts can often help to increase milk supply.
A factor in infertility is the health of the pelvis. Poor bony alignment, reduced energy flow and blood flow through the pelvis may be a factor in infertility. Osteopathy gently brings the pelvic bones into balance and enhances energy and blood flow, nurturing the reproductive organs.
Another factor in infertility is hormonal balance. Osteopathy, directed at the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, can encourage secretion of hormones required for proper egg development and release and in the preparation of the uterine lining for implantation.
All babies, regardless of whether their birth was difficult or not, can benefit from osteopathic treatments. The gentleness of these treatments will realign cranial bones that may have become distorted due to intrauterine positioning or the birth process itself, allowing for optimal development of the nervous system, brain and body as a whole.
Colic is a collection of symptoms which can have many different causes. Some babies suffer from excess gas due to tension in their abdomen. This can be caused by, for example, the umbilical cord being cut immediately after birth or uterine positioning. Osteopathy gently releases this tension making for a happier, more content baby (and mother!).
Sometimes babies are born with their necks rotated to one side. Torticollis can interfere with feeding, or cause asymmetry in the face and scoliosis in the spine. It is important the torticollis is treated as early as possible. The younger the child is, the more likely a full or near full resolution.
Many babies have an altered head shape due to intra-uterine positioning or sleep posture. Osteopathy gently releases the cranial bones, allowing them to realign, allowing for a more rounded head shape to emerge with the growth of the skull. This often makes it unnecessary to use a helmet or other device to change the head shape.
• poor sleep pattern/not sleeping
• breathing issues, eg. grunting, constant snuffling or snoring
• restlessness and irritability
• difficulty latching on and suckling
• constipation
• developmental delay
• cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome
• recurrent ear infections
• sports injuries and other physical trauma