A specialization in osteopathy with techniques adapted to newborns, babies and children. When the birth has been traumatic for the baby, an intervention by the osteopath can be very helpful in improving their well-being.
Manual techniques and the touch of the osteopath are a very effective tool in pediatric treatment. Newborns with congenital torticollis, babies with colic or children with recurrent otitis are some examples of cases that respond very well to osteopathic treatment.
Diagnosing and treating some blockages or imbalances in these early stages of life can bring great benefit to later stages.
Osteopathy in newborns
We speak of a newborn in the stage that goes from birth to the first 4 weeks of life.
Nature is wise and everything is prepared so that the birth takes place at the moment when the fetus is at the same time mature enough and not too big to be able to be delivered. At least that is the way it is in most cases.
The cranial structure of the newborn is prepared to withstand the compression forces that act on it during delivery. The skull compresses and then decompresses thanks to the internal forces that act on the structure, with the help of the respiration itself and the suction movement.
Sometimes the physiology of labor does not develop perfectly, so we can find that the forces that have acted on the skull, cervical vertebrae, clavicles or pelvis of the newborn have exceeded their recovery capacity.
When the delivery has been truly traumatic for the newborn, an intervention by the osteopath during the first days of life can be of great help to improve their well-being (current and future). Under more normal conditions where delivery is not supposed to have been traumatic, I recommend a check-up session just after quarantine.
- When to take a newborn to the osteopath?
- In case of expected traumatic or complicated delivery.
- Whentheir skull does not recover a “normal” shape in a few days.
- After an “excessively assisted” delivery (by the use of forceps, spatulas, suction cups,etc)
- In case of ceaseless crying for no apparent reason
- Suckling or breastfeeding difficulty.
- Suspected respiratory distress.
Osteopathy in babies
Babies eat and sleep … and cry vigorously when they have basic needs.
They also begin to explore their immediate surroundings with a lively and curious gaze, to communicate with sounds, to move their bodies …
It is highly recommended to do a baby’sfirst check-up. In this first review we can very easily treat small imbalances caused by childbirth or a poor intrauterine position. If they are not dealt with now, the consequences can be dragged along the different stages of life.
What signs can make us think about taking a baby to the osteopath?
- Premature birth.
- Cesarean delivery
- Difficult childbirth, assisted by forceps, spatulas or suction cups …
- The baby cries incessantly for no apparent reason.
- They always sleep with their head or body in a bad position.
- You have a cranial deformity (plagiocephaly).
- One of their eyes is smaller than the other.
- Lacrimal duct obstruction.
- They seem to find it difficult to turn their head sideways.
- Theyhave excessive gastric reflux.
- They have had one or more respiratory crises (bronchiolitis, pneumonia).
- There’s evidence of asymmetric limb movement.
- They seem to suffer from constipation, colics, etc.
Childhood osteopathy
Out oftheir own curiosity and desire to learn, children grow and develop their psychomotor, intellectual and relational skills to the maximum.
Recurrent otitis is the most frequent reason for consultation with the osteopath during childhood. In this particular case, the rate of success of osteopathic treatment is very high. The osteopath, who always has an overview of the patient, will take advantage of this same session to do a complete examinationof the child.
At this stage of life, the osteopath must ensure the correct alignment of a spinal column in continuous transformation and growth. A slight tension asymmetryor a slight molding in a child can become a large deviation of the spine in the adult. This is why it is so important to do a thorough checkup on the baby or child.
Scoliosis usually manifests itself in adolescence when the growth rate shoots up, but its detection and treatment in these early stages of life greatly reduce its consequences.
Frequent reasons for consultation in children:
- Repeated otitis media.
- Respiratory crisis. Asthma, Cough that does not subside …
- RecurrentHeadaches
- Poor foot support when walking.
- Chest malformations (sunken or asymmetric chest)
- Children who have skipped the crawling phase.
- Delay in walking or any other psychomotor difficulties