It is always a good idea to have your new baby checked as soon as possible after birth. When you consider your baby was “folded” inside you, then subjected to the birthing process (which can sometimes be traumatic) it isn’t hard to see why some new borns suffer from crying, poor feeding, vomiting, unsettled behaviour etc. Using Cranial Osteopathy (a very gentle, subtle technique), we can diagnose and treat these difficulties. You may bring your baby as soon as after birth as you feel comfortable to do so.

Folding and Unmoulding
In order to pass through the 10cm cylindrical birth passage, the baby undergoes a process of re-shaping, or moulding as it is known. This means the baby changes it’s shape. It folds together and possibly even shifts body fluids from the cranium to the body to be compressed in a physiological (normal) way. Immediately after birth the chest has to expand and the lungs begin to breathe air. In the foetus the diaphragm was moving from 3 months and was breathing amniotic fluid. After birth this water in the lungs is reabsorbed by the lymphatics; the alveoli (lung tissue) unfold and the baby takes his first few breathes of air. Osteopaths believe this process, that which we call “First Breath”, is a major pivotal moment in the establishment of the full and correct biomechanics of the new born. This changeover of circulation and activation of the lungs, though termed “First Breath” does not just happen over one single breath. If the unfolding process is incomplete or ineffective, this would have special ramifications upon the spinal and cranial (head) structures. Essentially we see “First Breath” as the “popping back” to normal physiological mechanics. When “First Breath” does not take place fully mechanical tensions are present. Some of these may be painful or stressful to the child and perhaps he may express this as crying, clinging (ie doesn’t like lying on back) or general grizzliness; or other effects may express as compromised mechanical functioning ie reflux, suckling difficulties, or poor drainage of the middle ear, leading to middle ear infection, for example.

On this point it may be worth mentioning that not all crying should be viewed negatively. There is evidence to suggest that that breast suckling and crying can help to naturally correct ineffective “First Breath” processes. The action of breast suckling, as we all know, results in the baby’s ears wiggling. This effect can help the new born ease his cranial tenderness or headache following a traumatic birth. It may well be for this reason that some babies use the mother as dummy. However if this is excessive may ne you might to have your baby checked osteopathically. Similarly breathing and crying contribute to fluctuations of the cerebrospinal fluid. The hydraulic lift that the cerebrospinal fluid gives the infant’s head is smooth and powerful. This process can be modified by the express action of crying, which may help to moderate pressures and flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, restoring cranial bone alignment or tensions within the baby’s head.

Forceps & Vacuum Extraction
The use of forceps or vacuum extraction only takes place after the baby has physically jammed in the birth canal. This happens when the head has reached its maximum point of moulding. At this point the pressures are high already, before the introduction of forceps or vacuum extraction. Thus the newly added pressure (of forceps or vacuum) creates its own, mechanically distortive effect on the head and body fluid flow (CSF) mechanism. As osteopaths we identify such effects and use very gentle cranial techniques to help to restore the natural harmony for the newborn baby. This results in a settling-down effect and helps establish a natural health patterns, ie for feeding, sleeping etc.

Caesarean
When the baby is packed tight in the uterus it is slippery and so needs to be grasped firmly. Usually it also needs to be grasped quickly because of the anaesthetic issue or as it may be an emergency. Studies have showed that contrary to popular belief the force needed to remove the baby is much higher than previously thought. Significant manual pressure is applied on the cranium and the body. The force needed to extract an item that is wet & slippery is measured in the order of DOUBLE of the body weight (compared to only 60% when dry). This means the forces involved are much higher on the baby than when compared to a normal delivery. The forces needed to extract the child are greater still if he has already passed some way down the birth canal. Cranial compression patterns are therefore much more established. This could extend to the cervical spine (neck), creating a paediatric type “whiplash” injury to the newborn, often described as a torticolis of the neck. Equally the limbs of the newborn may be affected if these were pulled upon during the extraction phase.