Being born is a wonderful event but also an ordeal for a baby whose environment and rhythm change dramatically as his body continues to develop. Sometimes, childbirth can generate tension in the newborn that causes dysfunction and suffering, such as colic or sleep disturbances. The intervention of an osteopath can rebalance his system and provide lasting relief.
Thinking of an osteopath often reminds us of a session full of crunches and very tonic movements. How to imagine such a practice on an infant, so fragile and in full growth ?! And yet, osteopathy for babies can be of great help in releasing existing tensions in newborns and relieving certain disorders, more common than one might think (sleep disorders, digestive disorders, torticollis, gastrointestinal reflux. esophageal, colic, unexplained crying, continuous tears, etc.). Very different from therapy for adults, pediatric osteopathy is very gentle and safe. When is it recommended to consult an osteopath? How does a baby session work? We tell you everything!
Osteopathy for babies: what is it?
Pediatric osteopathy is a discipline classified as unconventional medicine in France, just like osteopathy for adults. If the latter was founded by the American doctor Andrew Taylor Still at the end of the 19th century, its version for children and infants was developed a little later by his compatriot Viola Frymann who explored in particular cranial therapy for newborns ( discussed below).
This discipline based on manual care aims to act on areas of tension, muscles, ligaments and joints in order to treat dysfunctions through gentle manipulations. Here, no sudden movements, creaks, strong pressures or uncomfortable positions. The osteopath performs light and delicate movements, almost with the fingertips, respectful of the baby's physiology to correct any imbalances, stimulate the nervous system and the circulation of fluids in general and release tension.
The goal of osteopathy is to physically rebalance the patient and work for his well-being over the long term, but does not treat organic pathologies that fall under medicine. As part of therapy for infants, it should only be done in addition to the pediatric follow-up of the child and should also be authorized by a doctor for babies under 6 months.
Before and after birth, the constraints suffered by the baby that osteopathy can relieve
Warm in the mother's womb, you think baby is necessarily comfortably installed. But even in utero, in its protective bubble, the fetus can face difficulties causing postural disorders and tensions: lack of space, natural non-reversal before childbirth which will have to be carried out manually by the gynecologist or even stress experienced by the mother and felt by the child. From birth, a consultation with an osteo may be indicated to rebalance and remove the tensions that could bother baby during the first days of his life.
Childbirth can also be the cause of tensions and bad postures that can cause pain in the newborn, for example, a torticollis undue by the expulsion or a slight dislocation of the shoulder or a displacement of the jaw. Dysfunctions are even more likely to occur if the birth has resulted in complications (very long delivery, use of a suction cup or forceps, breech or head-back presentation, or cesarean section). It is therefore not uncommon for the medical team to recommend the intervention of a pediatric osteopath to relieve the infant who has experienced trauma that may involve suffering.
How is a session with a pediatric osteopath?
But even if the delivery went smoothly, other factors during the first few months can put stress on the baby, whose body continues to form. With the agreement of the doctor, parents can call on an osteoarthritis to seek to relieve the newborn and help him in a serene development.
Prefer a schedule in line with baby's rhythm for the consultation and dress him comfortably. Bring his health record, a bottle or something to breastfeed him as well as his blanket or anything that will help him feel safe and well. The consultation can last more than an hour and the session will normally be preceded by an “acquaintance” between the osteopath, the child and the mother who will have to answer questions concerning her pregnancy, childbirth, baby's behavior, rhythm, habits and the nature of the disorders motivating this consultation.
During the practical step, he will examine the baby and check all the potentially imbalanced areas (skull, pelvis, thorax, digestive system), even if these are not directly related to the dysfunction that causes the parents. He will then go on to treatment using palpations and manipulations, always gentle and without cracking. It is important that he explains his approach and actions to you and you should especially not hesitate to ask him questions about the session but also what follows. Don't leave any questions open, even if they seem silly to you.
It happens that the baby falls asleep during the session or, on the contrary, that the session, because it will act on a pre-existing discomfort, causes some crying. This is why the presence of parents and their "participation" in the session is essential.
As for the results, they are not necessarily going to be immediately visible since they will require the body to adjust. The benefits of the session will generally be seen in the days that follow. Baby will have better and more regular sleep, he will no longer have problems with regurgitation or reflux, will cry less for no apparent reason, the colic will gradually decrease and then disappear, etc. However, it is possible that several visits to the osteoarthritis are required for the treatment to be complete and effective, but a single session is also often sufficient to act on the most common ailments.
How can the osteopath affect baby's sleep problems?
Sleep disorders are one of the most frequent reasons for consultation. It is also a symptom that can be linked to many different disorders (stress, tension, colic, ENT disorders, other pain). The sleep of the newborn is also very complex and changes a lot during the first months, with cycles that can remain very unstable and destabilizing for the parents.
During the interview with the parents and the examination, the osteopath will be better able to identify the origin of these disorders and to act accordingly. Perhaps they are the consequence of a stiff neck after childbirth or maybe digestive problems disturb the baby's sleep.
Before consulting, it is important for parents to carefully observe how baby sleeps, see what may be disturbing him, whether he falls back to sleep easily and alone, the regularity of the disorder, the nature of the crying, etc. These are all clues that will allow the osteoarthritis to target the origin of the problem but they are also sometimes signs that there is no particular reason to worry and that the infant is just having trouble stabilize its cycles. The osteopathy session must then be completed by some changes, when necessary, at home, such as the establishment of a real bedtime ritual, a different and more serene and reassuring environment for the child, the disappearance certain habits such as getting baby out of bed immediately to hug him as soon as he starts to cry, expose him to light or feed him to calm him down. Thus, his rhythm and his well-being will be sustainably improved.
Digestive disorders: what role can osteopathy play in treating them?
Regurgitation, gastro-oesophageal reflux, even vomiting, constipation and even colic are very common transit disorders in babies. Indeed, when passing from the mother's womb to the outside, the digestive system is put to the test. Food is no longer the same, no longer intervenes continuously and must be processed with much more effort on the part of the organs. No wonder these last suffered some malfunctions!
In the case of regurgitation (outside meals) and gastroesophageal reflux disease, it may be a malfunction of the stomach sphincters. The osteopath can then, by working on the nervous system and tissues, stimulate their tone or, on the contrary, decrease it, in order to recreate a balance. It can also act on the mucous membranes of the stomach or the diaphragm, which can be the cause of spasms.
Transit disorders can appear lower in the digestive system (constipation, watery stools, blocked gas in the intestines) and be the cause of colic or sleep disturbances. Thanks to delicate massages of the stomach, the osteoarthritis will be able to relax tensions, stimulate the nervous system, promote the mixing of feces and restore a mechanical balance in transit.
The intervention of osteopathy in O.R.L.
Although the O.R.L. such as ear infections are of organic origin (viral or bacterial attacks), pediatric osteopathy can be useful because it can reduce the tensions of the ear canal, target attacks, and thus relieve babies for whom this inflammation or infection, often common, can be particularly painful.
This area is also particularly sensitive, strained and sometimes congested as infants teething. The intervention of an osteoarthritis can then help decongest the mucous membranes and strengthen their mechanics.
Pediatric cranial osteopathy: should we be afraid of it?
During his manipulations to treat the disorders mentioned above, it may happen that the osteopath works on the baby's skull by applying very low pressure in specific places and then releasing them. This technique aims to complement other gestures, stimulate tissues and relieve tension.
However, it is more and more common to mention pediatric osteopathy in cases of flat, deformed or asymmetric head (plagiocephaly) but the parallel between this cranial disorder and this discipline are far from putting the medical sector Okay.
Skull deformation can be caused by stresses exerted on the myofascial system before childbirth (position in the uterus), during birth (pressures during expulsion, use of instruments) or even after birth. to the world (lying on the back, head turned to one side for too long). When they are light, their deformities tend to correct themselves over time, especially when the baby begins to acquire independence, to turn around and especially to carry his head. Very common too, congenital torticollis can be at the origin and the intervention of an osteo allows to correct the postural disorder very simply and gently. The practitioner can also act on defects in the sutures, such as overlaps.
But sometimes everything does not go to order without medical intervention and that plagiocephaly can lead to serious and long-term consequences, such as psychomotor disorders, O.R.L disorders, visual problems or even scoliosis. In this case, pediatric osteopathy can intervene within a framework of multidisciplinary therapy, in addition to the follow-up of the pediatrician and a physiotherapist, for example. If the osteo option is not offered to you, talk to your doctor who will be able to advise you.
However, some do not see the discipline favorably, believing that its effectiveness remains to be proven and that studies on the results are lacking. Since the infant's skull is particularly fragile, its handling requires precision, delicacy and extensive knowledge of its anatomy and should not be carried out without reason either. Classified as unconventional medicine, pediatric osteopathy can be considered unlawful, even dangerous, by the medical profession.