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It is a common belief that babies and children
should have no structural stresses or strains
in their bodies, because they are ‘so young’.
The reality is very different.
Birth is one of the most stressful events of
our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces,
as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against
the natural resistance of the birth canal. The
baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through
the bony pelvis, on its short but highly stimulating
and potentially stressful journey.
The baby’s head has the remarkable ability
to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery.
In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft
bones overlap, bend and warp as the baby descends.
The baby’s chin is normally well tucked
down towards its chest to reduce the presenting
diameter of the head.
Many babies are born with odd shaped heads as
a result. In the first few days, the head can
usually be seen to gradually lose the extreme
moulded shape, as the baby suckles, cries and
yawns. However, this un-moulding process is often
incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult.
As a result, the baby may have to live with some
very uncomfortable stresses within its head and
body.
What effect does retained moulding have?
Some babies cope extremely well with even quite
severe retained moulding and compression, and
are contented and happy. For others it is a different
story, and they can display a variety of problems.
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Crying,
irritable baby
Crying, fractious, irritable baby,
needs to rocked to sleep. Prefers being carried.
Reason
The baby may be uncomfortable, with
a constant feeling of pressure in the head.
This is made worse by the extra pressure on
the head when lying down.
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Feeding difficulties
The baby takes a long time to feed
and one feed merges into the next. He/She
may be a ‘windy’ feeder.
Reason
Feeding is difficult and tiring due
to mechanical stresses through the head, face
and throat. The nerves to the tongue may be
irritated as they exit from the skull, which
may be irritated as they exit from the skull,
which makes sucking difficult.
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Sickness, colic and
wind
Regurgitation of milk between feeds,
bouts of prolonged crying due to colic and
wind. Often worse in the evening.
Reason
The nerve to the stomach is irritated
as it exits from the base of the skull, which
impairs digestion. The diaphragm may be stressed
or distorted, which further compromises both
digestion and the ability of the stomach to
retain its contents.
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Sleep disturbance
The baby sleeps for only short periods,
and may sleep little in the day (or night!).
Wakes to the slightest noise.
Reason
The tension on the bony and membranous
casing of the skull keeps the baby’s
nervous system in a persistently alert state.
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As the child grows
As the child grows, the effects of retained moulding
can lead to other problems. The following are
the most common, but it is by no means an exhaustive
list.
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Infections
Retained moulding and birth stresses
take their toll on the body’s reserves,
and also deplete immune system. This leaves
children more vulnerable to all types of infection.
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Ear infection
Recurrent ear infection, gradually
becoming more frequent. Loss of hearing, leads
to ‘glue ear’. Retained birth
compression within and around the bones
of the ear impedes fluid drainage from the
ear, causes poor development of air sinuses
in the ear, and partial or complete blocking
of the Eustachian tube. Infections never
fully clear, leaving a vulnerability to
the next infection and a depleted immune
system.
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Sinus and dental problems
Persistent mouth breathers. Constantly blocked
or runny nose. Later, this increases the chance
of dental crowding.
Reason
Impaired growth and drainage of the
sinuses and bones of the face due to retained
moulding compression.
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Behavioural problems
and learning difficulties
Poor concentration, constant fidgeting, difficulty
sitting still, hyperactivity. Butterfly type
of child who flits from one thing to the next.
Reason
Continuation of the restlessness as a young
baby. Retained moulding compression makes
them uncomfortable in one position for too
long-which becomes habit forming. Severe compression
can modify normal patterns of learning in
the brain.
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Headache, aches and
pains
Headaches begin age 7-8. Growing
pains. Vulnerability to sprains, or other
aches and pains.
Reason
Retained moulding may focus areas
of pressure in the skull, as the bony joints
of the skull fully form at around the 7-8
years. Postural tension make other areas
of the body more vulnerable to strain and
fatigue.
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Asthma
Vulnerable to chest infections. Aggravation of
all degrees of asthma from mild to severe.
Retained moulding compression can aggravate a
tendency to asthma. General lowered immunity leads
to more chest infections. After infections, the
chest remains tense and the ribs do not return
to full function, aggravating an asthmatic tendency.
Osteopathic treatment to release birth stresses
and help to improve chest function is often beneficial
in reducing the frequency and severity of asthma
attacks.
Osteopathic Treatment
Osteopathic treatment using the cranial approach
is very gentle, safe and effective in the treatment
of babies and children. Specific gentle pressure
is applied where necessary to enable the inherent
healing ability of the body to effect the release
of stresses.
Could there be any adverse reaction?
Reaction to treatment are variable, often the
baby or child is very relaxed afterwards and sleeps
well. Others have a burst of energy after treatment,
usually followed by a good nights sleep.
Occasionally children are unsettled after treatment.
This is a temporary situation, and is usually
cause when the release of the retained moulding
has been incomplete. It is not always possible
for all the retained moulding compression to release
in one session, especially if it has been severe.
How many treatments will I need?
On average 2 to 6 treatments are sufficient.
This varies according to the severity of the problem
and the age of the child.
When to treat
The younger the better, it is never too early
to treat. For best results, treatment should be
before the age of 5 years. After this, the stresses
and asymmetries cannot always be completely eliminated,
but it is still possible to achieve beneficial
release of the stresses throughout life.
If you have other questions that we have not
answered here, don't hesitate to contact
us!.
Further Information
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