Craniosacral therapy is particularly helpful for treating newborns and infants. Difficulty nursing can be a result of tensions and restrictions in the baby’s head, spine or body. These restrictions can be caused by pressures experienced during late pregancy, and by the forces of birth. These pressures are increased by fast, long or induced labours, forceps or vacuum assisted births, or caesarean births.
Compressive forces during birth can result in pressure on the nervous system, particularly the cranial nerves that control sucking/swallowing, jaw mobility and the digestive systems. The baby may have areas of discomfort, muscular tension or bone misalignment.
Symptoms/ Conditions that can be helped with CST
- difficulty nursing /latching challenges, restricted jaw opening, jaw clamping, weak suck action, difficulty swallowing, on/off fussing, excessive spit-ups (reflux), one-sided feeding challenges (head turns more easily in one direction), crossed or wandering eyes, asymmetrical head
How a Session Works
With clothes on, baby is treated for 1 hour with gentle releasing techniques from the hands of highly skilled therapists. Therapists locate and release restrictions and tensions through out the body and the head. Once fully released, the tension patterns do not return. Mothers also receive some education and guidance for nursing and self-care.
Effects
- results in happier, relaxed, nursing baby
- helps ensure good structural balance and health throughtout childhood and beyond
- enables babies to develop to their greatest potential
Frequency: On average babies require 2 or 3 treatments