Maternity and infant care

Over the years we have seen many women through their pregnancies and then been privileged to treat both mother and baby after the birth. The changes in the body that take place with the pregnancy can produce a variety of conditions such as circulatory problems, cramps, digestive problems as well as back and joint pain.

We have treated many pregnant women to balance the changes in the posture and relieve the strains that can lead to these symptoms.

The Ante-Natal Period

The period around the birth itself is a time of great excitement but some of the strains of carrying a baby and its surrounding waters can overload the body and cause mechanical strains for both mother and baby. The baby is designed to cope with the stresses and strains to which it is subjected in the process of birth. Most of the time they adapt well to their new environment but sometimes they can suffer the after effects of a difficult birth process.

Infants and Childhood

Children’s problems may show in many ways. It is important to look at many possible contributing factors to the symptoms they are exhibiting. By evaluating past trauma, environmental factors and the family history as well as the body structure it is possible to improve healthy function.

One loses count of the number of time that children fall on their pelvis or bang their heads. They usually recover fine but if they don’t, if they appear to be in pain, if they suffer behaviour changes either from a trauma or for other reasons it is worth getting a check.

We seek always to improve function, to optimise the potential for health in the individual, and it is the results we achieve that continue to inspire parents to bring their children to see us and to recommend their friends. Mothers usually know that something is not quite right. The essential nature of the new-born is that they should be happy, comfortable and relaxed within themselves.

If they are clearly in discomfort and yet your Neo-natal specialist finds nothing seriously amiss; this is often when it is worth exploring if a gentle Osteopathic treatment can help to sooth and relax your baby.

Here is a quote from a parent whose child has Down’s syndrome. He has had regular Osteopathic treatment through his childhood to optimise his health. I still see him from time to time now aged 15.

“As most of the children within my local group have osteopathic treatment I had become quite used to the fact that they all seemed similarly clear of the runny noses, open mouths etc (I think they can grow out of this as they get older) but it did often occur to me when I met young children in other parts of the country, say when we were on holiday that they would often have the same look that I could remember seeing on the group of children at the support group before they used to have the osteopathic treatment.

I meant to mention O’s Eustachian Tube Dysfunction – this is something to do with the pressure in the ears/throat and was picked up at a hearing test. The person carrying out the test asked if we had tried cranial osteopathy and I told her that Oliver already had treatment but I would mention it to you. You then said that you would work on this problem and when we went back for the next test 6 months later he didn’t have it anymore. I think this is something measurable in the hearing tests so there was a definite change in him.“

Julie Brown

A full list of testimonials can be seen on our testimonials page.