Pediatric osteopathy

TO CHECK THE MOBILITY AND WELL-BEING OF THE BABY AT BIRTH

During childbirth, the baby's head and shoulders are subjected to significant compression, especially as they pass through the mother's pelvis. These body parts can be even more unbalanced if there are complications such as:

• An extended period of labour
• A breech presentation (feet first)
• An emergency C-section
• The use of forceps or vacuum extractors

In such situations, some doctors and nurses recommend consulting an osteopath to ensure that the baby's overall mobility is preserved. Even if your doctor does not recommend it, a consultation with a pediatric osteopath can help prevent various musculoskeletal issues.

TO CHECK THE HEALTH OF THE BABY OR CHILD IN CASE OF PAIN OR MOBILITY CONCERNS

In addition to problems caused by childbirth, other symptoms may appear in your baby. Here are some of the issues for which a consultation in pediatric osteopathy can be helpful:

• Baby's torticollis
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Sleep disorders in babies
• Suction issues
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ, jaw) issues
• Ear infection and sinusitis
• Plagiocephaly, brachycephaly (flat head)
• Digestive issues (colic, regurgitation, constipation)
• Stress
• Motor development issues

If your child is struggling with one of these issues or any other musculoskeletal concern, you can consult a pediatric osteopath as early as today.

FOLLOWING A DOCTOR'S RECOMMENDATION

If some parents choose to consult a pediatric osteopath themselves, it sometimes happens that children are referred by a doctor for certain specific issues, particularly for:

• Torticollis-plagiocephaly
• Suction issues
• Recurrent ear infections

Our osteopaths ensure follow-up with the doctor if necessary.

TO MAKE A PREVENTIVE VISIT

Our osteopathy professionals recommend that parents take their baby for preventive visits. Even if there are no obvious symptoms, a simple check-up can help prevent certain issues by detecting non-obvious symptoms.

HOW TO SOOTHE BABY COLIC WITH AN OSTEOPATH?

Colic is characterized by periods of intense, unexplained crying and agitation lasting more than three hours a day and more than three days a week, for over three weeks.

To this day, there is no evidence that colic is caused by abdominal or intestinal disorders. However, a parent whose baby is suffering from colic may consult an osteopath.

This individual will perform a comprehensive assessment to identify areas that appear to be more tense in the infant's abdomen. Subsequently, they can share their observations with you and treat your baby with the aim of reducing tension and helping to restore mobility to the targeted areas.

CAN OSTEOPATHY HELP WITH BABY'S MOTOR DEVELOPMENT?

During its first few months of life, the baby will develop several skills. Eventually, it will be able to roll over from back to belly and from belly to back, develop mobility while on its belly, crawl, then stand up, and finally, walk.

For some babies, development happens gradually, while for others, there may be a slowdown at certain stages. It's important to note that each child has their own pace of development and that an osteopath can play a key role throughout their growth. They can assess and determine if there are any tensions or areas lacking mobility, which could hinder their development and prevent them from progressing. They can then intervene to promote the child's development.

HOW DOES A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY SESSION PROCEED?

Initially, the osteopath will have the parents fill out a questionnaire to gather the necessary information and to get an overall picture of the situation. The questions will focus on the pregnancy, the birth, the baby's lifestyle, breastfeeding, as well as the baby's needs.

The osteopath will then proceed with a comprehensive evaluation to analyze the mobility of the various parts of the body.

Following this assessment, the osteopath will share their observations and will begin the treatment using techniques suitable for the baby that will help to optimize the mobility of the targeted areas.

At what age can you take your baby to see an osteopath?

If your baby has an issue (breastfeeding, torticollis, plagiocephaly, etc.), our osteopaths can see them from their very first days of life.

Otherwise, it is recommended to consult for the first time after three weeks of life to perform a comprehensive evaluation and optimize development. During pregnancy and childbirth, the baby experiences stress and compression. A visit to the pediatric osteopath will help to release these tensions.