Consultation
In order to ensure we gain a good understanding of your baby/child’s compliant we usually spend at least 20mins going through a detailed case history. We recommend (although it is not essential) that all guardians are present at the initial consultation. This ensures everybody understands what the problem is and how, using cranial osteopathy, we intend to address it. The case history will have particular questions around:
- Your baby/ child’s presenting symptoms and their medical history,
- Questions regarding the labour (as complicated deliveries are usually where the problem originated from especially with babies),
- Details regarding any previous pregnancies or births (as this helps us determine whether there are any patterns),
- Any medication the baby/child or mother are on,
In order to ensure we have all the available information we would ask you to bring along your red book (medical book), any discharge notes and names / dosage of any medication / supplements being taken. This is not essential but it certainly helps.
Please note: We may cover similar ground to your midwife or paediatric consultant however it is important we hear the answers.
Assessment
If there is a concern about a rash then your Osteopath may ask to see this. A developmental examination may be preformed if clarity is needed.
A physical/ cranial exam will be performed by gently feeling the tension in various parts of your baby/child’s body.
Once a diagnosis is established, Ubhi will explain all aspects of the treatment and expected outcomes with you. She encourages a very open forum and therefore please ask any questions to ensure you are happy with all aspects of the assessment, treatment, expected outcome and home management.
Management
We can not stress enough the importance of working together and ensuring you adhere to the stated home management advice. If you are unsure or feel the advice is not possible please say so and an alternative will be offered.
Treatment
Babies / children have very soft and adaptable tissues in comparison to adults. As a result, we use a very gentle form of treatment termed cranial osteopathy. Cranial treatment involves placing our hands onto various parts of your babies body. From here very light, gentle pressure is applied to help reduce the strains in your child’s tissues. No forceful or strong techniques are used and each approach is tailored to the baby/child in front of us. Please click here for more details.
Generally your baby/child will be relaxed, tired or may be unsettled after treatment. As a consequence, we recommend that for the remainder of the day stimulation levels are kept low and there is plenty of time for the baby/child to rest.
Outcomes
Baby/Children tend to respond within 1-3 weeks however conditions which have been problematic for a long time may take a number of months. In these cases we tend to see an improving trend over a few months.
To ensure your baby/child is comfortable, relaxed and engaged in the whole process we would recommend bringing along a favourite toy/book to help keep your baby/child entertained.
To find out more about our paediatric osteopath (Ubhilasha) please click here.
