Overton Clinic

During pregnancy the mother's body is required to make numerous changes to accommodate the growing baby. Not only does it have to cope with an alteration in the balance of hormones but also with considerable changes to the mother's posture. This is usually dictated by both the size and the position of the baby, and can often result in physical aches and pains.

As the mother's body prepares for the birth, the action of the hormones brings about softening of the ligaments so the bones of the pelvis can separate and allow the baby's head to pass through. However, because the hormones affect the entire body, this, in addition to the postural changes, can predispose the mother to increased stresses and strains such as low back pain, neck pain, rib discomfort and symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

Osteopathic treatment through pregnancy is a safe and gentle way of helping the body cope with the changes that are taking place. Not only will the osteopath address the problems with hands on treatment but they will also offer advice on both exercise and posture.

Following the birth, it is likely that the mother will benefit from further treatment to help address the effects of both the pregnancy and birth. It is also worth considering the positive effects of osteopathy on the newborn child who might suffer with colic, sleeplessness, difficulty feeding and might generally be unsettled.

It is not uncommon for babies to have difficulty coping with the powerful processes of birth whether it's from passing down the birth canal or following a caesarean section. Retained mechanical stresses can affect the nerve supply from the neck and head; this might for example affect the gastric nerves resulting in colic. Any unresolved tension throughout the skull and membranous tissues can also keep the baby's nervous system in an alert state, therefore making sleep difficult.

Cranial osteopathy is a more subtle form of treatment that can address mechanical strains in children of any age. The application of gentle pressure through the body and the head encourages the release of specific tensions, which can both alleviate the child's discomfort and allow the body to function more efficiently.

Does osteopathy help in infantile colic? cam.org.nz. An evidence-based resource about Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Discussion of findings
There is some evidence that cranial osteopathy has a beneficial effect for infants with infantile colic over a 4 week period. A significant reduction in inconsolable crying and significant increase in the total hours sleeping was seen in those infants treated with cranial osteopathy. There were no significant changes in crying or sleeping in the untreated group. Although the effect itself seems small (crying decreasing by 1½ hours and sleep increasing by about 1hr 20 mins), most infants treated with osteopathy (71%) did not need any treatment after week 3 and the remaining 4 (29%) had only mild symptoms of colic at the end of the study. There were no adverse events from treatment reported in the study. A larger, double-blind study is recommended.

Conclusion
There is evidence that cranial osteopathy may decrease the amount of inconsolable crying and increase the amount of sleep in infants with colic. Also there is some evidence that the time spent holding and rocking the infant is reduced

Lim KW. Infantile colic: A critical appraisal of the literature from an osteopathic perspective. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2006;9(3):94-102.

Abstract

The term infantile colic though often used is poorly understood. This common affliction of early infancy, in which crying is the primary symptom, has been the subject of numerous publications over many decades. This appraisal of the literature reveals that lack of consensus on the definition of colic poses difficulties when assessing the outcome and validity of research. In addition, the numerous hypotheses, reviewed here, on the precise cause of infantile colic have resulted in various approaches to treatment and no clear strategy for management. The possibility that mechanical factors play a role in the aetiology of colic underlies the osteopathic approach to treatment which, despite anecdotal success, is poorly documented. This article is designed to appraise osteopaths with an overview of the field to better inform their practice.

Mother & Baby

Abstract