Cranial sacral-therapy for infants is a complementary or an alternative healing modality that uses gentle touch to manipulate bones of the skull and the other body parts of an infant. During birth, a baby's body can endure compression which may be beneficial. Excessive force due to artificial induced contradictions, (use of drugs to start or/and speed up labor) or use of medical equipment (such as forceps, vacuum or C-section), places overwhelming pressure on delicate membranes and bones of baby's body anbd poparticularly head.
Though these intervention are necessary and very beneficial, they can result in undesirableside effects which makes baby easily irritable and unsettled. The tender touch of cranial sacral therapy is effective and appropriate to ease these compressions and permits the baby's body system to relax and balance.
Some of the principle areas trained cranial sacral-therapy for infants specialist will address includes;
The back area of the neck where it meets the head is very susceptible to alteration during birth. Compression in this area will cause irritation to Vagus nerve (which provides majorparassympathetic nerve supply to the digestive organs). Vagus nerve is responsible for the ability of body to digest and rest. Its compression can cause never overstimulation leading to contraction of digestive organs and subsequently colic.
During delivery baby's shoulders and neck may be forcibly rotated thus damaging soft tissue and also causing strain. Strain on mouth and neck tissue may cause inflammation and irritation of nerves in these regions, and this will cause problems infeeding and sucking.
Most of the babies with colic is as result of irritation of neck and mouth nerves. Such infants will only use parts of their mouth to gulp, suck and will suddenly pull off breast. In addition, they like to lie on one side, thus, they will use one breast most of the time.
Trained cranial sacral-therapy for infants will professionally work on the bones of upper palate to free up mouth by releasing bone restriction, facilitating nerve release and relaxing muscle tension. Ultimately, this will increase suck, swallow and breathe pattern of the baby, and this will encourage proper breastfeeding.
By freeing up strain impacted on baby during delivery, this will enable them to comfortably feed from each breast.
Following forceps or vacuum delivery or due to the position baby lie in the womb, infants may have noticeable bumps on the head. The bumps are overrides where underlying cranial-membrane tension caused the cranial-bones to ride over each other. While some of the bumps disappear naturally, others may require help to release underlying-tension that holds bones in unnatural position.
Specialist in cranial sacral-therapy for infants will find where strain in the tissue is and follow strain pattern. This may involve travelling from cranial membrane along the dural tube to spine to relieve the underlying tension.
Cranial sacral therapists focuses on evaluating and restoring the flexibility of facial system. They get insight into body through listening and touch. By listening and touch, they can know the deeper cause of the pain and thus help in treatment.