Paediatric Osteopathy
Paediatric osteopathy can be very helpful for many common issues that come up with babies and children.
Birth can be a traumatic event for some newborns as well as mothers. Even the “easiest” labour still involves a lot of compression and rotation for the baby. Trauma to the baby and mother can also occur if the baby was posterior, if the mother had a long second stage (pushed for a long time), if an instrument-assist (forceps, vacuum, etc.) was used, and/or if a Cesarean delivery occurred.
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Osteopathy employs a holistic approach to treating the child’s body, using hands-on techniques to support the body’s self-healing abilities. At Niagara Osteopathy, the osteopathic manual practitioner is most interested in free motion and alignment of the babies body framework and its relationship to organ function, circulation, and the nervous system. You can consult an osteopathic manual practitioner from the first days of your baby’s life or as needed according to the appearance of symptoms or concerns.
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After a very gentle physical exam, the osteopathic manual practitioner will perform some gentle, therapeutic movements and stretches to help alleviate your babies symptoms. Improvements can often be seen after just a single session, allowing both you and your child to get back to enjoying your time together.
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Areas of Clinical Focus
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Difficult birth and unsettled babies
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Feeding and tongue tie
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Tummy time, rolling and crawling
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Dental and teeth alignment
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Digestion disturbance
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Walking, limping and balance
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Head preference to one side, plagiocephaly and torticollis
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Sports injuries
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Post surgical
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Sleep challenges
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Migraines and headaches
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Poor posture
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Breathing retraining
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Growing pain
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Special needs
Osteopathic Services for Mothers-to-be,
Pre- and Post- Natal
Both mothers-to-be along with new mothers can benefit greatly from osteopathy.
During pregnancy, the centre of gravity shifts and many organs, muscles, and bones shift to accommodate the new life growing inside. Pelvic instability can be a significant issue for some pregnant women, with the increased production of relaxin, the hormone that relaxes and lengthens the ligaments. Lower back pain, leg pain, swelling, and abdominal upset are also common symptoms. It can be beneficial to have osteopathic care during pregnancy to support the body with these changes and to help prepare the pelvis for the birthing process.
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After giving birth, the body needs time to recover. The physical exertion during and after birth, including the rapid widening of the birth canal or awkward breastfeeding positions, can put immense strain on the body. The physical demands from pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period can impact on our muscles, bones and ligaments, and how we feel in ourselves. It can be important to have an osteopathic check-up to alleviate body discomfort. Non-invasive techniques can help to relieve some of those stresses on the mother's body, thereby promoting an improved sense of well-being.
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The focus of Niagara Osteopathy is to help bring you back to equilibrium using a series of gentle muscle and bone manipulation techniques. Treatments are focused on relieving your pain and improving your quality of life!