A baby’s head is moulded along with the process of birth, whether a natural delivery of C-section as there are also inter-uterine compressions that can influence the baby prior to deliver. The baby’s skull has bony centres with cartilage which is a ‘soft bone’.

There are small amounts of movement that within the infant skull that allows the baby’s head to adapt to the forces of labour. Every birth is different, complicated, slow or fast, the baby can get ‘stuck’ and there maybe the need for forceps delivery, or ventouse which maybe needed for a safe delivery; the infant head may not fully recover from the compressive birth forces exerted on it. This may result in subtle changes in function leading to varying problems.

Osteopaths will often use special technique (which requires further training), Cranial Osteopathy, when looking at babies and children. This employs the Osteopath’s highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations, both in and around the joints of the skull, and throughout the body, looking at resolving fascial changes. Osteopathic techniques are suitable for children at all stages of development and can be used for many different types of problems.

Cranial Osteopathy is very useful for resolving the fascial changes of the changing pregnancy posture made in the preparation and actual birth, when treating new mothers. The total readjustment of the mum’s posture can be supplemented by structural techniques, such as massage, joint articulation and muscle energy techniques, which are more appropriate for adult treatment.