Northlondonosteopaths provides a cranial service, most commonly used and appreciated by parents with babies who have difficulty settling into post birth routine. Our cranial specialist, Sean Noimark explains below how this form of osteopathy can help babies in this particular case, although older children and adults may also benefit from cranial osteopathy in certain instances.

“A baby’s passage through the birth canal is usually a difficult process, however, the baby’s bones of the skull are supple and flexible enough to overlap to enable this to happen. occasionally the bones do not return to their normal positions after delivery. This can happen if the labor is drawn out or too quick, if the baby is quite big passing through a small pelvis or if medical intervention is necessary for example a forceps delivery or ventouse extraction. A baby may suffer a cranial base, neck, shoulder or back strain during the birth process. Pre-term babies may have strain from being out of the uterus too early and there is also likely to be alterations in nervous system function. A Caesarian birth may involve trauma to the baby who is stuck in the mother’s pelvis. Alternatively, problems can occur in utero if there is insufficient amniotic fluid.

Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle, yet extremely powerful, part of osteopathy.  While standard osteopathy is generally known for its high velocity cracks and crunches, cranial work is so gentle you would barely know you were having it.  As the name suggests it involves manipulating the joints of the cranium or skull, known as sutures.  Although these sutures are so very tiny, they can become as traumatised or restricted as any joint in the body.  The cranial osteopath seeks to ease any abnormalities, gently relaxing any stress in those joints. Changes made in babies and children can have a long lasting impact on their development.”

At northlondonosteopaths we are delighted to offer this approach and method and make a huge difference in the quality of life for infants and their exhausted parents, and for any other cases where cranial osteopathy is indicated.