Just as your body is sometimes tense and in need of bodywork so is your baby's. Baby bodywork can mean many things. Let's dig into the reasons your baby might need bodywork and the different types.
There are many different modalities when it comes to bodywork. Some of these providers could be chiropractor, craniosacral therapist, osteopath, physical therapist, occupational therapist or Feldenkrais practitioner. Be sure that whomever you work with has pediatric specific trainings. Your area will probably dictate which providers are available to you. As Wisco Lactation IBCLCs we can help you find the best person to treat your baby. You should see vast improvements in 1-4 treatments. If you don't - see a different provider.
Bodywork helps to reduce body tensions and increase movement. It also helps calm the nervous system. Babies with tongue and lip ties are benefited greatly before and after frenectomy as these babies have increased tension in their body, floor of mouth, jaw and neck. Oral ties cause the fascia to be too tight. This line of deep fascia is connected from the tongue to the toes. If one area is pulling tight, the other areas are as well. Bodywork is essential in those cases to give the best possible chance of good healing as mobility of the tongue is very closely related to tensions throughout the body.
The therapies are very gentle and may look like the practitioner is not doing much at all. This is because babies respond very quickly to the hands on treatments provided and do not need force to relieve their tension.
How a baby developed and is born can impact their bodies. Assisted deliveries result in force placed on their bodies outside the realm of normal that can cause a higher incidence of tensions and misalignments. Babies born via cesarean, forceps and vacuum all should be seen by a skilled bodyworker. Babies stuck in the pelvis, had a long or very short labor should also be assessed.
We also highly recommend that the nursing parent has bodywork as well to calm their nervous system and because baby and mom work in-sync. Birth affects both mom and baby and both deserve to feel good in their bodies.
Infant bodywork can help address facial asymmetry, head flattening, tight muscles, decreased range of motion or head turn preferences. If these these things are present we recommend starting before 6 weeks. Many therapists agree that the younger the baby the less therapy is needed.
Indicators for a need for bodywork:
-Baby preferring one breast over the other
-Body tension
-Head tilt or turn preference
-Early rolling or holding up their head
-Diminished reflex responses
-Baby sleepy at the breast
-Overactive gag reflex
-Not calmed by sucking
-Suck reflex not triggering
-Tongue or Lip Ties
-Constipation
-Excessive crying
-Reflux
-Baby that is hard to soothe
Some doctors and providers are skeptical of bodywork for babies. Our modern pregnancy and birthing practices put more stress on the mother's and baby's body increasing tensions and in turn cause a greater need for bodywork than in the past. Sedentary lifestyles decrease movement in utero and augmented labors cause more stress. In many cultures infant massage is used after all babies are born. Our modern babies also spend too much time in containers and not enough time on the floor or being worn in baby carriers. This reduces the amount their bodies can move to naturally reduce tightness.
Things you can do at home: Keep baby's time in "containers" limited. Containers are strollers, car seats, infant seats, Boppy loungers, swings and bouncy chairs. This limit your baby's ability to move their bodies. Work on tummy time, baby wearing, skin to skin and floor time.
In the SE Wisconsin area? Let our occupational therapist help with providing bodywork for your baby. Her appointments include both bodywork and oral motor work reducing the amount of providers you need to see.
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