Can cranial osteopathy help with breastfeeding ?

The answer is absolutely Yes!

Let's start with key points on what baby do when breastfeeding:

- Lips surround the nipple like a ventouse, which doesn't require any active hold.

- Baby's tongue moves up and down with the jaw to pump the milk.

-The tongue flatten the nipple against the roof of the mouth.

- Baby's head slightly extends (go back) to optimise the movement.

Any restrictions of the neck, jaw, tongue and palate will then affect breastfeeding, but most of these tensions can be easily relieved with osteopathy.

It is a common belief that babies should have no stresses in their bodies, because they are ‘brand new’.

The reality is very different.

Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. As the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal, the soft skull of the baby is subjected to enormous forces.

Adding the use of ventouse, forceps etc..

Would baby benefit from osteopathy ?

Yes if,

Baby has a favorite side to turn her head
Baby has/had a tongue tie
Baby's head isn't round
Baby pinches the nipple
Baby has a hollow palate Instruments was used at birth

Paediatric osteopaths can assess tongue , neck and jaw mobility and treat the restrictions/ tensions .