Cranial osteopathy & breastfeeding

by Anna Scullard BOst, MSc Paed Ost

Gentle osteopathic treatment can release and balance the strains which can cause breastfeeding difficulties. The main aim is to establish an effective latch, help the baby nurse as efficiently as possible and generally make breastfeeding a positive experience for both mum and baby.

Far from the ‘clicks’ and ‘cracks’ expected from osteopaths, osteopathic treatment using the cranial approach is gentle, safe and effective for babies and children. Cranial osteopathic practitioners use specialised palpation and knowledge of anatomy and physiology to identify and correct disturbances of tissue mobility, not only in and around the joints of the skull but also throughout the body. Very specific, skilled, light pressure is applied where necessary to assist the natural ability of the body to release stresses and tensions.

There are many factors that may contribute to difficulties in breastfeeding. There may have been a long second stage, a difficult presentation, the cord around the baby’s neck, or an instrumental intervention (forceps or ventouse). In any of these instances, osteopathic treatment is usually concentrated on mechanical strains of the head, face or throat which may occur during delivery.

After their birth, babies may be excessively sensitive around the back of the head and neck. Often these are the contact areas mothers are shown to bring the child to the breast for feeding. If this is painful for the baby, they may resist and be unable to relax enough to latch on. This can be most distressing for both mum and baby. Very quickly the baby will learn to associate the approaching breast with pain and become fearful. With pressure from hospital staff, this can sadly be a time when new parents give up on breastfeeding.

In this situation other breastfeeding positions can be used that do not require any pressure along the back of the baby’s head or neck, such as the side-lying position or the laid back, baby led position.

Common areas that affect feeding include the base of the skull, jaw, tongue and neck muscles. The base of the skull must withstand substantial forces during the delivery. Parents may notice their child prefers one breast to the other. This may be due to a mechanical restriction at the top of the neck similar to a ‘crick’ neck, causing pain on turning to one side. In this delicate area, there are also nerves that supply the tongue which, if affected, will make sucking difficult and uncoordinated.

The jaw may be restricted and compromise an effective latch as the baby is unable to open their mouth sufficiently. The anterior neck muscles may also cause imbalance. Increased tension in this area will affect neck movements such as extending the neck and will hinder proper swallowing/suckling coordination.

‘Tongue tie’ is when the frenulum of the tongue is taut and does not allow the baby to extend the tongue adequately for an effective latch. This is not caused by a difficult birth, but an osteopath will check for this as well. If necessary, a simple procedure, called a frenulotomy, can be performed by a tongue tie practitioner, to free the tongue. Cranial treatment following a frenulotomy will then encourage the baby to open their mouth adequately to enable an effective latch and swallow.

Midwives are not always experts in breastfeeding and may encourage formula feeds in order for the baby to be discharged. If there are difficulties in feeding, please be sure to consult a breastfeeding specialist - before leaving hospital if possible.

Any questions or if you are not sure if osteopathy can help you or your baby, please do not hesitate to contact the osteopath first. Often home visits can be arranged particularly in the early days following birth.

For a list of osteopaths who have trained at the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy, completing a minimum of two years specialising in children, go to:

• The Foundation of Paediatric Osteopathy: https://www.occ.uk.com/

• The Sutherland Society: Cranial

  
  

Emily Jackson BSc (Hons) Ost, MSc Paediatric Osteopathy, and IBCLC Lactation Consultant, works at 41 Leinster Square, London W2 4PU, (tel 020 7229 8144) and also does home visits. Her mobile number is 07971 675 612 and her email is emilyjackson228@hotmail.com



Here’s a study into osteopathic treatment for breastfed babies: Efficacy of an Osteopathic Treatment Coupled With Lactation Consultations for Infants' Biomechanical Sucking Difficulties - PubMed

Here’s a study into the efficacy of cranial osteopathy for the relief of colic in infants: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16648084/

Here’s a research article into chiropractic treatment for colicky babies:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.668457/full?fbclid=IwAR2ryFnwyre4WDoDMza4D5au5CZsxHxcUwH7nNpO2CxYdQNoG2bmVazH63c

According to a talk by Sarah Oakley, IBCLC, for the ABM conference in 2022:

Alison Hazelbaker, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA, CST-T, RCST, an expert on infant sucking issue and treatment of the same. states:

• Fascial restrictions causing articular changes of the cranial and cervical areas undermine breastfeeding and suck–swallow–breathe coordination in an alarming number of babies.

• These babies may not respond to typical lactation management interventions.

• Craniosacral therapy and its sister modality, cranial osteopathy, may be the most effective bodywork modalities to address sucking dysfunction.

• She cites a number of research papers to back up these statements.

Hazelbaker A (2020) The Impact of Craniosacral Therapy/Cranial Osteopathy on Breastfeeding. Clinical Lactation 1(1), 2020

Note from Cordelia Uys:

From my personal observations and from the feedback I’ve received from parents, I have come to the conclusion that chiropractic treatment can have a very similar positive impact on babies as cranial osteopathy. When talking to parents, I now refer to the benefits of ‘body work’ meaning both cranial osteopathy and chiropractic.

Below are references to studies into both chiropractic and cranial osteopathy for breastfed babies provided by Sarah Oakley IBCLC in a talk she gave for the annual conference of the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers in 2022.

Evidence for chiropractic and breastfeeding difficulties

• Hubbard M (2014) Pediatric cholelithiasis and breastfeeding difficulties: A chiropractic case report. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS Volume 14, No. 2, March 2014

• Vallone (2004) Chiropractic Evaluation and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction in Infants Demonstrating Difficulty Breastfeeding J Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 2004(Dec)

• Miller et al (2016) Parent Reports of Exclusive Breastfeeding After Attending a Combined Midwifery and Chiropractic Feeding Clinic in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Service Evaluation. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 2016, Vol. 21(2) 85-91

For chiropractic and reflux

• Chuang A (2014) Chiropractic treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a pediatric patient: A case report. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS Volume 14, No. 2, March 2014

Evidence for cranial osteopathy

• Herzhaft-Le Roy et al (2017) Single blind RCT

• L. Vismara , et al (2019) Timing of oral feeding changes in premature infants who underwent osteopathic manipulative treatment, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 43, 2019, Pages 49-52

  
  
  

Hampstead-based chiropractor Nina van Dyk can be contacted via her website:

https://hampsteadchiropractic.co.uk/