Osteopathy for children

Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy can help the mother's body gently adapt to the increased weight of the foetus as it grows. This often results in substantial relief from pain in areas such as low back, hips, mid back, neck, legs etc.

The osteopath will also give advice on how a new parent can look after his or her own back whilst looking after a child. This advice can range from the type of baby equipment to buy, to ways in which to lift and carry a child.

For babies

The tiny movements that exist in a newborn's skull allow for the baby's head to accommodate the pressures of birth. Sometimes these stresses and strains become fixed in the baby's head after birth. This is thought to sometimes result in symptoms such as:

• Colic/poor digestion
  
• Restlessness
  
• Poor feeding
  
• Poor sleep patterns
  
  

Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle form of treatment with the aim to very gently reduce these stresses and strains caused by a traumatic birth.



For children

Children can also be treated osteopathically for strains resulting from traumatic births/falls and bumps to their heads and the rest of their bodies. Many children also present with sports injuries. Typical symptoms include:

• Growing pains
  
• Behavioural problems:
  - Anxiety
  - Restlessness
  
• Poor sleep patterns
  
• Hearing difficulties