The birth process is one of the most stressful events of our lives. As the baby travels through the birth canal, they experience a highly stimulating and potentially stressful journey. During a normal delivery, the baby’s head has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses, as the soft bones overlap. Any asymmetries in the shape of the baby’s head resolve naturally in the first few days through suckling, crying and yawning. 

However, osteopaths believe that following a difficult birth, this ‘unmoulding’ process can be incomplete, resulting in muscular tensions which can impact babies in different ways, such as discomfort in the feeding position, favouring turning their head one way when sleeping and difficulties with digestion. 

Cranial osteopathy is very gentle and safe for babies and children. Cranial osteopaths are trained to use a finely developed sense of touch to feel very subtle tensions throughout the body tissues, so any strains or tension the body is carrying can be gently released. Gentle pressure is applied to release stresses in the head and body and after each session young patients generally feel relaxed.