Doesn’t that look just say it all? Many mums come to me for breastfeeding help but as many of you will know, poor breastfeeds lead to poor sleep habits and results in a totally frazzled baby, who just can’t seem to get to sleep.
The baby in the photo above is have a little cranial osteopathic massage, where all the bones in the baby’s head are gently massaged and realigned.
Not only is this incredibly relaxing for baby, but the results are often astounding! Medics are not too keen on recommending this treatment as the science of it all seems a little farfetched, however, many mums are enjoying the effects of cranial osteopathy and after the first session, they never look back.
I work with many cranial osteopaths as my specialist interest is in the impact the baby’s position in the womb, intensity of labour and the delivery techniques have on a baby’s head and how these compressions translate into different breastfeeding problems.
In short, the baby has 3 important nerves located just at the base of the baby’s head namely the hypoglossal nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve and the vagus nerve. The hypoglossal nerve is responsible for tongue movements which are essential for latching and suckling. If this nerve is compressed, your baby will be less like to do a big wide mouth and if he or she does latch onto the breast, the transference of breast milk will not be effective, and this will ultimately lead to a decrease in milk production.
If your baby is having difficulty latching, make sure you get suitable breastfeeding support and consider paying a cranial osteopath a visit.
For more information on causes and cures for low milk supply have a look at this page Low Milk Supply
