The Trauma of Being Born
Part 1

Janice Webber, PT, CAFCI (Acup.), ST-Tai Chi Instructor

There are a number of things that can occur during childbirth. One of them is some trauma to the head and neck of the child.

Occasionally there can be issues where the neck has been placed in a hyperextension position (the back of the head comes close to the top of the shoulders where they meet the spine) which will result in a restriction at the top of the neck at the C1-C2 level of the spine.

The vagus nerve exits the spine at the top of the neck. This nerve supplies most of the internal organs of the body. Irritation here or a compression through the head and neck, which can occur if the baby is stuck in the birth canal against the mother’s pelvis, can result in vagus nerve irritation and the child can develop colic.

I have been treating children for issues of colic, failure to thrive due to a poor sucking mechanism, strabismus, and unsettled children for 15 years.

I had one client whose grandson would start crying and would not stop for 4 hours which was when he was so exhausted he would fall asleep. Nothing was helping the baby and his parents were very concerned. In his assessment, I found that he had a compression from his head down to his mid upper back. The upper back is where there are a lot of nerves for the sympathetic system, the fight or flight response, and when triggered they would over fire. He had 2 treatment sessions and had 2 very happy parents. His system was no longer compressed and he had a good craniosacral rhythm.

I have been using craniosacral therapy and pediatric physiotherapy techniques to check the newborn from 1 1⁄2 days old. I would be happy to talk with you or do an assessment for your baby. I work at A Body in Balance Therapy Centre, Dartmouth. 902-469-3214 or www.abodyinbalance.ca

The Trauma of Being Born
Part 2

Janice Webber, PT, CAFCI (Acup.), ST-Tai Chi Instructor

Any woman who has given birth will be able to tell you that it is an ordeal. It is one that has a very happy ending, usually. The mother to be has a number of things that she needs to do in preparation for the ordeal. They can include making sure her pelvis and physical structure is a free from restrictions as possible before she becomes pregnant and checking during the pre-natal stage that she has maintained a level of physical fitness as well as having her physical structure checked in each trimester.

If a labour is too short, under 8 hours then the cranium is considered “under molded” in terms of the craniosacral system. If the labour is too long, over 14 hours then the cranium is considered “over molded”. There can be restrictions in the cranium in either an under or over molded skull. This can also be added to if the child has had to be delivered using forceps or suction on the skull.

If the baby has had to have nasal suction after the birth, there may be issues with the suck mechanism. This is due to an improper positioning of one of the bones of the upper jaw and may also be due to an “under or over molded skull”.

Issues of C1-C2 irritation, as well as tension and restriction is the temporal bones of the head, have also been linked to the development of strabismus (lazy eye) in children.

The restrictions in the head and neck can be treated by physiotherapists if they have done training in craniosacral therapy.

I have been using craniosacral therapy to help prepare the mother in the pre-natal stages and check the newborn from 1 1⁄2 days old. I would be happy to talk with you or do an assessment for you and your baby. I work at A Body in Balance Therapy Centre, 902-469-3214.