Patience for results in a baby needed
I have been treating a little boy for 2 years. It has been a roller coaster! BUT, I think we are coming out the other side…
I first treated him at just a few days old - all freshly squished and squirmy! It is so valuable to check Mum and baby as soon as I can - as they have unique trials and experiences during childbirth and its good to start the unravelling of the birth forces.
He had just had a 2.5h delivery in total - so fast, but was the second child. This can really shock the baby as they pop out under immense pressure, to atmospheric pressure - the skull and fascia kind of implodes and tightens. It is one of the most tricky aspects of deliveries to resolve.
Things had started well but within a few days he was getting sucking and swallowing issues and belly discomfort. Not a surprise with such a fast delivery. Treatment helped him to suckle on the breast better but he still had some jaundice even a few weeks later. I wasn’t too concerned.
After 3-4 weeks he was still struggling. The cock-eyed head shape became more apparent, he had signs of a squint and his feeding deteriorated again, although he was still gaining weight. From an osteopathic perspective he still had marked tissue shock and strain patterns which were being reluctant to change - and these fascial forces were pulling on and distorting his body and head shape. A growth spurt brought things to a head.
Baby vs toddler - the changes can be dramatic but each have their own challenges to resolve.
Gradually he began to balance out and improved function returned - until his first vaccinations - which upset the delicate balance we had created and developed. He had an angrey rash, his behavior deteriorated to mainly angrey and he got a mild case of pneumonia. The chesty cough reacted well to a homeopathic remedy and I continued to help his internal structure and build his immunity with the osteopathy.
At six months he had 6 teeth erupting at the same time, plus a growth spurt!!!! It was too much for him. His gut got very disturbed - diarrhoea mainly, much crying and distress, altered sleep. Treatment became a challenge - as he didn’t want to be there, allow me to touch him and as his Mum said - was just angrey all the time. Poor little chap - and its not possible to explain to them at this age either. We kept him as calm as we could whilst I worked on him. After each treatment he was relaxed, but it felt like hard work during it!
He has always had a tendency to chesty coughs, but the homeopathy really works well for him and I can release his sinuses and help his lung and diaphragm and stimulate the immunity when necessary.
By 22months old he was also taking very high quality fish oils daily (he loves them) to help support his gut and nervous system and Kefir. He was beginning to develop quite strong emotional outbursts at home and elsewhere too. His negative reaction to interventions were not helped by a traumatic hospital experience when he got a nut stuck up his nose.
I checked him for retained primitive reflexes (some should have gone by about 2y old) - and there were a few still present. It helped to explain some of the behaviour. That, and some signs of ADHD which are being monitored - he is too early for any diagnosis, as these often accompany aberrent primitive reflexes.
By 2 years old he began to turn a corner - hurray!
He was:
less clumsy
fewer falls
better balance and co-ordination
no dummy to pacify now
language (bi-lingual didn’t help) was coming on well
emotionally less dramatic - though he still had them as he did the usual 2yo thing of pushing boundaries!
At his most recent treatment session before the Summer holidays I had an in depth look at his jaw and facial muscles. His body really reacted well, and since then he has been massively calmer - and for the first time we had a totally calm toddler for a treatment at 2.3y of age. A complete turnaround! Much appreciated by both his Mum and I.
Osteopathy is a journey - we never know what we will find and how the body will react and there is no ‘ONE’ answer - its all an experiment of sorts, as we work towards the health in the child / adult. I can just bring all my skills and knowledge and perception to the party and have to trust that the body can use these just as wisely.
But! When it all comes together it is such a delight and relief for all concerned.
I shall continue to see him regularly has he grows through many milestones and bumps along the way.
This is the true magic of being a family-practice osteopath.
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Place your healing in my hands,
Gayle Palmer D.O.
Osteopath, Master NLP practitioner, Shamanic Healer