A check-up for newborns
Examination
Before we examine your baby, we start with a thorough conversation. We discuss details about the pregnancy and birth and check how your baby is feeling: How is their digestion and sleep? How does your baby relieve stress? Putting together all these pieces helps us better understand your baby and see the whole picture.
Afterward, we examine the newborn with gentle touches. As osteopaths, we are trained to feel very subtly. We “listen” with our hands to what your baby’s body wants to tell us.
What draws our attention? How is the overall muscle tone? How is the flexibility and dynamics of the cranial bones? Are the vertebrae movable? Are there any tensions around the diaphragm? Is the belly swollen?
We always look at the interrelationships within the body. You could say we use the same anatomy, neurology, and physiology as conventional medicine, but view it through a different lens. After all, the symptom may be in a different place than the cause.
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Treatment
We then treat the movement restrictions identified in your child. This is done through gentle, manual techniques. As therapists, we do not ‘crack’ small children. Most babies find the treatment pleasant and respond by calming down or falling asleep.
However, it is possible that your baby may sometimes become a bit restless. Along with the blockage, the body may also release the ‘memory’ of a painful moment, such as the moment of the blockage, with all the associated emotions. After a treatment, many parents find that their baby is more relaxed.
When to Schedule a Check-Up for Your Baby
If your baby’s birth was very difficult (too fast, too slow, medical interventions: induction, vacuum delivery, emergency cesarean section, etc.) or if your baby is obviously not feeling well (pain with certain movements, a preferred position, excessive crying, breastfeeding problems, etc.), we recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible.
Are there no urgent complaints? Then it’s fine to schedule an appointment when your baby is about 4 weeks old. By then, you will already have a good understanding of your baby’s rhythm (sleep habits, feeding, bowel movements), and any potential loss of movement will be very noticeable.
Even after these 4 weeks, you can bring your newborn for treatment or a check-up at any time. Issues such as motor development delays, teething pain, or simply the feeling that your baby should be checked are good reasons to schedule an appointment.
Hast Du Fragen zu unserem Angebot und wünschst Dir einen Termin?
Kontaktiere uns gerne telefonisch. Wir besprechen mit Dir, wie wir Dich oder Dein Kind am besten unterstützen können.
Do you have any questions
and would you like an appointment?
Contact us by phone. We would be happy to discuss with you how we can support you or your child.