Osteopathy in babies: pointless or useful?
There has been a boom for a few years: more and more new parents are taking their babies or toddlers to an osteopath. But does that really make sense or is it rather pointless? You can read my thoughts and my opinion as a new mother in this article.
The first few weeks and months with my son were wonderful, but at the same time a pretty nerve-wracking time. He cried a lot, especially in the evenings. Sometimes what feels like an eternity. Even breastfeeding didn’t always go smoothly. My boyfriend and I – inexperienced “freshman” parents who had pored over tons of advice before the birth – were helpless to the point of despair. What was wrong with our little baby? Why wasn’t he a blissfully happy child?
The osteopath, your savior in helplessness!?
Our pediatrician was completely unimpressed by our descriptions. With a slight smile on his face, he simply explained to us that this was completely normal and could even get worse. Even the advisors let us down. In my retraining course, however, I pricked up my ears. A mother happily shared that she had taken her daughter to an osteopath and that her baby was much more balanced since the treatment. Before, it would have cried a lot and stretched itself out. Other mothers told me about similarly positive experiences.
Again and again I heard that the infant is exposed to strong forces during pregnancy and birth. The narrowness in the birth canal can also lead to the skull bones or cervical vertebrae being displaced ( KISS syndrome ). The consequences are said to be manifold and are often expressed in newborns through crying, sleep and digestive disorders or physical malpositions. The “gentle”, holistic treatment of an osteopath using only the strength of his hands should bring the desired help. A “check-up” shortly after birth is apparently not that unusual.
I began to ponder: the birth of the mini man took a very long time, after 27 hours it finally ended on my stomach with the help of forceps and a midwife. Is that really why he cried so much? Have I been a bad mother for not seeing an osteopath with him before?
What is osteopathy actually?
Osteopathy is a so-called holistic method of medicine, which was developed almost 100 years ago by the American doctor Dr. Andrew Taylor Still was developed. In order to understand the method, one can imagine the human body as if bones, muscles, tendons, nerve tracts, blood and lymphatic vessels were connected to one another like small gears. Disorders in the structure of muscles, joints and ligaments negatively affect the functioning of organs and vice versa. So-called fascia, wafer-thin skins of connective tissue, enclose the individual muscles and organs. Together they form a dense network that also connects distant parts of the body. If the interaction is disturbed at one point, complaints can occur at a completely different point, the cogs no longer mesh.
The osteopath works exclusively with his hands during the treatment. The use of medication or psychological interviewing are essentially not part of it.
Osteopaths recommend treatment for:
- Disorders in the musculoskeletal system, eg spinal asymmetry, torticollis, skull asymmetry, poor posture, scoliosis and hip dysplasia
- Neurological abnormalities , e.g. central coordination disorder, tone disorder, movement disorders, epilepsy
- Digestive disorders , e.g. colic, increased spitting, growth disorders and being underweight, constipation (constipation)
- Respiratory diseases , chronic otitis media
- Concentration disorders , ADHD, ADD, behavioral disorders and learning disorders
- Headache migraine
- crying children
- premature birth and cesarean section
- sleep problems
How does the osteopathic treatment work?
An osteopathic treatment lasts an average of 50 minutes and costs around 90 euros on average. After a detailed examination of the medical history, the osteopath will diagnose and treat you exclusively with your hands. During the examination, he feels the human tissue layer by layer. In this way, the osteopath detects movement restrictions and tension, which he treats with special techniques developed for osteopathy. An improvement in symptoms should usually be noted after four osteopathic treatments. However, the exact course depends on each patient individually.
Make sure you are a member of an osteopathic association
Unlike a conventional doctor, the osteopath relies exclusively on gentle treatment methods and makes use of the body’s self-healing powers. This makes it particularly attractive for parents with small children. But caution is advised. Because the professional title of osteopath is still not protected in Germany. In short: anyone can call themselves that.
Most osteopaths are alternative practitioners, physiotherapists or doctors with additional training. But the type and duration of training can vary greatly. The range of expertise is therefore large. In addition, there are still no high-quality studies that prove the effectiveness of osteopathic treatment in infants and children. This is also the reason why the health insurance companies usually only partially cover the costs of a treatment.
Therefore, it is essential that you find out in advance which osteopath in your area has proof of a completed training course of at least 1350 hours of instruction. In addition, he or she should be a member of an osteopathic association. Many health insurance companies also require this before the costs are taken over proportionately. You can find detailed information on this on the website of the Association of Free Osteopaths eV . You can also find a list of therapists with qualified osteopaths here .
Is osteopathy a must in babies?
And now? The positive experiences of my mum clique contrasted with numerous critical voices. For us, the question of whether or not we should take our baby to an osteopath finally resolved itself. Because he became more and more relaxed, drank well and slept better. It is probably provocative to say that a similar effect can be observed in the majority of all new families – with or without an osteopath.
At the same time, I do not want to deny that the treatment has had visible success in many infants and children; also on the parents. Because unlike in countless pediatric practices, an osteopath takes time for the conversation. He listens to their worries and fears. Exactly what many insecure and helpless parents often urgently need in my opinion.
It is important to remain critical. First talk to your pediatrician about existing problems. If he cannot help you or even recommends an osteopath himself, inform yourself fundamentally about the background of the person. Make sure he specializes in treating young children. You can find a list of members on the homepage of the children’s osteopaths . It is also advisable to contact the child’s health insurance company beforehand and clarify what costs they will ultimately cover. Finally, always pay attention to your gut feeling, dear moms!