To be dubious about cranial osteopath

[Peppery123]

Been struggling with my now 16 week old. honestly never had this with first two. she has periods of uncontrollable crying, where nothing soothes her n I just dont know what to do so decided to try cranial osteopathy! (literally tried everything else so why not!)
cranial osteopath has said she feels tension on chest and jaw..she suspects a tongue tie. im so confused. as she was checked for a tongue tie just after I gave birth as my middle one had this so its the first thing I asked. and by a midwife. also if theres tension in her chest, shouldnt she be seen by a specialist? she was seen by GP last week who said she was fine, only suspected a bit of constipation. Im just so exhausted by this..I thought she had colic but she is now 4 months and its even worse! suspected silent reflux - medication - no improvement. changed formula- no improvement.
Its honestly like shes in pain n I have no idea what to do :(
Osteopath said probiotics but Im just so worried this is going to cause her more upset.

Cranial osteopathy is woo and dangerous for babies. Ignore it

Go back to basics - feeding sleeping etc. And ask the health visitor again.

There's no evidence at all to show that CO is effective. So no I wouldn't be wasting my money on it.

It is an alternative medicine with no basis in science. God knows what the training course to become a practitioner is like - I’d love to know. Probably a bit like the training course for how to become a psychic.
I’d stick to the professionals if I were you.

And regarding tongue tie, I'd get some advice from a breastfeeding support worker if you can. That's who diagnosed my eldest DC. My youngest DC was diagnosed with it by a midwife specialising in BF before I was discharged post-partum. In both cases, they'd been checked by paediatricians and by the ward midwives, who'd failed to identify it.

I certainly wouldn't be trusting my pets' health with a person unqualified in medicine, so if I were you I wouldn't want to risk my baby. Speak to somebody medically qualified.

Unfortunately Cranial Osteopathy is woo.

But tongue tie can be easily missed, my youngest was checked multiple times in NICU and discharged as no TT, then she had a private assessment with huge posterior TT and high palate. I'd get your baby checked properly for TT and ditch the witch doctor

We went to one after DC1 was born - was a similar baby to yours - it’s so draining you’ll try anything.

However - I’m not sure I would’ve taken any advice such as what they’ve indicated to you. They just did the delicate manipulation which resulted in DC1 doing a massive poo. I wouldn’t use one again.

It’s called “alternative medicine” because once it has been proved to work it is just called “medicine”.

You need to go back to a real HCP and get looked at again.

Cows milk protein allergy/uncomfortable?

It was all the rage when dd1 was born and I took her along because she was a nightmare baby and I didn't know any better. It consisted of someone holding their hands next to my baby's head and charging me a huge amount of money. Unsurprisingly, it made bugger all difference. Was a complete con. Am still cross I was such a muggins 16 years later.

Wow I didn't expect all negative responses for CO. I actually went ahead with it because of success stories on MN!! I am very dubious though so I am totally understanding everyones responses.

If it is CMPA. wouldnt comfort milk be betger for her? Switched her to it on weekend..No improvement yet

Osteopathy is total nonsense. There is some limited evidence that probiotics may reduce the risk of diarrhoea in children who are in hospital on antibiotics, but no evidence to support any other health claims. Ignore, go to your GP and ask about problems like reflux (might need different treatment than the one you tried), cow's milk protein allergy, other allergies etc. Maybe get yourself some ear plugs or headphones so you can comfort her without getting stressed by her crying? Good luck.

My little dude had silent reflux and we waited and waited for the "colic" to disappear, then the very day we started with formula thickener the 3-hour crying sessions stopped. I felt so bad I hadn't done anything before then! I have every sympathy for you, it's horrible!
Could it be worth trying something else for reflux? Some things work better for some babies than others so could you go back to the HV/GP and ask for something else to try?

I'm so glad I've seen this as I thought CO was like adult osteopathy, based in science.

Osteopathy for adults can be great, made my back so much better. For children, don't think it does any harm, not sure it makes much difference though.

My lo had similar. At 3 months screaming every night with a rock hard stomach. She was under the care of specialist doctors etc because of complications at birth. No one knew what was wrong. She was seen by an osteopath who is especially trained in small babies - never had the same issue again

Comfort milk won't help CMPA. She needs a trial of a prescribed hydrolysed formula for the GP

Comfort milk still contains cow protein, it is only the lactose that is slightly more broken down in most comfort milks.

I went through the exact same thing (my son is same age) and eventually discovered he had CMPA and silent reflux (as a consequence of the allergy), medication alone won't help without a change to prescription formula containing no cow protein (he is on neocate). I was told that it would take 4 weeks for the cow protein to be fully out of his system before the new formula would show full benefit, this was true, I thought it would never improve but he is fantastic now, no screaming or fussing at all!

We were prescribed a reflux medication, a thickener for the prescription milk and neocate formula. Once you get the combination right it is such a relief!

Just be aware that it may take a trial of a few formulas before you find the right one. I hope it settles for you soon!

What are her poos like?

For children, don't think it does any harm, not sure it makes much difference though

It can do if they try and manipulate the spine / neck

Im being told by HV, GP and even friends and family that she is now 4 months. "It will go away" "her stomach will mature" "start weaning she may not agree with milk"
Just exhausted by it. I feel shes been on too mamy types of formulas and meds now so not sure what to do. I will have to go back to the GP again and have the same argument

@MrsPatrickDempsey
Tbh her poos were always fine..standard mustard bitty ones checked by the HV even. Its only since we started all the meds gaviscon, thickners and new formulas her poo changed i.e more mucousy and now its all green and mushy since her starting the comfort milk.

Breastfeeding support worker picked up DD tongue tie weeks after birth. We were kept in for a week after birth due to jaundice.
DD reacted badly to bottle milk (top ups on days out etc) and had a protruding belly button (hernia?). Cranial Osteopath worked wonders! Our fantastic Cranial Osteopath soothed DD, talked me through the tensions and how they occurred etc. A few visits and her belly button was an innie, cries etc reduced, milk issues addressed (lactose intolerant 🙄 to this day) and a much happier, chilled baby (for the most part - still a cute little madam). I have seen it work. Go with it a few more visits and if no improvement try something else.

@Dugi3
Can I ask what symptomps your ds had? No one has suggested this at all to me :( maybe im missing something

CMPA require prescribed formula. Please read up on it and see if you think it could be this and push to see a paediatrician. Your baby shouldn’t be in discomfort