Cranial Osteopathy - What To Expect?

[GeorginaA]

I currently have an almost 3-week-old incredible non-sleeping baby and having tried almost everything else am considering cranial osteopathy. As I know next to nothing about it, I was hoping to pick the collective Mumsnet brain and find out more about it and your experiences. We haven't got much money to spare, and it does look expensive - really can't afford to throw money at it if it's going to be a waste of time.

Anyway, here are my questions:

Approximately how expensive is a session and how many sessions would I be expected to have?

What's the safety aspects like? Are there any potential side effects? Risks?

How do I find a good cranial osteopath in my area (Worcester)? What sort of questions should I be asking when I make the appointment?

Is it likely to help daytime sleeplessness in a newborn?

Thanks in advance.

Hi GeorginaA

This link might be of interest, i was put in touch with them by the most incredible CO who has been helping me unravel and improve my own system, and is now helping me with the baby i'm carrying too. I really wish my mum had known. Hope it helps your decision...
Osteopathic Centre for Children

i came in seach of this forum to see if there is anything on headaches and pretalking children. this discussion about CO has made me decide to seek it out here in the hague. DD (as you like to refer to our shining wits) is 1 and 2 weeks. On her birthday she really got into walking, we got her a trolley to learn with and that was it, she is now walking one handed, her posture is appalling.

I have noticed over the last two weeks that she is always waking up grumpy (not normal) and her back is very stiff. she is constantly slapping her head. if she engages with a game or toy, she forgets about it but as soon as her concentration lapses she goes back to being grumpy.

my theory is that her bad posture, is giving her back pain that is refering to her head. obviously there is nothing i can do about her posture until she learns to walk and talk, by which time her back will be relaxed and fluid again so with that, the head aches, if that's what is going on, will also disappear.

Have any of you guys noticed stiff backs and necks during this period, have you noticed how a pre-talking baby communicates head pain.
Is there another explanation
are there any alternatives to CO (not cos i'm scared just, are there any alternatives?)

luvs
monkey

great to know what to expect - am taking dd (7wks) for first co session this friday

she is colicky and windy, doesn't sleep well and cries a lot - here's hoping for a good result

Am interested in this thread as my dd appears to be unable to sleep for any longer than 40 mins during the day, and for 3 hours at night.

She's 8 months old now and has been doing this since she was 4 months old. I've tried most things to help her learn to sleep longer....so I'm now starting to think that something physical might be preventing her from sleeping more deeply.

Who else has had any experience of osteopathy for an older baby?

Thanks in advance

Thanks for the information, I definitively would like to have their details. Actually, DS is a good sleeper and never had colic but because the fontanelle closed in record time and the delivery lasted for 27 hours including at least 10m of doctor pulling him with a ventose, I would like to have him checked, specially now that is consistently hitting his head against the cot bars every night. I also would like to be checked, I'm having migraines twice a wek and they normally start with an upper neck dicomfort. Do you think cranial ostheopathy could help?

Fodders I have definately - Its is harder when theya re mobile I must say but It still works

smonkey _ I would make an appoiuntment - nothing ventured?

Hmm... he's been a bit more settled today... still not great, but more manageable. May be down to the CO? Fingers crossed anyway...

Aero - how did your second treatment go? Ds2 slept through the whole manipulation this time round - much less stressful! Apparently the regression after a few good days is common after the first session - osteopath is confident that it's a good sign the cranial osteopathy has improved and will continue to improve things.

Hoping for 3-4 good days & nights this week!! Booked up again for next Tuesday.

here is some good information about cranial osteopathy.

best wishes
rosie

Sorry GeorinaA - have just seen this. Ds2 was quite stressed by this treatment, but is a much more settled and less windy baby as a result. He's also feeding better and draining the breast properly more often meaning less problems for me regarding duct blockages. All in all, he seems much happier. Did I forget to mention he's also slept much better through the night. We seem to have turned a corner. Wish I'd gone ages ago but thought the colic would have disappeared by 12 weeks - not so. He's 21 weeks now and doing great. Still on breast milk only and no itention of introducing food for a while yet. Have another session next Tues also.

Oops - sorry - meant GeorginaA!!!

I've been reading some of your stories on Cranial osteopaths and am willing to give it a try, but not sure if it will work.
A friend has suggested this site to me as she had seen something about unsettled screaming babies and Cranial osteopaths being the treatment.
I have a screaming unsettled 6 month old,and she has been like this since she was born. She was born really quickly and early at 35 weeks. I am looking for some advice and can anyone recommend a good one in Bridgend/Cardiff area.

Thanks

Hi Hainzy
Lots of mums here have had success with Cranial for their babies.
These people do cranial osteopathy and as they are on the official register of osteopaths they are probably good.
Good luck.

Thanks will give it a try. Will try anything at the moment.