Cranial osteopathy

[booklover164]

Does anyone have any experience of cranial osteopathy? I'm looking at getting some for my DS who is 2 weeks old and suffering from awful reflux. Dr won't prescribe anything as he's feeding well and putting on weight but I hate seeing him in so much pain. Thank you

I took my baby when she was 6 weeks old because I was desperate. The woman I saw was excellent and had trained at the Osteopathy Centre for Children in London. We had two sessions and I did see an improvement after that, but it could have just been normal development.

Overall I would recommend it, but go to someone reputable and suitably qualified osteopath. Also, don't go expecting miracles - the improvement was there but it was subtle to begin with.

It’s magical unscientific guff.

Remind your GP about silent reflux, and request something to help.

@PaddyF0dder

It’s magical unscientific guff.

This. People who say it works often go to people who do a range of techniques including the woo side but mostly people claim an improvement when actually their baby would have just improved over time anyway.

My advice is go to a peadeatric physiotherapist if you suspect any trauma from birth. My boy had torticollis and no amount of waving a hand on top of their head was going to correct that. He needed proper muscle stretches.

Fwiw, reflux is likely to be cmpa

I think cranial osteopathy is just a subset of osteopathy. My DS had a session when he was a few weeks old which helped him open his jaw better to latch, and has had a few sessions recently which may or may not have helped drain his glue ear, as his hearing test improved but he’s also had a long spell with fewer colds.

I go myself too every now and then for help with back pain. I agree it might be a total waste of money, but it certainly does no harm, and helps my back, whether you want to call that placebo or not.

Cranial isn’t waving a hand about near your body, that’s reiki. I think cranial is worth a go but I would definitely be asking for a second opinion from another GP. Babies can end up with an ulcer from reflux, and as you’ve said it’s horrible for them to be in pain. I also agree with considering cows milk protein intolerance or allergy. What are his nappies like? Does he have any skin problems? If you’re breast feeding I’d cut out all dairy very strictly for 2 weeks.

Thanks for the replies. I plan on going back to the gp if it's no better next week. I did initially think cmpa but he isn't actually showing any symptoms of it apart from the reflux. His nappies are normal for a BF baby and he has a bit of baby acne but my first born had that too for the first few weeks of his life. He's a little wheezy but again, I thought that was linked to the reflux.

I took DS to the chiropractor and it definitely helped him, but that was because he struggled to turn his head to the left mainly although he was much more settled after the treatments and it helped his neck movements.
I had him to the GP twice a week for weeks for get him medicated for silent reflux. Eventually we got omeprezole and he was a different baby. He doesn’t have a CMPA but he was premature and reflux is quite common.

For context, mine didn't have CMPA either but was medicated for silent reflux (Gaviscon and Lansoprazole). The birth was traumatic and she had injuries to her face and neck from forceps being applied incorrectly (she was back to back but they didn't realise). The osteopathy helped with the birth trauma more than anything.

It’s controversial about how effective it is but I literally watched it make a difference with 2 week old DS last week. She noted how tight his fists were and how he never took them away from his face. I literally watched his arms and fists unfurl in front of me and he’s stayed nice and relaxed since. She also noted tension in his leg which had mild trauma during labour, something we hadn’t told her. His facial jaw muscle has relaxed and seen an improvement in feeding. He’s still full of wind and refluxy and I’m tempted to try another session. A friend took her 10 week old due to reflux and said she’s like a different child.

I try to remain open minded but was feeling sceptical about it before the session, and DH is a staunch cynic about most things, however we both genuinely saw improvements in DS during and directly after the session so I’m a convert. I’d say it’s worth a try, at worst you might waste a bit of cash, at best you could see an improvement.

It’s twaddle.

There is some NICE guidance on cranial osteopathy which says there is no evidence it works. Personally I think it is exploitation, sending parents who are desparate to pay ££ for a treatment with no scientific basis or evidence whatsoever. It is not the same as osteopathy, there is no standard treatment and it can vary widely from one practitioner to the next. Has your baby been assessed for tongue tie by someone with expert knowledge?

What @PaddyF0dder said.

I saw one for DS2. Cost me ££££. Didn’t work. It’s nonsense I think. I was desperate at the time though.

@Clockstop you don't know what an osteopath is do you?

@Temporarything

I saw one for DS2. Cost me ££££. Didn’t work. It’s nonsense I think. I was desperate at the time though.

All this. I appreciated having someone to listen to me and ask me questions, and I enjoyed having it done to me as it was the first chance I had had to relax in a nice smelling room for ages, but having heard about how great and effective it is I was amazed to discover she didn’t even touch DS’s head really, just hovered vaguely above it in woo fashion. I had thought it had at least some basis in massage or something but no. It had no effect on DS.

Cranial isn’t waving a hand about near your body, that’s reiki
The one I went to was definitely waving her hands about near the head. I know cos she did it to me as well as DS.

I wouldn't be allowing anyone other than a qualified paediatrician to manipulate my baby's head or neck.

I brought DS to one (also qualified physiotherapist) when he was a few weeks old for reflux. Did nothing but cost me a few hundred! I was so desperate at the time though.

What worked was getting him medicated and on hypoallergenic formula. My GP also fobbed me off, then gave me infant gaviscon. But I rang him twice a week to update him on the symptoms and let him know how fabulous our puke-filled days were . He soon got sick of that and gave me a Paedetrician referral. With DC2, he didn’t mess around - gave me a referral straight away without even seeing her .

This scheme to allow health visitors and other HCPs to refer babies for cranial osteopathy may be helpful, @booklover164. The clinic have worked with local GPs to set it up, and are also collaborating with midwives at the local hospital on research. A consultant paediatrician is quoted recommending the intervention here: www.babycheckbath.org/

I was one of those desperate parents who went with baby dd and I really don't know if it was effective. Definitely waving of hands around her. And the odd click of fingers. She improved but not sure if it was normal development

Mine had awful cmpa (is actually anaphylactic to dairy now) and at that age had severe reflux and baby acne. The mucus poos etc all came later. So I would consider cutting dairy out to see if it helps.

[quote Oreservoir]@Clockstop you don't know what an osteopath is do you?[/quote]
Well I forked out for the supposed best cranial osteo in my area and that's what he did. He lightly touched DD head for 40 mins and apparently 'released tension' As pps have said, it's preying on you when you're desparate. I find it shocking that health visitors and lactation consultants have pushed it with me for my other DC when there is no evidence it works.