When I saw the cranio-osteopath (CO) she said that a lot of cases are picked up early in breast fed babies because parents will seek support in the first few months for feeding difficulties and most lactation consultants are away of how neck issues can affect feeding so can refer as appropriate.
When it comes to bottle fed children the CO told me that it tends not to be picked up until they’re 4+ years when parents start noticing their child has a tendency to hold their head in one position, or it’s slightly twisted towards one shoulder. She said although parents can notice it by just looking at the child, some notice it when they are looking at photos of the child and see the same kind of stance in every photo. It’s really interesting.
She said that the reason it’s so prevalent in section births (especially emergency ones) because the surgeons have to grab the baby by it’s head and twist it slightly to get the baby out which in turn can cause some minor damage to the neck muscles and tissues.
With my baby he couldn’t turn his head probably over his right shoulder which meant when I was breastfeeding him on the right side he couldn’t put his head in the right position to be face on to the breast so he couldn’t get an effective seal and therefore was dribbling milk out his mouth all the time during the feed - I had to have muslins and towels tucked down the side of me if I fed him on the right side.
After his very first session he fed perfectly after 9 weeks of having that problem. It was phenomenal.
I was so suspicious at first and though it was probably going to be a bit ‘woo’ but she was amazing and gave me really good explanations of what she was doing and why.
I’m sure you have, but just make sure the companies you are contacting are cranio-osteopaths, not just osteopaths, and also that they have done the extra training to work with babies.