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Resources
The muscles, nerves, bones and other structures of the baby must all work together smoothly for the baby to latch well, take in the right amount of milk, and mom to be comfortable. Babies are meant to eat and it is not supposed to be painful to mom.
If mom or baby are not happy with some aspect of breastfeeding, I will look to baby for any of these signs that some bodywork might be useful, even helpful.
The craniosacral therapist (CST), osteopaths or chiropractors who work on babies need to be some of the best, most experienced practitioners. They use a very light touch, like testing a peach for ripeness. I recently heard it described: "watching a craniosacral session is like watching grass grow." The CST feels the rhythm of the cerebral spinal fluid, like feeling a pulse, and finds any areas where the flow is not smooth.
There are other programs for helping with these issues. For example:
Beckman Oral Motor Therapy, http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com
Svetlana Masgutova Reflex Therapy http://masgutovamethod.com,
Rhythmic Movement Therapy http://www.rhythmicmovement.com
Many of the therapists use a mixture of various therapeutic models as needed for the baby they are helping. You may find you need 3-4 sessions, but maybe more.
Listed below are some local practitioners. There are many others too that someone you know might recommend to you. Call someone on the list, listen to your gut response and choose who might be best for you and your baby. If it doesn't feel right you can always try someone else. We are fortunate to have many excellent practitioners in our area.
Some will make house calls for infants.
*Michelle Selber, MOT,, OTR/L 408-316-2292 * Jennifer Jeffcoat 408-891-3751
*Susan Hall CST 650-323-6518 Mindfulways.org
*Willow Dea OT, 650-279-1084 * Neta Sivan-Shani , Acupuncture
*Patricia Reber-Weltz, DO 650-482-9898 408-475-3787
*Laura Woodrow, DO 650-681-4422 *Viji Natarajan 858-344-7704 Divine Journey.org
*Sylvia Boyd PT, IBCLC, LCCE 510-538-3679 * Launa Rapa, DC 408-371-7004
*Robyn Scherr CST 927-788-9298 *Yvonne Bannister 831-636-6781
*Marilyn Moss DC 408-693-8533
Dafna Golan Carbone *Jennie Walker @In-Health Clinic
www.dafnagolan.com plus Light and.Joy 408-357-0295
See http://www.bayareabirthinfo.org for more resources and listings.
- www.craniosacraltherapy.org. General information about what it is.
- www.upledger.com Find a therapist
- YouTube video of a good session with a baby to see what it looks like: http://youtu.be/b_uZbwTuZaQ "Overview of Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy" by Touch for Wellbeing
- http://www.carolgray.com/carolgray/Craniosacral_Therapy_for_Infants_and_Children.html
- http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/cst/ is a page of links to many of my favorite articles explaining the value of bodywork for babies.
The muscles, nerves, bones and other structures of the baby must all work together smoothly for the baby to latch well, take in the right amount of milk, and mom to be comfortable. Babies are meant to eat and it is not supposed to be painful to mom.
If mom or baby are not happy with some aspect of breastfeeding, I will look to baby for any of these signs that some bodywork might be useful, even helpful.
- Asymmetry in face, neck (torticollis),tongue, mouth, shoulders, arms and legs
- Lump on head or neck.
- Vacuum or forceps used at birth.
- Frustration latching with proper instinctive cues, wants to latch but "can't " do so.
- A baby whose body seems tense, stiff: arms often bent, legs stiff, neck isn't mobile, baby prefers to look to one side.
- Roof of baby's mouth doesn't "fit" mom's nipple, gaps, lips don't seal around breast.
- Mom is unable to relieve her pain.
- Baby clenches jaw.
- Tongue tie and / or Lip tie. Many practitioners suggest bodywork first, release with laser or snipping second, followed by more bodywork to help baby learn to use mouth correctly now that it isn't tethered, like physical therapy after orthopedic surgery.
The craniosacral therapist (CST), osteopaths or chiropractors who work on babies need to be some of the best, most experienced practitioners. They use a very light touch, like testing a peach for ripeness. I recently heard it described: "watching a craniosacral session is like watching grass grow." The CST feels the rhythm of the cerebral spinal fluid, like feeling a pulse, and finds any areas where the flow is not smooth.
There are other programs for helping with these issues. For example:
Beckman Oral Motor Therapy, http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com
Svetlana Masgutova Reflex Therapy http://masgutovamethod.com,
Rhythmic Movement Therapy http://www.rhythmicmovement.com
Many of the therapists use a mixture of various therapeutic models as needed for the baby they are helping. You may find you need 3-4 sessions, but maybe more.
Listed below are some local practitioners. There are many others too that someone you know might recommend to you. Call someone on the list, listen to your gut response and choose who might be best for you and your baby. If it doesn't feel right you can always try someone else. We are fortunate to have many excellent practitioners in our area.
Some will make house calls for infants.
*Michelle Selber, MOT,, OTR/L 408-316-2292 * Jennifer Jeffcoat 408-891-3751
*Susan Hall CST 650-323-6518 Mindfulways.org
*Willow Dea OT, 650-279-1084 * Neta Sivan-Shani , Acupuncture
*Patricia Reber-Weltz, DO 650-482-9898 408-475-3787
*Laura Woodrow, DO 650-681-4422 *Viji Natarajan 858-344-7704 Divine Journey.org
*Sylvia Boyd PT, IBCLC, LCCE 510-538-3679 * Launa Rapa, DC 408-371-7004
*Robyn Scherr CST 927-788-9298 *Yvonne Bannister 831-636-6781
*Marilyn Moss DC 408-693-8533
Dafna Golan Carbone *Jennie Walker @In-Health Clinic
www.dafnagolan.com plus Light and.Joy 408-357-0295
See http://www.bayareabirthinfo.org for more resources and listings.
