Being born is probably one of the most stressful times in a baby’s life. Considerable force comes to bear from the contracting uterus as the baby passes down the birth canal, and Nature allows the soft bones of the baby’s head to overlap so it can travel through the mother’s pelvis. This process is called moulding, which is usually released naturally after birth by suckling and crying.

In a number of cases however some compressive strain patterns are retained and can be further compounded by the disproportionate amount of time some babies now spend lying on their back and by toddler falls. Difficult labours, abnormal lie during pregnancy and the use of intervention such as forceps and ventouse are all factors in the child retaining abnormal stress and strain throughout the body. Likewise, abnormal presentations, whether face first, or breech or otherwise, bring their own strain patterns which may only resolve fully with the help of osteopathic treatment.

In the case of caesarean section, if the mother initially goes into labour the pressure on the baby's head and body can be enormous, especially if labour continues for some time before the decision is taken to operate. Elective caesareans bring different problems, as here the child has not undergone the compression/decompression and the normal physiological stimuli that nature intended.

Babies are surviving premature birth at much younger ages nowadays, and osteopathic treatment can be beneficial in helping them recover from some of the problems that arise.  It can also help prevent distortion of the soft immature cranial bones.