Craniosacral Therapy for Babies & Beyond

by Kara Spencer, LMT, CD, www.MaiaHealingArts.com 

Pregnant women, infants, and children can powerfully benefit from the nurturing  results of Craniosacral Therapy. Treating babies is the first few days, weeks, and months of their life can prevent a multitude of health conditions in later life, as well as treat a variety of common newborn concerns.

CranioSacral Therapy is a very gentle and profound bodywork modality that is beneficial for releasing restrictions in the body and balancing the central nervous system. Craniosacral Therapy can be deeply healing physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Manifesting harmony within the interconnected fluid craniosacral network of tissues at the core of the body improves wellbeing. Craniosacral can treat reflux, colic, breastfeeding issues, headaches, ADHD, learning disorders, post-traumatic stress, chronic neck and back pain, birth trauma, delayed mobility, neurological conditions, and more.

Craniosacral Therapy uses subtle and specific techniques to alleviate tension in the membranes and connective tissue surrounding the central nervous system and to balance the rhythmic flow of the craniosacral fluid within this interconnected core network. The therapist assesses the body for restrictions and uses a very light touch to release the tension and encourage expansion, mobility, and healing.

Craniosacral effectively creates deep change through gentle touch by addressing issues at their source. In craniosacral therapy the practitioner uses no more pressure than 5 grams (the amount needed to hold a nickel) to assess, resolve, and prevent restrictions in the body.

CranioSacral Therapy is very relaxing and is performed with the client wearing all their clothes while lying on a massage table. Infants may be treated in the parents or therapist's arms or on a soft surface. Recipients report feeling increases well-being, increased calm, increased mobility, and mental clarity after Craniosacral Therapy sessions. I believe that people need to receive bodywork less with craniosacral because it actually resolves issues at the core.

Craniosacral therapy assists the pregnant women along her journey into mothering through releasing restrictions in the body and pelvis to co-create an optimal birthing experience. During pregnancy, one of the primary focuses is to release restrictions in the pelvis to resolve back and hip pain and tension, and to prepare for an optimal labor and birth, including promoting optimal fetal positioning. Craniosacral bodywork assists the baby in the womb for an optimal labor, birth, and bonding.

Newborns and babies receiving craniosacral often experience improvement from colic, reflux, digestion, fussiness, hyperkinetic behavior, breastfeeding problems, and more. Craniosacral for infants optimizes the breastfeeding relationship through releasing restrictions the baby experienced being born. This work assists babies in releasing restrictive patterns in the body before they become issues later in life, thus preventing disease and trauma later in life. 

AquaCranial founder Rebecca Goff writes that the only time she has seen newborns without any craniosacral restrictions is when the mother gave birth squatting in water. I dream of a day when all midwives, obstetricians, and pediatricians are trained in Craniosacral Therapy and can provide this gentle and beautiful work to newborns within hours of their birth. I imagine that rates of SIDS, colic, autism, and more would plummet while breastfeeding success and contented babies would be on a steep rise!

Comments

[tiffany]

I would like to know more about the authors take on the relationship between birth and autism and how it is that craniosacrol therapy and waterbirth can prevent autism. Is there any reserch you can site on the relationship between the two?

[Birth Ecology Project]

For research on the effects of craniosacral therapy and autism I refer to Dr. John Upledger and the research of the Upledger Institute http://upledger.com/ on the posititive effects of craniosacral therapy for autistic children. I recommend his book: CranioSacral Therapy: The Touchstone for Natural Healing. Here's also an article - http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13656

Waterbirth babies also have less restrictions in their craniosacral systems upon being born, thus creating a healthier beginning for their life, potentially preventing birth trauma or conditions that could cause restrictions and dysfunction with their nervous systems later in life.

However, autism is such a complex condition, and we are barely scratching the surface learning how and why so many children are experiencing autism.

[laurie]

Hi;
I would also recommend researching links between autism and vaccinations.
I'm also a c-s therapist,but of the Biodynamic style,and while it is true that babies with water births have less restrictions,I've seen babies from all types of births benefit from c-s therapy. [and i've also seen c-section babies recovering nicely with or without c-s therapy,as babies have tremendous resources and the human system is meant to self-regulate,at best,which is why c-s is so helpful/effective: it helps the system remember how to do this. If an infant or young child's system is having difficulty doing so,c-s therapy is excellent!] I'm also a mom,and completed my two year training while pregnant/gave birth; my son benefitted immensely from post birth work with my teacher. How? He never had colic,sleep issues,has never had an ear infection,almost never sick,etc.People say we are lucky,but I know it is more than luck. C-S therapists are trained to see subtlety,as well,which is something not often practiced in medicine/healing. It can take awhile for parents to begin to sense the craniosacral system with themselves or their children. Just my two cents,sorry this is long. Great site! Love the name,too(:

[tiffany]

I am a mama to a sweet little Autistic boy who sees Kara every week for CranioSacral Therapy, every other week we have the sessions in the pool. I have learned so much since that first post in April and my son's condition has improved emensly! Kara is a wonderful healer and she has taught us all much during their sessions, including how to sing! The changes in my son are so beautiful. Through Cranio Sacral Therapy we have seen his vocabulary, interest in speaking altogether, and recognition explode, he has compleatly stopped hitting himself and bashing his head on things, his digestive problems have improved, he is more responsive to his name and takes in his surroundings. He also sleeps better and eats more! He started growing again after not gaining anything for a year, the circles under his little eyes have dissapeared, he's happier and calmer, he's taller and his balence is much better so he falls down less and is more cautious, he is more affectionate and loving, I could go on....it's wonderful to find something that is actually helping and healing my son. I wish more people knew how much this can help all children, but particularly those who are Autistic. Doctors would have me put my child on harmful medications to do what Kara does in an hour each week. We are so blessed to have been refered to her!