Has anyone taken their newborn (or older baby) in for craniosacral therapy? My lactation consultant just referred us for help with latching issues. I'd love to hear experiences if anyone has them!
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Yes! I was not a believer in this and was so hesitant to take DD to it (and pay for it). But it changed our lives. Like majorly. I wasn't able to nurse DD at all and from the first session at 7 weeks old, she nursed until 14 months (except for the feedings when she was in daycare).
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@Tidybee: Just the type of story I wanted to hear
It sounds a little hokey to me, but I'm willing to try it if it will work!
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Yeah I thought the same thing. We had major latching issues. DD was a biter and a chewer and didn't suck. Turns out she had basically TMJ and had tons of tightness in her neck and jaw. Her head was always turned to one side and she would never open her mouth wide. I was so frustrated when the lac consultants would say to shove my nipple in when her mouth opened. It hardly ever did!
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There has been at least one infant who has died because of craniosacral therapy: http://anaximperator.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/infant-dies-after-craniosacral-therapy/
Here is a PDF of a scientific review of it: http://faculty.une.edu/com/shartman/sram.pdf
In conclusion, there is little science in any aspect of cranial osteopathy:
1. there is no scientific support for major elements of PRM;
2. the only publication purporting to show diagnostic reliability with sufficient detail to permit evaluation is deeply flawed and stands alone against five other reports that show reliabilities of essentially zero; and
3. there is no scientific evidence of treatment efficacy. -
@Skadi: please refrain from trying to scare me. I asked if anyone had a firsthand account, not for Googled "research"
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@Mrs.Someone: no experience with infants, but a few of my clients (adults) had received craniosacral therapy and really benefited. Super important to find a highly qualified therapist, obviously. I think it's so interesting that your LC referred you! Going to look into this myself, for career purposes
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@Synchronicity: I found some info about it on the La Leche site too. My LC did a little bit of CST at our first meeting, and it seemed like he loosened up a little bit, so I think its definitely worth the effort. She comes highly recommended, so I assume the people she recommends are good too.
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My DD2 got it at 5 weeks. We should have gone back for more sessions, because it helped immensely. I was shocked. Although she was colicky until 6 months, the craniosachral therapy helped her movement and seemed to make her less tense, and helped our nursing relationship tremendously.
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@Mrs.Someone: Yes, my son went once a week for quite a while as a newborn. He only wanted to turn his head to one side and he did it so much that the side of his head got flat. With breastfeeding he only wanted to latch one to one side. It was an extremely gentle treatment and I could never ever see how it could injury a baby. Just find someone thats well recommended in your town.
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@Mrs.Someone: that's awesome! If you choose to go forward, I hope it helps you guys!
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@Seattlemom: Great! Would you mind walling me who you went to see? I'm in Seattle too and wouldn't mind having a backup provider. Thanks!
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Yes, both of my kids had it and it helped tremendously! Highly recommend.
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@Mrs.Someone: Renee Beebe, IBCLC does it in Seattle. So does Michael Hahn. Both wonderful (both have worked on my own kids).
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@erinpye: Actually, those are the two I'm seeing!
Glad you had good luck with them.
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@Skadi: that case doesn't sound like craniosachral therapy that was provided correctly at all. With infants, it's such light touches, you watch and wonder if anything is even actually being done, no forced manipulation of any kind, whatsoever. The article mentions deep bending and that the baby cried- that has never ever happened in my experience with 2 CST providers. They don't do any deep bending, and they won't even work on a child who cries sitting in their lap, because they respect the child's comfort first. They also have only worked on my kids while holding them in their arms, on their laps, not on a mat. The importance is in finding someone qualified and skilled with infants. There are horrible stories to be googled, and bad providers to be found, of all kinds. I wouldn't say that story is the norm.
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@Mrs.Someone: awesome! My husband even saw Michael after being a huge skeptic, and then seeing what a difference 2 sessions made in our daughter. He's great- you'll love him.
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Oh, it made a huge difference! Life changing! My LO had very tight head, neck, and jaw muscles due to birth trauma, and also had a tongue tie and lip tie. We had craniosacral therapy post-tie revision, and it was like having a different baby afterward. He was so much happier, and could latch 100% better. We were able to wean him off Zantac because a poor latch was the root of his reflux. I highly recommend it. I hope it helps your LO!
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Yay, love hearing all these positive stories
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Not with a baby. But it has been life changing for me personally and I would not hesitate to take my future baby. It was what moved me out of the very persistent low back pain I had for years.
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We did the cst after the tongue tie revision. It definitely made my little piranha loosen her latch a bit and I think she had a better latch after!
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Just googled it. I have a very tight neck, jaw and shoulders. I'd be interested in trying something like that! We did PT for M's torticollis but I would have tried this!
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@ladybee: I was once told by a massage therapist that I have the tightest neck he's ever worked on, so maybe I should try it myself too!
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@Mrs.Someone: we also got ours by Renee Beebe. Two thumbs up!
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@Mrs.Someone: so my story isn't a super positive one, but not a terrible one, either. I took my LO to 4 sessions when she was an infant after having her lip and tongue ties clipped and ultimately, it didn't help her BF, but it didn't hurt her or anything. It just hurt my wallet.
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I took my son to a CS therapist when we were having issues with his sleep, I didn't notice a huge difference, but honestly, at that point, we were a little on the late side to begin.
This kind of thing is quite "huge" in Europe, the sessions were covered by our supplemental insurance.
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@Mrs.Someone: We had it done on my LO when she was 6 weeks old. I'm not sure if it changed our lives, but it definitely helped.
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Coming back to this today to share results. After 2 sessions, I'm able to nurse almost completely without the shield! Had some trouble on my right side overnight, but we'll keep at it. So I'm a believer in CST now
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@Mrs.Someone: that's awesome news!
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@Mrs.Someone: I'm so happy!
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Bumping! Has anyone had experience with craniosacral therapy and torticollis and shallow latches? Did it work to correct both? Thanks!
It sounds a little hokey to me, but I'm willing to try it if it will work!
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