Dr Lydia Thompson
Osteopath
Lactation Consultant
Mother
Offering comprehensive care for you and your family.
Why Choose M-Health Osteopathy?
Services
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At M Health, we specialize in gentle, non-invasive osteopathic care tailored for newborns and infants. Using soft, hands-on techniques, osteopathy helps support your baby’s development by addressing issues like colic, reflux, sleep disturbances, and musculoskeletal tension from birth.
Our approach is designed to enhance comfort, improve mobility, and promote overall well-being—giving your little one the best start in life.
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How Can Osteopathy Help with Breastfeeding?
Both mothers and babies can benefit from osteopathic treatment to address physical and functional issues that may affect breastfeeding. Here are some ways osteopathy can help:
For Babies:
Improving Latching: Osteopathic techniques can help relieve tension in the baby's head, neck, and mouth, making it easier for them to latch effectively.
Reducing Reflux and Colic: Gentle osteopathic treatment can alleviate digestive discomfort, reducing reflux and colic, which can interfere with breastfeeding.
Addressing Tongue-Tie: Osteopaths can assist in the management of tongue-tie by improving the mobility of the tongue and surrounding structures.
Enhancing Suckling Reflex: By addressing any musculoskeletal restrictions, osteopathy can improve the baby's suckling reflex, making feeding more efficient.
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How Osteopathy Works for Plagiocephaly
Osteopathic treatment for plagiocephaly involves gentle, hands-on techniques that are specifically adapted for infants. These techniques aim to:
Encourage Skull Flexibility: The bones of an infant’s skull are soft and malleable. Osteopaths use subtle movements to encourage proper alignment and promote natural shaping as the baby grows.
Relieve Tension in the Neck and Shoulders: Tightness in the neck muscles (often due to torticollis) can contribute to a baby favoring one side, exacerbating plagiocephaly. Osteopathic techniques help to release this tension, allowing for more balanced movement and reducing the risk of further flattening.
Improve Overall Body Symmetry: Osteopathy considers the entire body, not just the head. By ensuring that the spine, shoulders, and pelvis are aligned, osteopathic treatment supports the baby's ability to develop in a balanced and symmetrical way.
Benefits of Osteopathic Treatment
Non-Invasive and Gentle: Osteopathic techniques are safe and gentle, making them ideal for treating infants. The treatment is comfortable for the baby and typically involves soft touch and mild pressure.
Holistic Approach: Osteopathy looks at the whole body, not just the affected area. This comprehensive approach can help prevent future issues related to posture, movement, and overall development.
Complementary Care: Osteopathy can be used alongside other treatments, such as physical therapy or helmet therapy, providing a well-rounded approach to managing plagiocephaly.
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Breastfeeding can be a rewarding experience for both mother and baby, but it doesn't always come without challenges. One common issue that can affect breastfeeding is tongue-tie, a condition where the strip of skin connecting the baby's tongue to the bottom of their mouth is shorter or thicker than usual. This can lead to difficulties with latching and feeding.
Understanding Tongue Tie
Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a congenital condition that restricts the tongue's range of motion. This can cause problems with breastfeeding, as the baby may struggle to latch properly, leading to inadequate milk transfer, prolonged feeding times, and discomfort for the mother among other symptoms (Messner & Lalakea, 2000). Early identification and intervention are crucial to ensure successful breastfeeding.How Osteopathy Can Help
Osteopathy is a holistic approach that focuses on the body's structure and function. For babies with tongue ties, osteopathy can play a significant role in supporting breastfeeding by addressing the associated physical tensions and restrictions.
Is Osteopathy Right for me and my baby ?
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Babies, especially newborns, can experience physical stresses and strains from their position in the womb and the birthing process. Osteopathy for babies can help alleviate these stresses, promoting overall well-being and aiding in the natural development of the infant's body. Here are some key benefits:
Alleviating Colic and Reflux: Gentle osteopathic techniques can help relieve discomfort caused by colic and reflux, promoting better digestion and comfort.
Improving Sleep Patterns: Osteopathy can address physical discomfort that may be disrupting a baby's sleep, helping them to sleep more soundly.
Supporting Development: By ensuring that the baby's body is free from tension and restrictions, osteopathy can support healthy growth and development.
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Colic: Persistent crying and discomfort often related to digestive issues.
Reflux: Acid reflux causing discomfort and feeding difficulties.
Plagiocephaly: Flattening of one side of the baby's head.
Feeding Difficulties: Issues with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
Sleep Disturbances: Problems with sleeping patterns or difficulties settling.
Ear Infections: Recurring ear infections due to Eustachian tube dysfunction.
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Yes, Osteopathy is safe for babies when performed by a qualified and experienced Osteopath. The techniques used are very gentle and tailored to the specific needs of infants. Osteopaths undergo extensive training to ensure they can safely and effectively treat even the youngest patients.
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Osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasises the interrelationship between the body's structure and its function. Osteopaths use their hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent a range of health problems by focusing on the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, joints, and connective tissues.
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Osteopathy for babies offers a gentle and holistic approach to supporting your infant's health and well-being. By addressing the physical stresses and strains that can affect babies, osteopathy can help alleviate common issues and promote healthy development. If you're considering osteopathy for your baby, contact our qualified paediatric Osteopath to discuss how this gentle therapy can benefit your little one.
For more information or to book a consultation, please contact us. Our experienced team of paediatric osteopaths is here to support your baby's health and development.
What to Expect on your First Visit
A typical Osteopathic session for a baby is gentle and non-invasive. Here's what you can expect:
Initial Consultation: The osteopath will discuss your baby's medical history and any specific concerns you have.
Assessment: The osteopath will gently examine your baby, feeling for areas of tension or restriction.
Treatment: Using very gentle techniques, the Osteopath will work to release any areas of tension and promote balance within the baby's body.
Advice and Follow-Up: The Osteopath may provide advice on how to support your baby's health at home and suggest follow-up sessions if needed.
Our goal with patient care is clear communication and education about what is going on, where you are at with your presenting complaint, and what the road to recovery looks like.
Each patient will be given a patient pack that outlines the nature of their presentation, what rehab looks like in its various stages, and the estimated timeline for recovery. We are not interested in keeping people in the dark regarding their condition.
We are committed to going as far in your health journey as you would like.
*(If anything during this session contraindicates treatment, we will refer you to your trusted healthcare professional for further testing. Your safety, well-being and long-term health are our primary concerns.)
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