Newborn Bodywork 101: Why It's Important For Your Baby

Many babies are born with a bit of tightness or asymmetry in their tiny bodies. After all, cozy as it may be, the uterus can also be quite snug. And let’s not forget the twists and turns of birth itself. Babies work hard to descend to meet us! Luckily, newborn bodywork is here to offer a gentle helping hand in easing those post-birth tensions.

In this guide, we’ll dive into what exactly newborn bodywork is, how it can benefit your precious babe, and why it’s worth considering as part of your baby’s early care routine. So grab a cozy blanket, snuggle up and let’s explore the world of newborn bodywork together.  

What is newborn bodywork? How can it help?

Newborn bodywork can include craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, massage or a combination. All are great options. And some specialists offer a combination of all three within their treatments. Typically, a therapist will ask you how your pregnancy and birth went. That along with their own observations helps them know how best to treat your baby. The goal with newborn bodywork is to release tension and improve alignment.

All babies need time and some help to "unwind" post-birth. Releasing tension can help many things.

Breastfeeding issues are a big reason parents take their babies to get bodywork. Some babies struggle to figure out a proper latch. Some babies "aren't gaining enough weight." Mama, guess what. Most likely, it's not that you aren't producing enough milk. Or that something is wrong with you. Only a very small percentage of mothers don't produce enough milk. It could just be that some muscular tension your baby was born with is making it difficult to get a proper latch.

Lip and tongue ties are also big reasons for bodywork. So I'll talk a little bit more in detail below about the mechanics of a tie since these are super common.

There's also torticollis, or wryneck. This is when your baby's neck muscles cause their head to twist and tilt to one side. Even just slightly. And this can happen because of the way your baby was positioned in the womb before birth.

While bodywork can be good for all babies, babies born with any of these can especially benefit. Releasing their tension can make their first days, weeks and months more comfortable. And in turn, the newborn stage can be a lot less stressful for you, mama.

Signs of Body Tension in Newborns:

• Difficulty with breast or bottle feeding

• Pain during breastfeeding

• Nipple damage

• Clicking noise while feeding

• Constipation or excessive reflux/spit up

• Elevated shoulders

• Dislike of tummy time

• Colic

• Preference for looking to one side

• Consistent head tilt to one side

• Open mouth posture during wake and sleep cycle

• Flat head

Types of Newborn Bodywork Techniques

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy (CST) helps to balance a baby's central nervous system. It is a gentle hands-on approach that releases tension deep within the body. Craniosacral therapy works with bones and tissues in the head and lower back.

Cranio = cranium = skull. Sacral = sacrum = lower back.

The subtle adjustments of these areas can improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This liquid keeps the brain healthy and protects the brain and spine from injuries.

A treatment session can last about an hour. With clothes on, your baby will be adjusted with light touch. The treatment will target the muscles surrounding the neck, shoulders and lower back.

I've seen amazing results on myself and my baby with CST. And one of favorite things about it is that your baby can be treated while breastfeeding. That way, your baby is more likely to stay calm during the whole session.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic for babies involves gentle manipulations of the spine and joints. But don't worry. Chiropractic adjustments for babies look different than what they look like for adults. There's no back or neck cracking for babies!

Babies are adjusted in a neutral position with light, fingertip pressure. The pressure used could be compared to the pressure you would use to test the ripeness of an avocado. A chiropractor can also use an activator tool that controls the force and speed of an adjustment.

Massage

Massage can be a beautiful way to bond with your baby. Many parents include a massage in their baby's bedtime routine to help unwind. Massages can soothe your baby, improve their circulation and lead to better digestion.

A baby massage uses gentle pressure compared to an adult massage. To learn how to massage your baby, you can seek a massage therapist that has experience with babies. They can massage your baby if you're comfortable with that, or teach you how to massage your baby yourself. There are also books and resources to teach you how to massage your baby safely.

Newborn Bodywork for Tongue or Lip Tie

[Source: drchelseapinto.com]

A tongue or lip tie can limit the range of motion around your baby's mouth. This can present challenges for breastfeeding babies, making it difficult to latch properly. An improper latch can lead to inefficient feeds. For your baby, this can result in excessive reflux, constipation and gas. It can also lead to failure to gain weight and short/frequent feeds due to fatigue. For you, mom, it can lead to uncomfortable feeds and nipple damage. Not fun for either of you!

Some parents choose to release lip and tongue ties, via laser or scissors, by a professional, of course. But even if a tie is released, newborn bodywork can help. For example, a tongue tie release fixes the anatomy but it does not fix the function of the tongue. Most babies can greatly benefit from bodywork before and/or after the release.

Continued Benefits of Bodywork for Your Growing Baby

Bodywork is beneficial as your baby continues to grow. Continuing bodywork as they grow can support their physical health and well-being. From infants, to toddlers, children and adults, we can ALL benefit from bodywork!