- What is osteopathy?
- Is it possible to see an osteopath right from birth?
- How does a pediatric osteopathy session take place?
- Which baby ailments can be relieved by osteopathy?
- Should you consult an osteopath specialized in perinatal care?
- Pregnancy and perinatal osteopathy: The right to feel better, all the time
As you know, at Élhée our fundamental goal is the well-being of babies. And well-being means enough quality sleep, healthy and plentiful nutrition, but also serenity.
Yet, even though the birth of a child is one of life's most powerful and magical moments, it can sometimes come with little troubles and disorders that may complicate—or even ruin—the first weeks for your baby. Infant colic, sleep disorders, feeding issues, or even bronchiolitis, might remind you of some restless nights marked by anxious looks.
Nevertheless, the 21st century and its many advances in health offer new alternatives to young parents looking to relieve their child's discomfort. Osteopathy is one of them. More precisely, perinatal osteopathy, a holistic discipline dedicated to the well-being of newborns and young (or future) mothers.
To learn more about this 100% natural treatment method based on a deep understanding of the human body, we had the pleasure of meeting Olivier Darmont, a certified osteopath specializing in perinatal care. You can find his interview in the IGTV category of our Instagram account Élhée.
What is osteopathy?
Very trendy in recent years, osteopathy is increasingly mentioned as THE solution for many ailments: stress, chronic fatigue, back pain, abdominal and gynecological pain, migraines, but also functional infertility. The discipline is also referred to as a valuable aid for birth preparation and infant care.
Non-invasive, osteopathy is a manual and natural healing technique.
Its purpose? Preserve or restore through various manipulation techniques, the optimal functioning and physical as well as physiological balance of the body.
For the osteopath, the body is a whole where the slightest dysfunction can have global repercussions. Thus, this discipline treats—or prevents—pain and functional disorders to provide overall well-being. Reasons for consultation are numerous and may relate to issues or discomfort of:
- the skeletal system,
- joints,
- muscles,
- internal organs,
- respiratory system,
- circulatory system,
- nervous system…
According to Olivier Darmont, osteopathy can be defined as a "therapeutic art that aims to preserve, restore, and improve the state of health"
A Specialty Different from Physical Therapy
Sometimes confused—in part because both disciplines are based on hands-on manipulation of the body—osteopathy and physical therapy have distinct and complementary characteristics.
For example, in a postpartum consultation: the osteopath promotes the mother's physical recovery after childbirth by restoring mobility to the body and tissues (notably the pelvis and pelvic tissues). This re-establishes proper balance for optimal function.
The physical therapist, on the other hand, focuses on rehabilitation and strengthening, for example working on the pelvic floor.
Legally, physical therapists are health professionals regulated by the Health Code. Their procedures may be covered by Social Security.
Osteopaths, as private professionals, provide care that is not reimbursed by Social Security, but is increasingly covered by supplemental health insurance plans.
Is it possible to see an osteopath right from birth?
It is authorized and even recommended! Olivier Darmont has made a specialty of what he calls “check-ups” of very young babies starting from 10 or 15 days old. According to him, this first consultation would be the most important and, in most cases when all is well, could be the only one required.
It is important to remember that perinatal osteopathy is a very gentle discipline, far from the contortions and cracking sounds people often imagine. In fact, most babies enjoy this work done for their benefit, and many parents leave osteopathy practices surprised at the speed at which their newborn is soothed.
To relieve possible trauma from a difficult birth, many osteopaths now advocate for a pediatric osteopathy consultation in the first days of life.
How does a pediatric osteopathy session take place?
To know in detail what to expect during your first appointment with a baby osteopath, settle comfortably onto your sofa with a coffee, log in to the bibRond Élhée Instagram account, and let yourself be guided by the words and passion of Olivier Darmont. He is still the best at describing his profession.
Here is nevertheless a condensed version of his explanations. Rest assured, a perinatal appointment with an osteopath is neither complex nor traumatic—quite the opposite.
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Discussion Time
Everything begins with a conversation with the parent(s) present. If you were not followed before or during your pregnancy, this is the time for you to recount the last 9 months and talk about your delivery: how it went, as well as how you experienced it. Bring as many documents as possible, such as your medical records, obstetric follow-up, and health booklet.
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Baby’s Observation Time
Now it’s baby’s turn to “talk” with their osteopath. Lying down and relaxed, the baby’s body and natural posture provide the specialist with many clues. Olivier Darmont shared that he likes to begin with the lower body—small feet wide open, flexible knees, pelvis aligned, abdominal density—then move up to the shoulders, arms, and skull, constantly observing the breathing, mobility, flexibility, and harmony of each area and of the body as a whole.
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Manipulation Time
After conducting routine clinical tests to assess the baby’s health and determine if they can be treated, the baby osteopath performs the osteopathic assessment, which relates to the newborn’s general balance. They identify what is “blocked, tight, unbalanced or misaligned” and, using always gentle techniques, release restriction points, alleviate tension, and promote tissue relaxation for healthy growth.
Following this initial perinatal consultation, a therapy plan can be established according to the infant’s needs. At the same time, the effects of the appointment are often noticeable within hours for very young babies.
Ideally, a follow-up appointment is set around the time of introducing solid foods (around 5 months) to check the diaphragm placement, esophagus, stomach function, and to avoid any risk of colic.
Each major stage of your child’s life—their first steps, later when school begins—will be further opportunities to see your osteopath again.
Olivier Darmont’s advice:
"We all have our own capacities for processing manipulations. Newborns, in particular, process a session much faster. A baby who feels better may relax instantly and very soon show unmistakeable signs of well-being and calmer sleep."
Which baby ailments can be relieved by osteopathy?
So, osteopathy is far from magical science. Its roots lie in ancient teachings, and its popularity comes from the relief and well-being patients feel. But what about newborns? What ailments, issues, and tensions can be relieved by a perinatal osteopathy session for babies?
Reflux/GERD
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is characterized by the regurgitation of food soon after a meal. This problem, well known to pediatricians, can be due to an immature digestive system, but also to a mechanical issue involving the diaphragm or the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. Sometimes difficult to manage, reflux can lead to crying, pain, and anxious parents.
Osteopathy is used to confirm that there is no pressure or blockage causing digestive difficulties.
Switching formulas for bottle-fed babies, using suitable nipples like the physiological teat, or slightly elevating your infant’s head in the crib, may also help.
Latching Difficulties
While breastfeeding is a truly tender and intimate moment between mother and child, it sometimes gets complicated due to positioning or latching difficulties.
A visit to the osteopath can help relieve the guilt and give a better understanding of the situation. After checking for physical conditions like a tongue tie, the practitioner observes your infant and determines, for example, if they can open their mouth wide enough, if their head mobility is sufficient for a comfortable position, and if their sucking reflex is well established.
To make latching easier, try different breastfeeding positions (cradle hold, straddle hold, lying on your side, etc.) and put a few drops of milk on your nipple but above all, give yourself all the time you need.
Switching to bottle-feeding? Combine your own milk—or the formula of your choice—with a bibROND Élhée. Thanks to its soft, rounded design, it stimulates the senses and offers a true alternative for more peaceful feeding times.
Infant Colic
From the first weeks of life, infant colic may set in. At the end of the day and at bedtime, baby cries a lot, their face turns red, and they seem tense—all signs of intensive discomfort.
An osteopathy session—always performed gently—can relieve the intestine and pelvis of the infant by ensuring better positioning and optimal function of the digestive organs.
Again, changing formula or using anti-colic nipples may help. Another session can be planned when introducing solid foods, to ensure a free and unconstrained tummy.
Sleep Disorders
In infants, sleep disturbances have various causes which are not always easy to identify. Colic, constipation, ENT issues, torticollis, discomfort in the lying position… Following careful observation and with gentle, slow movements, the perinatal osteopath can bring significant and lasting relief to your baby.
Plagiocephaly
Plagiocephaly—or flat head syndrome—can be seen on one side or the back of the baby's skull. It tends to occur at birth in cases of tricky deliveries, may result from use of instruments (spatulas, forceps, vacuum extractors, etc.), a child’s head-turning preference, infant torticollis, or even long periods spent lying on the back.
Again, using gentle and safe manipulations, the osteopath can prevent and correct cranial dysfunctions and any associated torticollis for better balance for your baby.
Since 1994, the Haute Autorité de Santé has recommended that newborns sleep on their backs to greatly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. However, during the day it’s important to stimulate babies for both development and to prevent plagiocephaly.
On this subject, babywearing is increasingly recommended by professionals and parents for its practicality and multiple benefits. In a carrier wrap, baby is always in motion, close to you, and continually stimulated. The upright position is also key for better digestion, good breathing, and neck muscle development.
Finally, babywearing provides a gentle transition after birth and its 9 months of mother/child fusion, as well as a good alternative to back sleeping, and a ready-made solution for flat head syndrome.
From birth to 33 lb, Studio Roméo offers, for example, ergonomic wraps made of 100% organic cotton. A wonderful way to extend the bond created in utero through skin-to-skin contact.
Bronchiolitis
Every year, bronchiolitis brings many parents and babies to pediatric emergency rooms. There is an ongoing debate about the best treatments for this sometimes frightening respiratory illness.
Physical therapy rehabilitation is one option. However, to improve outcomes, you can see an osteopath beforehand. Their intervention can enable better breathing for baby by releasing tension in the diaphragm.
Olivier Darmont’s advice:
"In osteopathy, we treat a person, not just a symptom. The frequency of appointments therefore depends on each individual, each infant. Still, seeing an osteopath twice a year will improve your health and is a smart preventive measure."
Should you consult an osteopath specialized in perinatal care?
When choosing your practitioner, the most important thing is trust. Trust in their skills and professional judgment. All osteopaths can offer a quality session for an infant. If not, a good professional will refer you to a more specialized or competent colleague.
Similarly, pay attention to how you and your baby feel. If you do not feel comfortable, if you disagree with what your osteopath says or does, or if your baby can't relax, try a different office until you find the right practitioner.
Pregnancy and perinatal osteopathy: The right to feel better, all the time
As a perinatal osteopath, Olivier Darmont kindly—and effectively—explained to us the practice of this therapeutic specialty that deserves to be better known. According to him, osteopathy gives everyone the “right to feel better” at any time, especially for pregnant women. You can therefore consult an osteopath specializing in perinatal care before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Beforehand, discuss with them your desire to have a child. Perinatal osteopathy may be part of the solutions for infertility and can accompany you throughout, for example, an IVF (in vitro fertilization) protocol.
During pregnancy, a good consultation schedule might be one appointment per ultrasound with one last consultation about one month before the due date, to best prepare for childbirth.
Finally, postpartum osteopathy is very helpful, especially to promote physical recovery, prevent scar adhesions after a C-section, facilitate organs returning to their place, regain harmonious core strength, and rebalance the center of gravity. Your first appointment can take place as soon as 15 days to 1 month after a normal, uncomplicated delivery.
Also, never forget that the osteopath is fully attentive to your needs. In the case of a difficult or traumatic birth, or after an emergency C-section, it is entirely possible to initially avoid certain painful areas.
After this wonderful interview, for which we again warmly thank Olivier Darmont, in our opinion, perinatal osteopathy should be systematically recommended—what do you think?
Photo credits:
Olivier Darmont – Pexel – Unsplash and Constance Bonnotte, professional photographer for the cover image.
