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Acid Reflux in Infants: Treatment with Craniosacral Therapy.
Acid reflux in Infants and babies is very common and is typically due to an immature digestive system. The small flaps at the top of the stomach are not fully grown and so milk returns up the oesphagus and out the mouth. If the valve closes the milk comes straight up. Other times it opens and regurgitates food back up.
This is distressing for Mum as she is unsure how much food the baby has digested. As a baby needs to triple their birth weight in the first year, a relaxed feeding pattern is essential.
Acid reflux is distressing for the baby also as the symptoms are similar to adult heartburn - a burning feeling leading to an upset acidic stomach.
Molly's Story. Jane and Mark brough Molly to my Cork clinic at 6 weeks. She had been diagnosed by her doctor as having reflux. The Doctor recommended that she change her feed to a non milk-based formula and to feed the baby in an upright position - as well as not to bounce the baby after feeding!
Jane explained that Molly had been born by c-section and was very "mucusy". I explained to Jane that as c-section babies had not travelled down the birth canal - the baby's lung muscles had not received that "contracting massage" which helps to get rid of mucus.
I worked with Molly using Craniosacral Therapy over 5 sessions. My hands were led to areas of restriction on her abdomen, chest throat and the back of her head. With a very light touch (no more than 5 grammes) her body responded by releasing areas of tension which were causing irritation of her nervous system.
After each session Molly was very tired. After the first and second session she was cranky and out of sorts for the rest of the day. However, she soon settled and by the fifth session she was much less bothered by reflux and as a result, a much more contented baby.
I used CranioSacral techniques to work with Molly to help establish a well-balanced CS System. This helps the body to be more free of tension and restriction and in turn, helps baby to cope with a troubled digestive system and whatever growing pains come their way!
