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HOW CAN BIRTH BE TRAUMATIC?

Birth is indeed a normal part of the cycle of life. Yet birth is certainly capable of becoming ourvery first trauma. This trauma may be extreme, producing obvious injury. However, even when anormal birth appears to be completely trauma free, the pressures applied to the infants cranium

can still cause some problems.

The tiny infant is extremely resilient; able to withstand tremendous pressures as we are squeezedthrough the birth canal, and forced to take our first breath. This first breath infuses our tissues

with life, and expands our compressed bodies to ready ourselves for the world.

The infants head (occiput) plays a significant role in opening the birth canal. The normal

pressures of birth cause the cranial bones to fold over one another. The membranes (meninges)

andfluid (CSF) surrounding the brain act as a bouyant shock absorber. The nervous system,always attempting to maintain stability under duress, organizes around these forces. Theseprotective mechanisms allow for maximum brain capacity and minimize brain trauma.

Many of the problems commonly experienced in infancy may be caused by the forces of labor

and delivery.

THE COMPRESSIVE FORCES OF BIRTH

If the compressive forces of birth are too great, the nervous system may become overwhelmed,and the skull bones may not be able to fully re-expand to their normal ease after the birth.

Some births may not appear at all problematic, but can still produce substantial compression. Anabnormally quick labor may prove equally overwhelming as one that is long and difficult.

The newborn may become firmly imprinted by these compressive forces, producing structural

imbalances and a variety of symptoms. These symptoms may range from minor variants ofnormal irritabilities to serious pathology.

CESAREAN SECTION

Cesarean Sections:

y May be necessary to save the life of the newborn.y May be necessary when the infant becomesstuckin the birth canal for extended periods

of time, putting extreme pressures on their little heads.y May be scheduled, for a variety of reasons.

Many infants born by Cesarean Section first endure a long period of labor, with their heads

lodged in the maternal pelvis. The delivering physician also may sometimes place considerable

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force on childs cranium, attempting to free the infant from the pelvic bowl. Though born byCesarean Section, these infants may well suffer the ill effects of significant cranial pressure.

Some infants born via ceasarean section do not encounterany compressive forces. We might

think that the lack of trauma in a C-section is the best for the infant. But other factors come into

play:

WE NEED TO BE SQUEEZED THROUGH THE BIRTH CANAL

This squeezing initiates a cascade of events that readies us for the outside world:

y Fluid is squeezed out of our lungs.y Pressure is created for a powerful FIRST BREATHy Our central nervous system is stimulated and begins to organize.y Dramatic changes take place in our circulatory system.

The changes taking place in the circulatory system are staggering. Intra-uterine life is verydifferent than life outside the womb:

y The umbilical vessels spasm shut. Blood no longer comes from or goes to the placenta.y A hole in the heart (foramen ovale) closes.y The lungs now infiltrate and oxygenate the blood (ductus arteriosum closes).y The liver now metabolizes (ductus venosum closes).y The kidneys now filter the blood.y The GI tract now absorbs all nutrients.

These adaptive changes must occur in a systematic and orderly manner, and place huge demands

upon the newborn. When the transition to extra-uterine life is too quick, these changes in thevascular system become disorganized. Osteopathic Physicians perceive this disturbance as ashock or irritability that establishes itself in the nervous system of the infant; and the potential

cause of many problems. Though no apparent trauma may have occured, the infant may beirritable, weak, or susceptible to infection.

TREATMENT OF CHILDREN

Osteopathic treatment eases the shock, and restores vitality; allowing the nervous system to relax

and heal...so that the normal maturation processes can follow. Not all problems can be resolved,but many can be eased. And for some, Osteopathy is the answer.

Like adults, each infant is constitutionally unique. Some infants seem to tolerate significant

trauma from birth, without ill effect. Others are disrupted by even the slightest insults. Each of usis born with our individual sensitivities; we are all affected differently by life.

What kind of results can you expect? Again, every child is different. Some children have a veryrapid and complete resolution of their presenting complaints. Some children require many

treatments and recover only partially. Children with developmental delays may not change

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immediately, but will begin to mature at a more normal rate of development. Each circumstancemust be considered for its unique aspects. As a general rule, it is always best to receive treatment

as close in time to the traumatic insult as possible. Infants may actually benefit from receivingtreatment immediately after birth. The less time the traumatic forces have to establish themselves

in the tissues, the easier it is to clear them. Surprisingly, even stresses that have been long

imprinted into our nervous systems can still be cleared many years later.

CASE EXAMPLE

A long difficult birth produced a screaming irritable baby who could not sleep or nurse well. The

diagnosis was Infantile Colic, and the parents were distraught, not only from their inability tohelp their suffering infant, but also from their lack of sleep. On palpatory examination an

occipital condylar compression was discovered. After two or three treatments this childcalmed, its ability to sleep and nurse improved, and harmony was restored in the home.

Osteopathic Treatment may not only ease the first months of life for both parent and child, butmay also produce long term benefits, as these compressions may impair other cerebral functions

later in life.

Infantile Colic is quite often caused by excessive pressure to the infants occiput at birth. Thenewborns occipital bone, located in the back of the head, is composed of 4 parts. By the age of

seven these 4 parts fuse to become a single bone (see diagram below). Important cranial nerveslie next to these parts, and the spinal cord passes between these parts through the foramen

magnum (a large hole).

As the infant emerges into the world, the head (passing through the bony pelvis) must flex,

rotate, and extend. This unfused occiput is normally the presenting part and receives a complexarray of forces. The 4 parts of the occiput may become twisted and compressed, causing

irritation of the cranial nerves, and sometimes even irritating the spinal cord.Impaired sucking,gastric irritability, and altered muscular tone may result.

Adult Occiput (1 piece) Fetal Occiput (4 parts)

Osteopathic Treatment involves carefully placing the clinicians hands upon the posterior occiput

of these distressed children, encouraging the occiput to decompress and untwist. Naturally, we

evaluate and treat the entire infant, with the intention of establishing fluid continuity throughout.

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COMMON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BIRTH TRAUMA

Infantile Colic Chronic UpperRespiratory Infections

Sleeplessness Chronic EarInfections

Spitting Up / Reflux Chronic Nose Bleeds

Difficult Sucking Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Clumsiness Bed Wetting

Abnormal Muscle Tone Digestive Disturbances

Learning Disorders Allergies

Developmental Delays Eczema

Seizures Asthma

Cerebral Palsy Bronchitis