We all know that adults can carry tension in their bodies, but did you know that babies can have tension too?
Tension is often seen in babies who struggle with tongue ties, have difficulty achieving a good latch, torticollis, excessive gassiness, reflux or general fussiness.
Sometimes baby’s position, or factors during labour and delivery can contribute to tension in babies.
During the first few weeks of life, you should observe that your baby is relaxed, appears ‘milk drunk’ after feeds, and content (for the most part) during wake periods. But sometimes, signs of tension and other struggles can arise and it’s a good idea to bring any of these concerns up to your midwife or doctor. If there are no medical concerns, you might be referred to a pediatric osteopathic practitioner (like me!).
Osteopathic manual therapy, which might include craniosacral therapy, is extremely gentle and can aid in the relaxation of tight muscles and has a calming effect on the nervous system.
If your baby has tension, you might notice some or all of the following 6 signs:
• Frequently clenched fists (while awake, feeding, and/or sleeping)
• Arching and throwing their back into extension
• Tense neck and shoulders (where you can hardly get into their neck creases)
• Baby appears to have a ‘strong neck’ for a newborn and might even hold their head up
• They fight tummy time and may arch even more or straighten their arms by their sides
• You can feel their body is tense when holding them, they have trouble relaxing
Navigating the newborn and baby stage can be both wonderful, and also it can be 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵. This post is not intended to cause worry, but rather to provide information in case your baby is struggling and you are searching for support .
*All content provided here is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a physician or healthcare provider.
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