What is craniosacral therapy? How does it benefit mother and child? Is it safe and needed? Through this article, we will help you understand what it is, how it can benefit you and baby, and when it becomes necessary to turn to.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that uses touch to relieve pain and other symptoms. It helps calms the central nervous system (CNS), which helps when your brain communicates with the spinal cord. Your brain is sending messages throughout the body through the CNS, and when there is tension, it can block these signals/messages, which can make it hard for your body to receive these important messages. That is where CST can help restore that connection, reducing painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
Benefits for Mom
It can help moms with their pregnancy, labor and birth, postpartum, and in breastfeeding. We will cover more breastfeeding when talking about benefits for babies.
- Pregnancy: by reducing discomfort (ligament, low back, hip, or rib pain) and stress and improving sleep.
- Labor and Birth: it can help mom with preparing your body and baby for birth and can help lead to shorter and more effective labors.
- Postpartum: CST can help with pain relief, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and hormonal balance. It also provides helping emotional support and bonding with your baby.
Benefits for Baby
Infants have naturally soft skull bones that can be manipulated during the birthing process, but this can cause an increased strain on their central nervous system. This tension can cause a lot of impact on the base of the skull, which affects the rest of their little body. Through light touch of CST, it can gently release that tension in the muscles surrounding the skull, such as the neck, shoulder and oral reflexes. This helps sends the central nervous system send more clear messages throughout their body. This can help with:
- Breastfeeding and Latching (can increase connection and discomfort)
- Reflux
- Colic
- Gas
- Overall health
- Improved immunity
- Pain reduction
- Tension relief
Is it Safe and Necessary from My Baby?
As a parent, it it’s important to understand if a certain treatment or therapy is safe and necessary for your young baby. When looking into this therapy, make sure you choose someone who has had proper training.
Dr. Barry Gillespie studied over 800 infants with this technique, and he truly saw tremendous benefits. He explained how “[the cranial sacral fascial system} consists of a slight motion of the brain and spinal cord pumping cerebrospinal fluid into the fascial that connects every structural cell of the body.” In other words, the body’s detailed and complicated systems work, and with this therapy, would help increase the body’s overall health.
Concluding Thoughts
CST is highly recommended to help mother and baby as they go through difficult and uncomfortable symptoms. If you are searching for a provider who is properly trained in CST, we recommend Justine Baker with Simple Life Massage.
If you are seeking more help in your motherhood and birth journey, The Utah Birth Place is happy to refer you to the best services and help you need!
Resources
- Boise Craniosacral Therapy | Baby Bonds, Boise | Breastfeeding Support | Lactation Consultant
- Is Your Pregnancy Missing Craniosacral Therapy?
Related Blogs
- The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Children – The Utah Birth Place
- The Benefits of Chiropractic Care During and After Pregnancy – The Utah Birth Place
- The Do’s, Don’ts, and How’s In Giving Your Baby The Best Massage! – The Utah Birth Place
- Finding Comfort in Your Labor and Delivery – The Utah Birth Place
