Nikki Lee Health

Today’s mom had a history that made me nervous because there was a lot going; I knew that everything could not be addressed in the first visit.  In the mother, it was PCOS, thyroid deficiency, fertility issues, and cesarean section; in the baby, it was GI issues, plagiocephaly, torticollis, post-revision of TOT (tethered oral tissue), reflux (treated with Zantac) and breastfeeding difficulty.

Their relationship turned out to be much easier to assist than first anticipated, thank goodness!

Mom had been taught to RAM the baby on to her breast and was doing that for every feed, now nearly 3 months after the birth. Baby was fussy and miserable at breast. Mom was anxious and overly-sympathetic to every noise and signal her baby gave. She was hiking her large breast up out of its natural lie, shoving her baby onto the breast, and nursing in an uncomfortable position (cross-cradle) with one shoulder hiked way up and her body contorted.

It took a while for Mom to feel safe enough to let go of what she had been doing, (even though it wasn’t working) and do something else. Once she and baby were in a side-lying position, and baby was allowed to control the attachment, the relationship was transformed and mom nearly went to sleep while feeding. Some craniosacral therapy rounded a parietal/temporal bone over-ride. Teaching some TummyTime techniques gave the mother tools to deal with the baby’s right-side preference, colic and fussiness.

They will come back for more CST to smooth out the high palate, and learn more TummyTime activities.

This mother has seen many different providers because when breastfeeding isn’t right, nothing is right with the relationship. There are still more layers to clear with this dyad, and the first step is always to evaluate the breastfeeding relationship. When that relationship starts out controlled and forced, the mother and baby are off on the wrong track.

I love it when connection is made, and the breastfeeding relationship improves in a matter of a few hours. This is the payment in dollars of the heart that excites me about this work, even after 40+ years.

I also love the magic of craniosacral therapy, when the mother’s eyes widen is surprise as her baby who had a blockhead now has a sweet rounded skull. Life is good.