A first-time mom had consulted many health care professionals in vain and was “desperate."
Her eight-week-old presented with severe gas and indigestion. He also had colic, constipation, and did not sleep well.
Before I could ask if her baby had a dairy problem, she related that the allergy specialist said he tested fine with dairy and soy. When she tried to massage his belly, he screamed in pain because of the tightness.
He was on two medications and infant probiotics. The meds, as management tools, helped at first but later lost most of their effectiveness.
Clinically, he had a zero-second brain cycle and fascial strain in his pelvic floor, diaphragmatic area, and neck. The digestive area was especially tight, as would be expected.
In therapy, a deep pelvic strain traveled from his low back through his trunk and into his head. His digestive area started to release, but many layers of strain were present, requiring more visits.
If any health care provider had touched the tissue over his digestive organs, she or he would have felt distinct tightness. Mom and I both felt it—it’s not brain surgery.
Palpation may becoming a lost art in today’s pediatric care. This evaluation aspect can be an important tool since the body’s tissue texture can often reflect its function. Our mantra is that tight bodies do not work very well.
My hope is that the pediatric profession will someday realize that birth trauma can create soft tissue fascial strain in newborns. I believe that Gillespie Approach Training for infants and newborns is a must for all neonatal and infant providers.
The Gillespie Approach is a massage modality that helps the body release its tight connective or fascial tissue from its physical and emotional traumas. We have a special interest working with newborns, whose untreated fascial strains from birth trauma can result in a lifetime of suffering.
