My heart breaks every time I see this phenomenon because I believe this suffering was so needless.
An eight-year-old boy presented with a laundry list of issues: He had difficulty eating, swallowing and with tongue function plus reflux, hiccups, a sinus condition, and a tic in his throat and neck. He had has speech therapy in the past.
He had a history of a right leg stress fracture and pneumonia. At birth, he had trouble latching, required pumping and, later, tongue-tie surgery.
He also had silent reflux and constipation. He was currently gluten and dairy-free, eating only organic food.
Clinically, he had a zero-second brain cycle with a twisting fascial strain in his right leg. His diaphragm was tight, and he had a tongue thrust.
There is one major piece of the puzzle that I saved for last. He had severe neck and throat fascial strain, presumably due to his umbilical cord being wrapped three times around his neck.
I believe that this trauma set him up for many of the above issues. What happens over the forty weeks of fetal development can determine the overall quality of a lifetime.
Current medical thought needs to connect his present health conditions in time to the root cause of his birth trauma. If only a birth provider had checked and treated him—his life would have been so different.
I helped his body release the twist in his right leg. With mom holding his throat, I worked his neck strain with baby steps since, understandably, he was very uncomfortable. I have found that the throat is the most sensitive area of the body for infants and children.
At the end of the visit, his craniosacral fascial system opened to 40 seconds, a good first visit. I referred mom to an orthodontist who will recommend dental treatment and a myofunctional therapist for his tongue thrust.
I expect him to become significantly more comfortable in his body by the end of therapy. Since everyone spends time in a uterus and needs to be born into the world, birth trauma is pervasive in the culture. Gillespie Approach Training is so needed for all birth providers to end the suffering.
Mom Speaks
“He was very happy post-visit with you. He talked a lot about your visit and said he really liked the foot/leg part. As we walked out, he said that that leg you worked on felt longer, which was interesting.
“He gave me three giant hugs and kisses before going to bed last night. He’s very happy today as well and has been actively trying to move his tongue to the roof of his mouth when he swallows, which he said does make swallowing easier. I think he feels a sense of relief that things will get better.”
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