In the Gillespie Approach infant mouth breathing is a red flag indicator.
My first thought would be if the infant has clogged nasal sinuses due to an intolerance or allergy to cow’s milk, either through the dairy proteins (casein and whey) in mom’s breast milk or his milk-based formula.
Most health care providers would be thinking about specific anatomically affected areas of the body according to their specialty.
First would be a high-vaulted narrow palate, which would predispose a narrower nasal cavity that could impede the intake of air.
Second would be the tongue as far as its resting place, swallowing position, and associated ties.
Third would be the volume of the airway space in the nasopharynx and oropharynx.
Fourth would be the epiglottis, as per correctly folding over the opening of the larynx.
Fifth would be the larynx with conditions like stridor and laryngomalacia.
Sixth would be a fascially free diaphragm for correct breathing.
My main thought would be to check the infant’s full-body fascial web that connects all of these structures together. I believe this piece is currently the missing link for providers.
Trauma from conception through delivery can result in newborn soft tissue fascial strain which can tighten all of the above tissues. The fascial web also controls the craniosacral system that allows for a freeing moving brain, so critical for cognitive health.
In my perfect world every newborn needs to receive therapy on day one of life. Let’s make that happen to prevent breathing and other issues down the road.
Neonatologists need to realize the merit of the newborn work. Trained therapists need to provide it directly at birth. Hospital administrators need to understand its health benefits. Insurance companies need to see its cost-saving value.
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