I experienced something unusual for a neonate.
A 12-day-old boy presented with unexplained weight loss—enough to give his pediatrician angst. He was born at eight pounds and five ounces, discharged at seven pounds and eleven ounces, and weighed in at six pounds and four ounces at twelve days. No mother wants that experience.
He was eating a lot, had mild reflux with a bottle, and was constipated for five days. He had shoulder dystocia as his right hand covered his ear. His chiropractor found a tight sacrum.
His pediatrician felt a tongue tie and referred him to an IBCLC. I felt it, too, but he was nursing well, and there was no strain in his oral tissues or throat. Usually a failure-to-thrive baby has trouble sucking, swallowing, and breathing—not so here.
On my examination he had a zero-second brain cycle and tightness from his pelvis into his head. His fascia was rock-solid in his digestive tract from his stomach through his pancreas, liver, and gall bladder into his intestines. The most logical scientific explanation was that his digestive tract was not absorbing the nutrients well because of the tightness.
Everyone assumes that if a newborn is nursing well, all systems are a go. Many birth professionals carefully monitor fluid intake for newborns. But if the body is not absorbing the nutrients, weight loss might result.
When I worked with his pelvis, his entire fascial web opened up. After the session was over, mom commented on how “he felt much looser.” His digestive system was responding nicely because mom emailed that in the following 24 hours, he had taken his bottle well on his back and had five poops.
This story exhibits my fervent desire for therapy at birth so that every newborn can breathe well, breastfeed well, digest well, poop well, and nap well upon leaving the hospital.
Our mantra: loose bodies can function better than tight ones. Gillespie Approach Training is a must for all neonatal providers.
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