OSTEOPATHY, FIX EAST VILLAGE, PRENATAL & POSTNATAL
PAEDIATRIC OSTEOPATH ANASTASIA TRINDER, TELLS US ABOUT WHY SHE IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND BABIES, AND THE BENEFITS TREATMENT CAN BRING.
Our paediatric osteopath Anastasia Trinder specialises in osteopathy for new-born babies and children. She completed her postgraduate clinical training in specialist paediatric osteopathic care at the renowned University College of Osteopathy in London. Anastasia continues with postgraduate study in this area and regularly sees new-born babies and children in her practise.
WHY DO BABIES AND CHILDREN NEED OSTEOPATHY?
I think everyone of all ages can benefit from osteopathic care. But babies and children are a particularly important group to take care of. During even an uneventful birth, a baby’s whole body is tightly compressed to adapt to the narrow birth canal and undergoes considerable forces as it makes its way out in to the world. Generally, babies cope well with the forces involved in normal labour and many issues that night have arisen, for example asymmetries in head shape or eye size, resolve over the first 3 weeks after birth.
However, a long and difficult labour or one requiring medical intervention – for example, induced labour, epidural, an instrumental delivery using forceps or ventouse or a caesarean section – may result in retained asymmetry through the head, neck and body. Baby osteopathy offers a very gentle and non-invasive manual approach to help resolve these and other issues.
Some of the most common conditions that we see in babies / young children are:
- Plagiocephaly (misshapen or flat head) and neck stiffness or asymmetry
- Painful breastfeeding and/or latching issues
- Digestive issues
- A generally unsettled baby
- Blocked tear ducts
- “Glue ear’“
- Flat feet/toe walking
- “Growing Pains”
Older children often see us because of back pain, neck pain, headaches, hip, knee and ankle pain/sprains. We can help with treatment and advice to help with adjustment to physical development, sporting injuries, dental work and a range of other issues in the older child.
Of course, some children have complex life-long conditions, such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, sickle-cell anaemia and many others. Although there is currently no cure for these, osteopathy can help reduce the resultant physical aches and pains – helping children overcome their physical limitations and lead more adventurous, varied lives. Other conditions if identified by a trained paediatric osteopath may need to be referred to another allied health practitioner such as a paediatrician, orthodontist or optician.
HOME VISITS FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Home visits have become very popular, especially in light of the recent pandemic. Osteopathy is a primary health care system, meaning that osteopaths can continue to assess patients and provide treatment in line with government guidelines and Fix’s strict safety protocols. New-born babies and young children also tend to be more settled and relaxed when examined and treated in familiar home surroundings.
Our paediatric osteopath, Anastasia, follows strict safety procedures to adhere to the government and Public Health England’s recommendations in order to protect the public and herself. On arrival, Anastasia will check both your and your child’s temperature, change into a clean set of PPE, including clinic scrubs, and a disposable apron and mask, before starting the consultation.
Home visits last 1 hour (excluding travel time). You may be asked to complete an online medical history form for your child a couple of days before your home consultation. The fee for a home visit will be available on enquiry and depends on the journey time for the visiting practitioner.
VIDEO CONSULTATIONS FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Video consultations take place in the comfort of your own home and provide a safe alternative to home visits and clinic appointments. Our paediatric osteopath, Anastasia, can provide an assessment and a diagnosis via video. She can then demonstrate home exercises and techniques for parents to do with their children.
Video consultations can be helpful for the management of a range of common presentations including head asymmetries (for example ‘flat headed’ babies), feeding and latching issues, stiff neck (or preference to turning to one side), digestive concerns, toe walking, knee/ankle pain and much more.
A live consultation lasts 1 hour via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime and costs the same as a usual clinic appointment. You may be asked to complete an online medical history form for your child a couple of days before your video consultation.