Hi

I was at the osteopath today who thinks that she might be able to help elli, app next week. Anyone else gone down this route?

Will keep you posted on what happens

Lizzie

Osteopath as in bones? How is that connected to reflux? I've never heard of that before.

A friend of mine did this with her 4 month old. She said it was quick, easy and painless and her baby feel asleep while being "adjusted." She said the woman softly pressed the plates in the skull and said they were out of alignment, possibly from childbirth and she adjusted them back into place.

My friend said that her baby slept better from then on and seemed to be in less pain from the reflux.

Jenn

So, is an osteopath a kind of chiropractor?

I though an osteopath was a doctor who specialized in natural remedies?(We saw an osteopathic vet for our dog once, and that was what it meant in that context.)

Sounds interesting. i have friends who swear by their chiropractors. Please let us know how it works.

I though an osteopath was a doctor who specialized in natural remedies?(We saw an osteopathic vet for our dog once, and that was what it meant in that context.)
Hmmm...We call that a naturopath up here.

Okay, I've been researching. So far, I've learned that "osteopathy" is a combination of the Greek word "osteo" meaning bone and "pathy" meaning suffering. I'm still searching for more.

So here's a little more info.

"By treating not just the localised problem or injury, but by looking at the overall health, condition and circumstances of the person, Osteopaths are often able to identify and correct not only the injury itself, but various problems that might otherwise not have been detected, only to emerge in later life.*

This holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment is one of the most valuable aspects of Osteopathy for the patient.* Part of this approach might also involve recommending changes in posture, movement, habits and perhaps some preventive exercises to avoid recurrence of a particular problem."

and

"By nature it is very gentle treatment, involving as it does the gentle touching of key areas of the head and body by the practitioner."

If interested, you can read more at www.osteopathonline.com/Benefits/index.htm

Thanks for doing the research, Janette, answered some of my questions.

Roni took Shae-Lynne to a Holistic health service. The women did some acupresure treatments. We were not sure if they worked or not. We had to pay for it ourselves and it was far to expensive to continue. Roni tried to get notes from her dr to help so insurance would pay. One doctor would not give a note, the other doctor's note did not help. So eventually we had to stop it.

Roni did feel that it may have helped with some weight gain.

Lizzie, I sure hope it helps for Elli. Let us know.

Jean

Ironically I was just at a breastfeeding moms meeting and an osteopath was giving a presentation about what it could do for babies... and I spoke to her afterwards and she said that very often the plates and vertebrae get out of alignment and need gentle accurate pressure to go back in to place... and since all the central nervous system (like the nerves that go to the top of the stomach and the nerves that send messages to the bowels etc...) all come out from the spine, that if there was trauma in birth (or in in utero growing as may have been the case in Chaeli's growth - she was completely transverse - growing sideways and very squished into an odd position in her neck and spine) that it might very well help her to overcome much of the pain she's in from the reflux. Since she's off the medications (3 weeks now) she does have some reflux uncomfortableness... but it's still better than she was ON the meds. I'm calling this osteopath tomorrow to make an appointment. It will still be cheaper than the meds in the long run if it works and she can stay drug-free because of it. You know?

Just what I learned.
Shannon

that's it really!

I see an osteopath for my back and hip problems and they do wonders for me. Infact I wqas wheelchair bound for yrs and an osteopath got me walking again.

In child osteopathy they generally gently manipulte the body (often the skull) to relieve pressure that could be affecting the rest of the body. In Elli's case they think that the nerves behind the ear may be trapped, affecting her comfort whilst feeding. Also, these nerves affect the stomach and bowel, so sould be causing her general digestive problems. They are NOT saying that she doesn't have GERD, just that there are maybe other contributary factors to her feeding difficulties. She had a very fast birth, and had no interest in feeding after her birth, she was very sleepy as well.

Anyway the app is tomorrow so I',, let you know what happens and if they think they can help her. I'm really hoping that they can as we've had another bad few wks, Elli ate no solids last wk, and has been nack putting on only 1 oz a wk. If they can just help her a bit it'll be worth it.

Thanks for your interest. watch this space...

Anyway the app is tomorrow so I',, let you know what happens and if they think they can help her. I'm really hoping that they can as we've had another bad few wks, Elli ate no solids last wk, and has been nack putting on only 1 oz a wk. If they can just help her a bit it'll be worth it.
Good luck with your appt.! We'll look forward to hearing how it goes and also if it helps in the weeks to come!

Hi

Well, very interesting!

The osteo took all the details of my pregnancy, Elli's birth and case history. She said it sounded as if Elli has compression behind her ears making feeding painful, also the nerve behind the ear (the vegas nerve) affects the stomach and liver area so the compression could be causing her all sorts of digestive problems and discomfort.

She proceeded to check Elli gently from the feet up. Elli was laughing and smiling all the way until the osteo reached the ear area, she started to scream and tear at the osteo's hands. as soon as the area was left alone she went happy again. Very strange.

Anyway some manipulation was carried out, much to Elli's dismay, after about 5-10 mins the osteo decided to finish as she didn't want to distress the child too much, and we're back next week.

Elli slept all the way home, ate her solids happily and was in great form. BUT as soon as I tried to BF her she started screaming again, she took a small feed on the right side (she's always disliked the left, and apparently the compression is much worse on this side) and went to sleep. Now I have to admit the the osteo said she might get really tired this week and Elli does not like to be fed at all when she's tired, so it could just be that, but if she continues to behave like that when feeding tonight and tomorrow I'll call the osteo again incase the area has become further sensitised.

I feel a bit concerned that there's something else wrong, but at least if she can help us we might come out better the other side of treatment. We'll see. I'll keep you updated, maybe it'll be a roaring success and you'll all be rushing to the osteopath by the end of the month :?: :lol:

Anyway, here's hoping

Lizzie

Hi

Thought I'd write pre-appointment today to let you know what's happened.

Well Elli has tripled her food intake, cut out one/two night wakings, doubled the time she spends at the breast, started sitting up unaided for long periods and is generally alert, hungry and happy! On Monday night she slept 11 hrs solid, I was terriified in the morning that she might be dead!!!

I can't believe the difference in her, especially as the osteo had said there would be no improvement this week. Ofcourse it could all be some mad co-incidence, but we shall see.

I took her to the public health nurse last week and she had only put on 3oz in 3 and a half wks, so I'm hoping for a jump up this week.

I feel so much happier and more relaxed, the only problem is she keeps getting hungry and it takes about ten minutes of grizzling before I think to feed her, I'm so used to hunger NEVER being the problem :lol:

So another treatment this afternoon, and hopefull we'll continue with the good news...

Lizzie

Wow Lizzie, that's terrific.

I'm anxious to hear how this next appt goes & how Elli does. I've seriously looked into pediatric chiropractors for Olivia. I hate her being on meds all the time (which I know she may not be med-free for a long time) & would really like to try an alternative. I have heard other people swear by an osteo too.

It's amazing the differences in Elli you have mentioned. I really hope this is your answer & she does gain weight.

Let us know how it goes!

Treatment number 2.

I won't lie, this was hard. Elli screamed as soon as the Osteopath got to her neck and ears. And continued to all through the treatment of this area. Jenny (osteo) was really good though and had booked us in for an hour so we could take lots of breaks, offer Elli cuddles and water, which calmed her pretty quickly.

Today Elli took 15mins on the breast first thing, and hour and a half later ate a third of a jar of porridge, and only two hrs later was crying with hunger. This was her biggest meal EVER! :D two thirds of a jar, followed by a breast feed (WOW!) I actually cried with relief. She also had a third jar for tea, then at 6pm she sucked an oz of formula from a bottle (this is my staunch) bottle refuser and then took 15 mins on the breast before bed.

She went to the health nurse today to be weighed and had put on 3 and a half oz in a week (more than the total for the three weeks previous to our osteo visit).

She seems to be literally improving every day. She is now supporting herself on all fours, sitting for longer and longer periods and just seems so full of life. I'M SO HAPPY :D

Obviously I still don't know if this will stick, and Elli is still on her meds at the moment, but if someone had said to me give me 50 euros and I'll give you a good week with Elli I would have snapped up the offer, so there we are.

My3angels, I don't know if chiros are the same exactly or not, but they may well be able to help. I feel at the moment that I would strongly recommend this course of action to all of you, but I don't want to give out false hopes. Still I wonder recommend that you seriously consider it. In our situations what do we have to lose?

Updates again soon, watch this space

So glad this seems to be working for you guys :D

Keep us posted as to the progress as this was something a friend had mentioned to me to try with Sam but I was a little uneasy about this route.

Lizzie, is this what's called "craniosachral therapy?" This is sounding so very interesting. Heck, since I pay for so much out of pocket anyway, I'm ready to try anything.

Thanks for the updates! Glad it's working for you!

Hi,

I think it's very similar to craniosachral treatment, but our osteo checks Elli's whole body.

This week Elli has improved on the vomiting front, only being sick twice (after meals where I've pushed her a bit - bad mommy :evil: ).

Physically she's sitting up all day, and even standing with assistance. She's desperate to start feeding herself, so I'm awaiting my gerber dippers and hoping she likes them.

She's eating ok, just over a jar of food a day. Last week she put on 3 and a half oz which was great.

We're back again tomorrow, I'm hoping we'll see a reduction in the crying this time!!!

Lizzie