Birth is a beautiful process, but it can also be one of the most traumatic experience for your baby. Studies of newborns done by Viola Frymann, D.O. showed that 80% of newborns experience some form of birth trauma.During labor each contractions put compressing forces from above and below your baby. Sometimes the mother have had a long labor or false labor with contractions weeks prior. This can be particularly damaging since the forces are directed on the baby’s head, and the baby has no where to go except against a closed canal.The back of the baby’s head (also known as the occiput) leads the way out of the birth canal. Each contractions pushes the baby downward and jams this part of the head against the birth canal and pelvic bone. The back of the head has nerves that pass through the skull to control tongue motion for latching/sucking and also to the digestive tract.  These are the areas that first present as problems early after a stressful birth.

Also within the occiput is a large opening through which the whole brain stem becomes the spinal cord.  All nerve pathways passes through this opening to go to every structure of your body.  Therefore if any part of the occiput openings are deformed by forces of natural birth or if birth trauma was present then the injury to the nervous system could present in the following ways:

• Difficulty latching on and/or poor sucking ability, especially within 24-48 hours of birth
• Vomiting or spitting up after feeds
• Arched back or throwing head back when held on mother’s shoulder or laying on the side
• Non symmetrical movements of arm and legs
• Moments of crying with difficulty to soothe
• Sleep difficulty
• Plagiocephaly or misshapen head or flat head syndrome
• Torticollis
• Colic

Birth Trauma and possible resulting neurological dysfunction are primary concerns for new babies because it can lead to difficulties later in life such as developmental delays (including ADD/Autism), learning difficulty, behavior problems, and recurrent infections. The skull is a mold for the brain and nervous system to develop for proper function.  If your baby is evaluated soon after birth by an osteopathic physician, the baby’s structural dysfunction can be corrected to avoid many of the childhood problems mentioned.  As an osteopathic physician, I always strive to help your baby achieve a level of well-being and optimal neurological function.