Babies mechanical disorders
> It is more common than one can imagine
I Nthe course of our lives, many of us may have a fall or two, meet an accident or sustain sport-related injuries, leading to mechanical imbalances: whiplash, sprains or broken bones. It is fairly uncommon though to hear of a baby, fresh out of the birth canal, suffering from mechanical disorders. Yet, it is more common than one would imagine.
There are several factors that can contribute to a mechanical disorder in babies – a bad position in the womb during pregnancy, a long or short birth, use of forceps or vacuum in retrieving the baby or an event that disrupts the normal process of birth. The implications of these mechanical disorders are varied from colic, sleeping disorders, latching troubles, delays in certain milestones like turning and teething, flat head, club foot, future scoliosis, etc.
According to osteopath Nicolas Grimaldi who has had extensive experience in dealing with babies and children with mechanical disorders, as long as an organic (medical) reason has been ruled out, it’s likely to be a mechanical or functional problem. Depending on the strength and period of constraint (force), there are three possible reactions. First, the structure will react within the range of flexibility meaning when the constraint is released, it returns to its original form. If the constraint is higher, it enters the range of deformation, meaning it doesn’t return to its initial shape on its own. The third possibility is when the constraints are too strong and the structure breaks.”
In an ideal birth, the baby’s head will deform within the range of flexibility (reason the baby’s head is soft by design) in order to evacuate. The baby’s head will then return to its initial shape, without any permanent print or traces once its out the birth canal. “If the constraints go beyond what the baby’s body can accept, there will be a print or mechanical disorder.” While there have been cases where the third possibility (break) has happened, a majority of the time, the baby’s head is simply deformed. Meaning, there’s