When we think of newborn babies we get that warm fuzzy feeling inside (especially moms), remembering those first few days with our little miracle in our arms. We watch every movement, twitch and yawn. We adore all the cute little sounds coming from our bundle of joy. We think it's just adorable when a newborn baby sucks on their tiny little fingers. "How cute" we say and sigh. However, if your new baby or someone else's baby is a newborn and sucking on one or many of it's fingers or thumb, it's a problem indicator. A problem you say? How could that be and why? Babies have a natural instinct for sucking - it's for food! When newborns are hungry they cry, they root and they may try to suck or kiss their hands, your hands or whatever body part is closest, like your arm or shoulder. This is different from finger sucking. A newborn baby that is hungry and rooting for mama needs to be fed. A newborn baby that is sucking on it's fingers, needs it's cranial bones evaluated. Babies who are sucking intensively on one finger, two fingers or even their thumb are trying to correct cranial imbalances. These imbalances were caused by in utero constraints or birthing traumas such as forceps or induction (more on induction trauma later) or even an over zealous nurse or doctor trying to hurry the birth along. Babies who have spent the first 10 months of life in a compromised position inside their mother will have tell-tale signs of imbalances - and not just cranial imbalances. Here are just some examples: They will not latch or nurse. They will have cranial distortion (obvious cranial bone misplacement), they will cry incessently, even after being fed. They will have "stork bites" on their forehead, neck, face or anywhere on the body. (Mine are on my arm (red, splotchy patches). They will have trouble pooping or will not poop at all. They will not like to be layed down and/or they will have reflux. They will keep only one arm up or keep their head turned primarily to one side. Babies will mimic their in utero position after birth. It is not normal for a baby to "roll over" to it's side as a newborn. As excited and proud as we feel as parents that our super smart newborn just rolled over when they aren't supposed to until they are @ 4 months, just did, it means there is a problem. This is caused by severe muscle spasm. Gravity should keep your baby in whatever position you put he or she in, as a newborn does not have the voluntary muscle control to turn from side to side. Yes, they may stretch and move slightly but a brand new baby should not be able to turn completely over. This happens when the muscles are so tight, they are pulling the child this way. When a baby sucks on it's fingers or thumb they are trying to relieve the inter cranial pressure they are experiencing from the skeletal or facial or jaw bones being out of place. When out of place these bones press on nerves, prevent proper blood flow and most importantly prevent the cranial fluid from properly circulating through the brain and spinal cord. Without proper nerve, blood and cranial fluid flow how can a newborn baby thrive at it's fullest potential?? This will lead to problems down the road such as speech delay, cognitive delay and malformities. This is the most ideal time to correct physical imbalances in any person, because, it left untreated these stay with you most times, for life. And lets not forget about Mom.... if these imbalances in baby were a result of time spent in utero, then mom needs to be addressed as well. While you may appear "straight" on the outside, your body will compensate, and these compensations end up in the uterus (as well as other places) for us women. If a pregnant mom complained their entire pregnancy of nagging back pain, the baby always being up under the ribs, etc., then that uterus was imbalanced, giving the baby no other choice but to adapt to the environment it was in. Back to finger sucking...When a baby sucks, the finger or thumb is pressed up against the roof of the mouth. The babies' goal with sucking is to move the palate with the sucking motion which then creates movement in all the bones in the head. They are trying to undo the trauma that has occurred by allowing the natural flexion & extension rhythm of our bodies to unwind and reset the bones to their proper place. Sometimes this will work depending on the severity of imbalance but most babies need help. Moms will intuitively touch, stroke or pet their newborns head while nursing in the area that needs correction. This is ideal to do while feeding as the palate is already being moved and the energy from mom's directed touch will help those bones reset themselves. When this does not work, further unwinding and cranio-sacral techniques are needed. The balancing techniques that I use are extremely gentle with only as much pressure as the weight of a nickel. I follow the body as it knows how to "fix" itself and only needs the restrictions moved out of the way so it may do so. |
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