Babies can have tension in their head, neck and shoulders from positioning from how they were positioned in utero, from tension on the body in the birth canal or other birth interventions like vacuum or forceps, or from how they are positioned for sleep once they arrive. Babies come out super tight and curled up from pregnancy. As they “bloom”, true systemic tension can be more obvious than the usual tension all newborns have from being in a cramped space. Birth factors play a role in poor breastfeeding and can produce similar symptoms as those caused by ties:
⭐️ Long labor and delivery
⭐️ Sitting low/unusual posture in pregnancy (may result in torticolis or head turn preference)
⭐️ Breech delivery
⭐️ Vacuum/forceps delivery
Usually symptoms caused by birth factors resolve themselves around 2-4 weeks. Some times a baby can look or act like they have a tongue tie in the early days, but it’s just the impact of delivery.
Many times with tummy time, the guppy pose, and intentional handling by changing the direction baby’s head is facing while sleeping or in the car seat can help reduce this tension. These stretches show to how intentionally help reduce a head turn preference to help improve breastfeeding. If you have any concerns about a head turn preference or tension in baby’s head, neck, or shoulders, please seek a referral and evaluation by a skilled and trained chiropractor, craniosacral therapist, physical or occupational therapist.
#babymassage #tonguetie