What is CST?
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle and effective form of body work. Practitioners use light pressure to address tensions and strains and to gently release them. The touch is only 5 grams of pressure (imagine the weight of a nickel on your hand). Your therapist will use light touch both to assess and treat at different areas of the body.
Not only does this touch address physical tensions, the gentleness of CST is effective in helping to calm babies and ease them into “rest and digest” nervous system mode.
CST is a non-invasive therapy that addresses the nervous system and the connective tissue that runs through the body (fascia). Your craniosacral therapist will use her hands to assess the fascial diaphragms throughout the body – at the legs, shoulders, abdomen – and will also gently palpate the back, face, and head. The light touch of CST is both to assess for tightness and tension as well as to treat the restrictions.
How can cST help my baby?
Birth is a big deal for both the mother and the baby. As adults, if we sleep wrong for one night we can often feel it for the rest of the day in our bodies. Babies have tensions and can only communicate them with their behavior – fussiness, poor feeding, difficulty making diapers. If you and your baby have experienced any of the following, we recommend setting an appointment ASAP:
- breech positioning
- transverse positioning
- c-section birth
- vacuum or forceps birth
- occiput posterior or “sunny side up” delivery
- pushing stage that was long or very short
You may also notice that your baby is struggling with movement or feeding and CST can help with the following conditions:
- torticollis
- colic
- trouble sleeping
- trouble feeding at breast or bottle
- skipping dirty diapers or straining with poops
- a newborn who is “very strong” and holds their head up
- a baby who hates tummy time
- head shape concerns
What happens at a CST appointment?
Each appt looks different and it depends on baby. We follow baby’s lead and can work with them on the table, in parent’s arms, as well as when feeding.
We will assess your baby’s specific areas of concern, but will also use this hands on treatment on the legs, arms, back, and stomach. As the fascia connects throughout the body, it’s important to follow the pattern and find where the tension originates.
CST is light, but intentional touch. We “trade time for pressure” as Meaghan Beames, CST, RMT says. This means that we might hold in one specific area until that tissue softens and releases, but that we don’t apply deep pressure. This allows us to address strains and fascial tensions in a calm and comfortable way which is extra important for babies.
Baby can wear their regular clothes in light layers, they do not have to be undressed. If baby is hungry during the session, we’ll keep working through the feeding. While there can be a cry with a release, if baby is giving an upset cry we’ll take breaks as needed or change to work with baby in your arms.
The day after a session baby might sleep more than usual or fuss a little bit as they process the release of physical or emotional tensions.
While CST seems like magic, it is based in science and physiology. Although we wish that one touch fixed all issues, we are working on the baby’s timeline and peeling back the layers. Most babies are seen between 3-7 weekly appts, depending on their specific symptoms and presentation. Follow up and home care (we’ll give you work to do between appointments) are the key to seeing results!
What Makes Infant CST at Magnolia Lactation Different?
- Amanda is trained and experienced in *infant* craniosacral therapy. While also trained in caring for children and adults, she has taken advanced infant training. Babies are not little adults and there are different considerations and techniques when it comes to the infant cranium.
- Do you also have concerns about how your baby is latching or feeding from a bottle? Are you concerned about lip and tongue ties? We can also assess and address those concerns.
- We work collaboratively. Are you already working with a lactation specialist, pediatric PT, pediatric OT, chiropractor, or SLP? Craniosacral therapy complements other therapies beautifully and increases your progress. If you are a pediatric provider wondering about how infant CST can help your clients, please contact Amanda to discuss working together.
How Can I get CST for my baby?
For baby bodywork in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas, we have you covered. You can find an appointment online and get scheduled at any time.
We are located at 11857 Bricksome Avenue, Suite A, Baton Rouge.
Infant CST Packages
You know your baby will benefit from craniosacral therapy and would like to reserve your appointments at the best rate:
You’ve had your first appointment and want to see the full results: