Craniosacral Therapy for Pregnancy, Birth, Baby, and Beyond

Craniosacral Therapy is a non-invasive, holistic treatment that uses gentle touch to support the body’s natural healing processes, improve nervous system function, and restore balance and well-being.

How Craniosacral Therapy can Support You

Pregnancy

  • Relieves Pain & Tension: CST can help alleviate common discomforts like back pain, pelvic pain, headaches, and sciatic nerve pain by gently releasing tension in the body.
  • Supports Posture & Alignment: It can encourage better alignment of the spine and pelvis, which may improve comfort and support optimal fetal positioning.
  • Enhances Relaxation: CST promotes deep relaxation, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can positively impact both the mother and the baby.
  • Improves Circulation: Helps increase circulation and reduce fluid retention, potentially easing swelling and promoting overall well-being.

Birth and Postpartum

  • Facilitates Labor: CST can help prepare the body for childbirth by relaxing the muscles, allowing the pelvic floor and tissues to soften, and encouraging better alignment of the baby for easier delivery.
  • Pain Management: It can help reduce stress and anxiety during labor, potentially easing pain and encouraging a smoother birthing process.
  • Supports Recovery: CST can help the body recover from the physical strain of childbirth by relieving muscle tension, improving posture, and addressing pelvic floor health.
  • Reduces Stress & Anxiety: Supports emotional well-being during the postpartum period by reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
  • Balancing Hormonal Shifts: CST may aid in balancing the body’s systems and supporting hormonal regulation post-birth, which can ease mood swings and other postpartum symptoms.
  • Pelvic Floor Health: CST can support pelvic floor healing by promoting optimal alignment and easing tension in the pelvic muscles.

Infant

  • Helps with Birth Challenges: CST is gentle enough to help newborns recover from the physical stress of the birth process, including any tension or compression in the skull and spine.
  • Promotes Nervous System Health: CST supports the development of the infant’s nervous system by releasing tension in the cranial bones and soft tissues, potentially improving sleep, digestion, and overall comfort.
  • Soothes Colic & Feeding Issues: Can assist in calming fussy babies, reducing colic symptoms, and supporting easier breastfeeding by promoting better latch and relaxation.

My Journey with Craniosacral Therapy

When my children were newborns, I took them to a Craniosacral Therapist. I was always in awe of the subtlety of this gentle, hands-on modality. In 2011, when I, too, needed deep healing, I dove into learning Craniosacral Therapy from Etienne Peirsman at the New Mexico School of Healing Arts.

Then, in 2022, I co-taught a course on Craniosacral Therapy for Pregnancy and the Newborn with Elana Sue St. Pierre, OT.

This skill, which helps balance the nervous system, relieve tension, and enhance well-being, has proven invaluable for pregnancy, childbirth, newborns, and postpartum recovery.