Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is renowned for its gentle approach to healing and its deep, moving effects. What a great tool to have at your disposal throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond! The same light touch used on adults can be also be used on babies.
Many times pregnant mums come for CST after the first trimester presenting with lower back pain, achey legs and feet and a sense of discomfort. Other complaints often include water retention, constipation and the odd headache or dizziness. These physical ailments can be addressed using CST while the therapist gently tunes in and listens to the whole body-system of the client while paying attention to what is happening at that moment.
The holistic approach of CST can be extremely powerful in connecting with the body’s innate ability to relieve imbalances, tensions, compressions and patterns of stress.
During a session mums feel their bodies relaxing and letting go sinking into a deeper and more fluidic sense of being. This is a place where they can feel safe and “let go”, starting their journey within. Many times this experience is so deep and moving that a mum will spontaneously start connecting with the baby within her belly and a new awareness of connection and relation between mother and baby begins. Usually they start having an understanding of what the therapist is feeling and having a clearer understanding of what is happening within them.
Craniosacral therapists are skilled at tuning into the connective tissue of the body which can relax intrauterine pressures, making more space for the growing baby to get into an optimal position for birth. This can also help to release tensions on the spine while supporting the Central Nervous System (CNS) and letting the very important cranial nerves flow at ease. This is of great significance as soft muscle and tissue tone is essential for a smooth pregnancy and easy birth. A soft and connected CNS will help mum and baby to feel spacious, connected, nourished and essentially relaxed.
Once the CNS reaches its crucial state of ease, connection and flow, homeostasis (an optimal balanced and constant internal environment) can be aimed for. Here is where a balance of hormones, PH, temperature and other vital body systems can begin to be reached starting from within each cell and integrating all the major organs and systems of the body.
After a course of CST sessions mums to be often feel more in tune with their bodies and better prepared for the process of giving birth. The healing experience of CST sets them on the path for a calm, centred and relaxed approach to the birthing process. In this centred state of mind, the body is relaxed and in optimum health full of energy and vitality.
Once the baby is born, follow up sessions are highly recommended as the gentle approach of CST is ideal during this specially sensitive and emotional time.
After a difficult birth babies can present signs of stress which of course will translate onto their mum’s sense of ease and wellness. In these cases the healing journey during sessions would be a three person process, mum baby and therapist; where healing takes place at a soft and nurturing pace, letting mums and babies come back to a state of ease, stillness, and the original nurturing healthy relationship between the baby and its mum.
Alfredo Hunter