The Importance Of Infant Cranial And Pelvic Examination
As we all know the process of birth itself can be extremely traumatizing not only for the mother but also for the infant as well. In the development of the infant skull, it begins as a sphere and gradually assumes its shape of a blunt end football. The development of the occipital bowl (the base of the skull) takes firm shape at the sixth month of development. The frontal (forehead) contour begins to round at the eighth month. In the infant prior to birth, there are soft cartilaginous sutures of soft spots that allow for the passage through the mothers birth canal. The infant skull is laid down basically in cartilage and membrane and subject to many mishaps in the first year of life.
The first ten days in an infant’s life are vital. The baby should roll from back to abdomen at about five months, sit up at six months and crawl at ten months. The first tooth comes in at about six months and at ten months the child should stand alone and walk at one year. Mothers should be cautioned that if a child persists in wanting to sleep in just one position something is wrong. The child should be able to use language at eighteen months. The child at about eighteen to twenty-four months may not take the pacifier. Many children with sever cranial imbalances cannot suck. Strong and noisy sucking is the wanted sign seen in healthy babies. Other indications of cranial distortions, the infant does not want to separate legs during diapering. They will cry and fight this movement. Deviations from normal eye movements such as eyes turned in are also indications of cranial distortions. And any abnormal skull formation from birth is another sign.
In the infant pelvis there are over 35 areas that have not yet been fused or ossified. Over half of those areas will ossify by the ninth month. Birth in what is referred to as the L.O.A. (left occiput anterior) is the ideal position. Any deviation from this normal birth position can result in cranial or pelvic imbalances. Many infants and children developing feet or knees that turn in or out are direct results of pelvic imbalances which are easily identifiable and correctable through examination. Both ilium (hip bones) in an infant should easily move back and forward when examined. Other symptoms and conditions that may be, due to cranial and pelvic distortions are hyperactivity, ear infections, asthma, allergies, as well as vision and hearing disorders. We encourage parents to have their children examined as soon as six days after birth. We feel that many future health problems can be avoided through early cranial and pelvic examination. You owe it to your children.
Dr. Davis has been a craniopath (specialist in cranial evaluation and corrections) over the last twenty-six years. He is a charter member of the International Craniopathic Society as well as having taught craniopathy to hundreds of doctors worldwide.
