It is a common belief that children and babies should have no structural stresses or strains in their bodies, because they are ‘so young’. The reality is very different.

Birth is one of the most stressful events of our lives. The baby is subjected to enormous forces, as the uterus pushes to expel the baby against the natural resistance of the birth canal. The baby has to turn and twist as it squeezes through the bony pelvis, on its short but highly stimulating and potentially stressful journey.

The baby’s head has the remarkable ability to absorb these stresses in a normal delivery. In order to reduce the size of the head, the soft bones overlap, bend and warp as the baby descends. The baby’s chin is normally well tucked down towards its chest to reduce the presenting diameter of the head.

Many babies are born with odd shaped heads as a result. In the first few days, the head can usually be seen to gradually lose the extreme moulded shape, as the baby suckles, cries and yawns. However, this unmoulding process is often incomplete, especially if the birth has been difficult. As a result, the baby may have to live with some very uncomfortable stresses within its head and body.

What effect may retained moulding have?

Some babies cope extremely well with even quite severe retained moulding and compression, and are contented and happy. For others it is a very different story, and they can display a variety of problems.

Crying, irritable baby:

Crying, fractious, irritable baby needs to be rocked to sleep. Prefers being carried.

• Reason: The baby may be uncomfortable, with a constant feeling of pressure in the head. This is made worse by the extra pressure on the head when lying down.

Feeding difficulties:

The baby takes a long time to feed and one feed merges into the next. He or she may be a ‘windy’ feeder.

• Reason: Feeding difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses through the head, face and throat. The nerves to the tongue may be irritated as they exit from the skull, which makes suckling difficult.

Sickness, colic and wind:

Regurgitation of milk between feeds, bouts of prolonged crying due to colic and wind. Often worse in the evening.

• Reason: The nerve from the stomach may be irritated as it exits from the base of the skull, which would impair digestion. The diaphragm may be stretched or distorted, which further compromises both digestion and the ability of the stomach to retain its contents.

Sleep disturbances:

The baby sleeps for only short periods, and may sleep little in the day (or night!). Wakes at the slightest noise.

• Reason: The tension on the bony and membranous casing of the skull keeps the baby’s nervous system in a persistently alert state.

As the child grows.

As the child grows, the effects of retained moulding can lead to other problems. The following are the most common, but it is by no means an exhaustive list.

Infections:

Retained moulding and birth stresses take their toll on the body’s reserves, and also deplete the immune system. This leaves children more vulnerable to all types of infection.

Ear infections:

Recurrent ear infections that gradually becomes more frequent. Loss of hearing and developing ‘glue ear’.

• Reason: Retained birth compression within and around the bones of the ear may impede fluid drainage from the ear. Bottle ‘sucking’ rather than breast ‘suckling’ may produce poor swallowing action that fails to support drainage from the ear. Recurrent infections with their depletion of the immune system only lead to the next infection and further limitation of drainage from the ear.

Sinus and dental problems:

Persistent mouth breathers. Constantly blocked or runny nose. Less oxygen for the tissues, especially the developing brain. Later, this can increase the chance of dental overcrowding.

• Reason: Impaired growth and drainage of the sinuses and bones of the face due to retained moulding and reduced stimulation of growth owing to poor tongue and oral function.

Behavioural problems and learning difficulties:

Poor concentration, constant fidgeting, difficulty sitting still and hyperactivity. ‘Butterfly’ type of child who flits from one thing to the next.

• Reason: Continuation of the restlessness as a young baby linked with inconsistent acquisition of skills and lower oxygen levels at night when the brain is reinforcing those all-important connections. Retained compression moulding may make them uncomfortable being in one position for too long – which may become habit forming. The child may also be using movement in order to trigger learning skills in order to adapt for underdeveloped connections in the brain. Severe compression can modify normal patterns of learning in the brain.

Headache, aches and pains:

Headaches begin age 7-8. Growing pains/vulnerability to sprains, or other aches and pains.

• Reason: Retained moulding may focus areas of pressure in the skull, as the bony joints of the skull only form fully at around the age of 7-8 years. Postural tensions make other areas of the body more vulnerable to strain and fatigue.