Support for Pregnancy, Babies & New Families~
In addition to being licensed as a bodyworker, I also hold certification as a Postpartum and Birth Doula. I have 15 years of experience working with babies. My work incorporates Osteopathic Manual Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Acupressure, Reflexology, Neuroplasticity for Babies, Somatic Counseling and Pre and Perinatal Attachment Work. I have extensive training and enthusiasm for working with this formative phase of life- the time from conception through birth... and extending into the first year of a baby's life. I have attended births, and feel reverence and deep respect for this powerful process of life welcoming new life to this earth. I have assisted many babies and new parents ease difficulties surrounding nursing, digestion, sleep, as well as navigate many other physical and emotional challenges.
Newborns & Infants:
I offer a series of in-home visits for newborns to help integrate the birth experience, and to ease baby's transition to life outside the womb in the early weeks/months. During these visits I teach parents to use specific, gentle hands-on techniques for supporting their baby to resolve any physical restrictions that are present at the time of our visit. The purpose of pediatric craniosacral and osteopathic manual therapy is to offer gentle and effective hands-on treatment to assist in balancing and harmonizing the physical structure, regulating the nervous system, and resolving possible residual strain patterns stored in the body from the prenatal or birth experience. Being born is a big deal, and adjusting to life on land can be filled with unique challenges. This work helps to process and digest all the big experiences so the baby and family can adjust in a healthy way. The significance and importance of bodywork for babies is profound. Practitioners in this craft learn to asses the baby's body for subtle restrictions or blockages in the spine, cranium, and soft tissue. We are interested in helping the baby to release and move through these restrictions so that they may grow and develop with optimal freedom of movement in their bodies. It is my belief that many of the physical restrictions that we experience as adults actually originated in infancy. If we can attend to these subtle restrictions and help them to dissipate before they have several decades to solidify, and later define and limit our movement pathways... then we are doing a tremendous service to that individual - and a future generation.
"As the twig is bent, so grows the tree"
~Alexander Pope
Postpartum Care: FSM for postpartum healing.
Family Coherence work:
In addition to being licensed as a bodyworker, I also hold certification as a Postpartum and Birth Doula. I have 15 years of experience working with babies. My work incorporates Osteopathic Manual Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Acupressure, Reflexology, Neuroplasticity for Babies, Somatic Counseling and Pre and Perinatal Attachment Work. I have extensive training and enthusiasm for working with this formative phase of life- the time from conception through birth... and extending into the first year of a baby's life. I have attended births, and feel reverence and deep respect for this powerful process of life welcoming new life to this earth. I have assisted many babies and new parents ease difficulties surrounding nursing, digestion, sleep, as well as navigate many other physical and emotional challenges.
Newborns & Infants:
I offer a series of in-home visits for newborns to help integrate the birth experience, and to ease baby's transition to life outside the womb in the early weeks/months. During these visits I teach parents to use specific, gentle hands-on techniques for supporting their baby to resolve any physical restrictions that are present at the time of our visit. The purpose of pediatric craniosacral and osteopathic manual therapy is to offer gentle and effective hands-on treatment to assist in balancing and harmonizing the physical structure, regulating the nervous system, and resolving possible residual strain patterns stored in the body from the prenatal or birth experience. Being born is a big deal, and adjusting to life on land can be filled with unique challenges. This work helps to process and digest all the big experiences so the baby and family can adjust in a healthy way. The significance and importance of bodywork for babies is profound. Practitioners in this craft learn to asses the baby's body for subtle restrictions or blockages in the spine, cranium, and soft tissue. We are interested in helping the baby to release and move through these restrictions so that they may grow and develop with optimal freedom of movement in their bodies. It is my belief that many of the physical restrictions that we experience as adults actually originated in infancy. If we can attend to these subtle restrictions and help them to dissipate before they have several decades to solidify, and later define and limit our movement pathways... then we are doing a tremendous service to that individual - and a future generation.
"As the twig is bent, so grows the tree"
~Alexander Pope
Postpartum Care: FSM for postpartum healing.
Family Coherence work:
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"The care and advice Rachael has given me during the last few months of my twins pregnancy helped keep me sane and healthy. Her help has been such a blessing during this time. If I ever get the chance, I will be recommending her to anyone who might need her!" |
~Treating Babies~
CranioSacral therapy and Osteopathic Manual Therapy can help babies and moms ease challenges with breastfeeding. This is achieved by releasing restrictions in the cranium, facial bones, mandible, thorax as well as in the spine, abdomen and pelvis of the infant. This work is also helpful to bring increased relaxation to "fussy" or sleep disturbed babies. "Gassy", Colic or digestive challenged babies (including constipation, vomiting, spit-up and reflux/GERD) can find relief as we release restrictions in the organs and abdominal tissues. Craniosacral and manual therapies are effective for treating babies with: -nursing or digestive issues -tongue tie & lip tie (and post-revision aftercare) -disrupted sleep patterns -vision/hearing problems -Sinus & Respiratory illness -torticollis -births involving forceps/vacuum extraction -especially long or difficult labor -cranial abnormalities / sutural restrictions -developmental delays, or brain injury -Premature Birth -Birth Trauma Tongue Tie & Lip Tie: tongue tie and lip tie (or tethered oral restrictions) are a big deal. Craniosacral therapy helps to regulate and balance the Autonomic Nervous System- both parasypathetic & sympathetic branches (that are responsible for 'fight-or flight' and 'rest-and -digest' responses, as well as regulation of the internal organs and glands). It therefore gives the patient greater access to healthy response states, and is beneficial for hyperactivity (ADHD, ADD), as well as babies/children who are withdrawn and/or diagnosed with 'failure to thrive'. "Rachael began working with my twins when they were one week old. The therapy she performed significantly improved their ability to latch when breastfeeding, improving their digestion and my comfort level- making nursing easier for all of us." |
~Treatment during Pregnancy~
Experience relief from... -pelvic pain -SI joint pain -hip/low back pain -disrupted sleep -neck/shoulder tension Treatments during pregnancy are centered around relaxation, optimal pelvic alignment, and freeing up the sacrum to alleviate sciatic pain and ease low back/ hip discomfort. When the sacrum and pelvis can move easily, that is ideal in preparation for birth. During my treatments I use a Body Cushion, which enables pregnant women to lay in a prone position (face down) in a supported posture, without putting pressure on the belly. The is ideal for releasing pelvic and low back restrictions, as well as upper back and shoulder tension. For many women, there is great relief in having the possibility of lying face down during pregnancy, and the posture itself provides increased relaxation and release. I also offer the option to rent a Body Cushion, which gives more variations for comfortable positioning (sidelying and prone) at home. Rental fee is $20/week.
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Early Imprints
Essentially, our bodies are intelligent and know how to restore us to balance and health. There are organizing principles and tremendous forces of health and potency that are built-in to our systems. From the start, we are hardwired to connect, and to give and receive love. Everything in us is organized to keep us safe, cared for, and in connection. This is part of our survival circuitry, and as babies we have these patterns in place, even before we are born.
If the natural flow of birthing and bonding is interrupted, this can result in certain kinds of disorganization for the infant that can cause difficulty feeding, sleeping, settling, and can affect healthy development. For the mother, it can result in pain (physical and emotional), anxiety and PPD. During a session, we discover the underlying root cause for the imbalances that may be influencing the mother/baby pair and the new family. Through this process, everyone I'm the family can begin to orient towards their strengths and health, experience their combined potency, and access their resources more easily. With more resources, everyone can access more energy, and the disorganized patterns begin to re-organize. This work engages the intelligence and inherent wisdom in the body, and supports a movement towards wholeness and ease- for the baby, mother and family.
Essentially, our bodies are intelligent and know how to restore us to balance and health. There are organizing principles and tremendous forces of health and potency that are built-in to our systems. From the start, we are hardwired to connect, and to give and receive love. Everything in us is organized to keep us safe, cared for, and in connection. This is part of our survival circuitry, and as babies we have these patterns in place, even before we are born.
If the natural flow of birthing and bonding is interrupted, this can result in certain kinds of disorganization for the infant that can cause difficulty feeding, sleeping, settling, and can affect healthy development. For the mother, it can result in pain (physical and emotional), anxiety and PPD. During a session, we discover the underlying root cause for the imbalances that may be influencing the mother/baby pair and the new family. Through this process, everyone I'm the family can begin to orient towards their strengths and health, experience their combined potency, and access their resources more easily. With more resources, everyone can access more energy, and the disorganized patterns begin to re-organize. This work engages the intelligence and inherent wisdom in the body, and supports a movement towards wholeness and ease- for the baby, mother and family.