Does my baby need an osteopath?
Osteopaths advise all babies to be sent to an osteopath in the first four weeks of life, but this has no proven function. Osteopathy is a supplement to orthodox medicine and is supposed to heal so-called birth traumas through manual therapy. Birth is a natural process and the baby’s body is designed to deal with this stress, so no therapy is usually necessary.
Osteopaths say that they can sense and treat difficulties that orthodox doctors do not detect. This should reduce increased crying and weakness in drinking. Neither the preventive appointments with osteopaths nor the courses are scientifically proven and the professional title osteopath is not a protected term, so that every osteopath can call himself.
The treatments are not covered by most health insurance companies.If an osteopathic course is absolutely necessary, parents should make sure that a sound education can be proven and that the exercises do not harm the child. Conclusion: Because it is not scientifically proven and there are other more meaningful courses available, a visit to an osteopath is not absolutely necessary.
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