Charity to give Health the heads up on alternative treatments

Thursday 16 April 2015

A local charity is hoping it will just take baby steps to show the Health department how its cranial therapies are helping newborns who've had traumatic births.

Since the start of the year New Vision Children's Charity has been offering cranial therapies to all babies that have had forceps or ventouse deliveries in Jersey but now wants to get the support of local midwives to help spread the word about its free service.

Chairman Chris Duquemin believes assisted deliveries can leave newborns in a "fight or flight" or what's called a "sympathetic state." He says 93% of the children he has treated - for symptoms including colic, digestive issues, sleeping disorders, behavioural problems, learning disorders, eczema and other skin imbalances, bed wetting, stress, weight issues, headaches and back problems - have had some sort of birth trauma.

Chris and his team of therapists work to diagnose and release any restrictions in the nervous system and eventually they want expand the charity's services and offer free treatments to local babies delivered by C-section and ultimately all babies born in Jersey - that's around 1,000 a year.

He's meeting with Health in the next few weeks to try and explain the science behind his techniques and says the purpose of the charity is to be pro-active and preventative and to offer free specialist services that aren't on offer through the hospital at the moment.

He said: "Babies that are in this sympathetic state will very often unwind and resolve these issues over time, but sometimes they do not - the ones that do not often end up on our treatment tables with often severe and complex medical, neurological or developmental issues."

Chris who used to be an engineer by trade says he's always concerned about prevention so hopes to one day start working with mums in the ante-natal clinics and show them simple techniques that they can do at home.

For those who have already had their babies, he says there are three simple checks parents can do to see whether their little ones have gone through some neurological stress:

“Firstly, look at their hands. They should be relaxed with open fingers - if one or both hands have tight clenched fingers in little fists then that is a sign of internal tension.

“Secondly look for breathing - breathing should come from the belly, and not the chest. If baby is breathing from the chest, or half chest/half belly then again tension is present.

“Thirdly look for symmetry - the right side of the body should mirror the left pretty much looking at baby lying down from the feet up. If one hip is higher, one shoulder is out, or head only rolls comfortably one way, these are all signs of internal tension patterns. If a baby is stressed, they will often display at least 2 or all 3 of the above symptoms.

“Newborn babies are basically meant to eat, sleep and make a bit of mess in between!! If they are not well settled during the night, not feeding well, crying all the time or display any of the above 3 indicators, then the chances are something is up!”

The Health department says it won't be commenting on the charity's therapies until after the meeting.

You can get in touch with the non-profit organisation by emailing info@newvisionchildrenscharity.co.uk.