Biodynamic craniosacral has a special heart for prenates, infants, and even parents preparing to conceive.
Why does this work support babies’ needs?
It could be said that emotion, movement, and anatomy are the languages of the body. With sensitivity, we can perceive so much more from these languages, even expressed by a 3-hour-old baby, without words. In craniosacral, this is our aim. Receiving a baby’s communication using primarily sensitivity and touch, and supporting that little one in response.
I have studied and continue to study in pre- and perinatal somatics and embryology. By acquainting myself with the micro-processes which build upon each other for a baby’s prenatal growth, and birth, I can better hold sensitive space for the infant. Like sessions for adults, the infant’s body chooses what needs to be shed first. Often it’s an emotional pattern, with accompanying nervous system signals that might have become congested. Because birth is intense for every baby, we empathically acknowledge this with the baby, in session, and share the story.
What can result from gestational or birth factors?
- Difficulty latching or swallowing
- Limited range of neck motion
- Emotional blocks in bonding – in baby or parent
- Colic and other digestive issues
- Difficulty settling and staying asleep
- Delays in rolling over, crawling and walking
their exquisite sensitivity has sentience
What are sessions like?
For the first session, it’s ideal if both parents can bring baby. If you’re pregnant now, even better! Book a BCST session for yourself, as this can support more of a conscious relationship between you and your prenate now. And of course, ultimately support a smoother birth! Once baby is born, I invite the parents to share in that session, what they went through in the birth, and then, what they would imagine their baby experienced. We observe what subtle cues the baby expresses to us. Every micro-movement can be helpful communication. I as the practitioner then bring my hands to the baby’s feet, with a hand on a parent’s shoulder or back while they hold their baby. There are no quick or pressured interventions. Very slow and mindful.
In that first session, I am making contact only about 15 minutes. In subsequent sessions, we meet for approximately 30 minutes and I make contact most of that time. Subtle adjustments in the baby’s system, often in their fascia, happen quickly in contrast to an adult’s system. Big gains unfold – such huge energy do they carry. But you probably knew that if you’re watching your baby grow before your eyes! It’s amazing.
How many sessions are needed?
This depends on the severity of complications your little one is facing. As I said, we can see big gains in a few sessions. However, if you as parents faced loss prior to the birth, or overwhelming circumstances around the birth, your family will benefit from 8-12 sessions, as the heightened emotions settle and security is re-established. Each additional session is a bit more healing and restoration, for everyone present.
Fees
Intake: $50
Subsequent sessions: $40
Please inquire if you were hoping to bring your child over 12 mos. If your child is a candidate, their session will look different from a young baby’s session. These fees apply to ages 0 through 15 years old.
Interview of Ray Castellino, DC, on this type of work: Visit Kindred
Another voice with solid info, in this field, very experienced: Kate White
Or see more from the field of PPN psychology: Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health
Intrigued by neuroscience? Piazza’s study on infants’ brain responses to interaction supports the aims of the CST approaches I use with babies and toddlers. Makes me think that babies with solid parent interaction experiences logged will become a natural with mindfulness!
Evidence is mounting that prenates are sentient, conscious, feeling beings who have much to express to those who receive them into their arms at birth. David Chamberlain, PhD, has amply pointed out to us that, at seven weeks, prenates [the baby in the womb] have been observed to be sensitive to touch and at 14 weeks prenates have been observed to move away from light sources even though their eyelids are still closed. At 14 weeks prenates have clearly responded to sound. Thomas Verny cites cases which more than suggest that language development begins in the womb … David Chamberlain cites other video ultrasound studies where prenates appear to be expressing affection and emotions such as joy, gladness, fear, anger and sadness. Prenatal twins have been observed gently caressing each other in the womb. In another case a prenate has been observed making a fist and actually hitting the shaft of an amniocentesis needle invading his womb space.
Ray Castellino, Somatotropic Facilitation of Prenatal and Birth Trauma (draft shared by Franklyn Sills)