Motherwise News & Events
Motherwise Birth Center
The Bend, Oregon midwives at Motherwise Community Birth Center offer complete prenatal care, birth center or home birth, water birth, postpartum care, childbirth classes and craniosacral therapy for adults and infants.
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Please call or contact us for your free consultation and tour.
464 NE Norton Ave. Bend, Oregon 97701 (541) 318-6961
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Please Join us for next Early Beginnings Free Pregnancy Class. See our calendar for upcoming dates.
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Craniosacral Therapy FAQ
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
The term “craniosacral” refers to the focus on the bones of the cranium and the spinal column down to its base, the sacrum. These structures are enclosed within a membrane called the Dura Mater ‘tough mother’ that swells and recedes as the brain produces and reabsorbs cerebral spinal fluid, creating a wave-like rhythm (CSR) palpable in the entire body. Practitioners of this gentle body work use the CSR as part of an evaluative and monitoring tool. The CS therapist assesses the body for restrictions and uses soft touch (about 5 grams of pressure) to encourage mobility, expansion, and healing. Fascia surrounds all the structures within the body, ultimately forming a continuous head-to-toe sheath of layered connective tissue. Thus, adhesions in one area can have a dramatic affect on the functioning of the whole. The body’s innate wisdom seeks balance and homeostasis, and CST serves to kickstart this process in areas that have become restricted due to trauma, illness, injury, and habituated patterns of holding tension.
How can CST serve one while pregnant?
The gentle bodywork of CST is an excellent tool for assisting the pregnant mother (and developing baby) in releasing restrictions in her body to encourage optimal openness during this time of immense change. Specifically, CST is helpful for releasing the pelvic bowl, resolving ligament/low back/hip/sciatic pain and encouraging optimal fetal positioning, for a quicker, less painful birthing experience. CST helps rebalance both the energetic and physical body, relieves the effects of daily stress and releases residual body memories of held emotional and physical trauma. A prenatal CST session is also a special time for a mom to relax and get in touch with her body and growing baby.
I’ve just had a baby, what can CST do for me?
The postpartum period is a time of incomparable adjustment. Often the attention we offered to ourselves while pregnant is shifted to the baby after birth. However new mothers need nurturing too, perhaps more than ever before! A postpartum CST session focuses on musculoskeletal reintegration of the spine and pelvis, integrating the birth process, releasing held trauma, addressing discomforts of daily newborn care, and/or healing from a surgical or medicated birth.
Why should every baby receive CST in the early days of life?
CST is a gentle, non-invasive yet effective, treatment modality making it ideal for babies. Children’s bodies are highly malleable, correcting themselves easily when given the opportunity. The process of being born subjects a baby to intense pressure on the cranium and body, sometimes causing lasting restrictions in body and tissue mobility that can persist into adulthood if they are not addressed. CST is helpful for breastfeeding issues, as overrides of the cranial bones can dramatically affect a newborn’s sucking reflex, latching ability, and tongue thrust. CST has also helped infants and children with colic, reflux, sleep issues, torticallus, chronic middle ear infections, autism, and other learning disabilities. Babies born by Cesarean, vacuum, or forceps can especially benefit from CST. This bodywork assists babies in releasing restrictive patterns before they become issues later in life, aiding in their ability to be comfortable in their bodies and allow their innate vitality to permeate.
What can I expect from a CST treatment?
Most sessions last about 40-60 minutes. All treatments begin with a brief time for sharing, enabling the practitioner to tailor the treatment to your current state of being. CST does not require disrobing and may be done in a variety of positions to accommodate you and your baby’s comfort. Infant treatments can be done in the practitioner’s arms or while being held by mom or dad. While periods of emotional release are common, most mamas and babies find the treatments extremely relaxing and enjoyable. House calls are also available for new families that would prefer not to leave their nest.