Preventive Paediatric Osteopathy

Preventive
Paediatric
Osteopathy

Luc
Peeters,
MSc.Ost.
&
Grégoire
Lason,
MSc.Ost.

The
International
Academy
of
Osteopathy
-‐
IAO

www.osteopathy.eu

Osteopaths often treat children with different kinds of disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), restlessness, food intolerance,
behaviour problems, motoric retardation, sleep disorders, Minimal Brain Damage
(MBD)… are all familiar disorders on which osteopathy, and craniosacral osteopathy
in particular, tries to have a positive influence.

Sometimes osteopaths have an effect on the health and functioning of these children
(or they think they do), and sometimes they don’t.

The well trained osteopath, who keeps up with recent scientific findings, must be
aware that there is more and more proof that several of these disorders are caused
during pregnancy and that information towards pregnant women and towards women
who want to get pregnant is of the outmost importance to have the maximum chance
on a healthy and happy baby that grows up with all possible chances to get a happy
and healthy life.

When a mother doesn’t consume enough essential fatty acids during pregnancy and
lactation, brain, eyes and liver of a child will not develop properly. Long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids from biosynthesis in the mothers’ liver are essential
components of the cell membranes of the brain, retina and liver, foetal and new-born
heart. (Bautista and Zambrano 2010) The mother’s liver must therefore work
properly.

Glucose deficiency is the starting signal for childbirth. When a child uses some 15%
of the mothers’ metabolism, childbirth is near. It is shown that girls that suffer from
eating disturbances such as anorexia, bulimia had often problems around childbirth.
One can ask the question whether their hippocampus couldn’t sufficiently cope with
glucose levels at that time. (Swaab 2010) Could the carbohydrate metabolism of the

1

mother play a role? Even childhood adversities versus certain food that leads to
weight problems during adolescence and early adulthood can be caused by parental
behaviour. (Johnson et al 2002)

Thyroid hormones are related with brain development and metabolic regulation.
Mothers that have insufficient intake of Iodine increase the risk of neonatal mortality,
decrease of intelligence, delayed growth and congenital deformities. Iodine
supplementation during pregnancy decreases these phenomena. (de Luis et al 2005)

The antigens in the mother’s diet influence the risk of developing allergies during
pregnancy and therefore a high intake of carbohydrates and lipids may accelerate
allergic disease (atopic dermatitis, food allergy, asthmatic bronchitis) in infants.
(Ushiyama et al 2002)

The study of Torres et al (2010) showed that protein restriction during pregnancy
could negatively influence normal foetal brain development by changes in maternal
lipid metabolism.

An altered neurochemical profile of the developing hippocampus may underlie some
of the cognitive deficits observed in human infants with perinatal iron deficiency. (Rao
et al 2003) Perinatal iron deficiency results in persistent hippocampus-based
cognitive deficits in adulthood despite iron supplementation. (Rao et al 2011)

Elevated pre-pregnancy body mass index, excessive gestational weight gain, and
gestational diabetes are known determinants of foetal growth.
Severe antenatal stress following maternal bereavement, especially due to loss of a
child or a husband, is associated with an increased risk of certain childhood cancers
in the offspring, such as hepatic cancer and non-Hodgkin disease. (Vestergaard et al
2012)

Children have a high sensitivity to maternal stress in utero and in early childhood,
those with higher stress in both periods were particularly at risk for wheeze and
asthma. (Chiu et al 2012)

Alcohol, morphine, nicotine, marijuana, and possibly cocaine can influence
reproductive aspects of the neurobehavioral sexual differentiation process to varying
degrees. (Mc Givern and Handa 1996)

Maternal stress during pregnancy has been repeatedly associated with problematic
child development. Prenatal exposure to severe life events increases the risk of
hospitalization for asthma in the offspring. Foetal programming may be a plausible
explanation for the association. (Khashan et al 2012)

Prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol is associated with physical birth defects and an
increased risk of neuropsychological problems. Other factors, such as maternal
psychopathology, stress and poor living circumstances, may influence childhood
development in addition to the teratological effect of prenatal substance exposure.
(Irner et al 2012)

Anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy are associated with offspring
childhood overweight at age 7. (Ingstrup et al 2012)

2

Androgens are deficient in the Central Nervous System (CNS) of male homosexuals.
Hormonal factors (gonadal and adrenal hormones, hormone receptors, transduction
mechanism of the hormonal signal, neurosteroids, neurotransmitters etc.) play a
determining role in the formation of gender identity. (Corsello et al 2011, Giordano
and Giusti 1995) Can it be that the nutrition of pregnant mothers (antiandrogens
coming from pesticides, insecticides, cosmetic parabens, spearmint, some herbs)
plays a role in gender identity? (Gray et al 2001)

Maternal neuroticism, which predisposes to negative mood, may be a risk factor for
foetal growth restriction. (Chatzi et al 2012)

Stress in the intrauterine milieu may impact brain development and emergent
function, with long-term implications in terms of susceptibility for affective disorders.
(Buss et al 2012)

All these data (and there is much more research to be done in this area) suggest that
different problems in childhood can be prevented during pregnancy and during
lactation.

The major problem is that mothers and future mothers are not always well enough
informed that the influence of their lifestyle, stress level and nutrition is of the outmost
importance to deliver a healthy baby with all possible chances in life.

We see here a major role, not only for general practitioners, gynaecologists and even
schools but also for osteopaths to deliver that necessary information to pregnant
women and future mothers.

Even the social health care system will benefit from a major information campaign in
schools and in the practices of medical doctors, gynaecologists and osteopaths.
Healthy children cost less and when eventual problems persist during later life the
society pays for the treatments.

Major advices to be given:
No alcohol, tobacco or drug use minimum 3 months before and during
pregnancy and lactation.
Do not get pregnant in life periods with lots of stress. Choose life moments
with no stress and lots of happiness.
No stress and sufficient relaxation as well physically as mentally during
pregnancy and lactation.
Use no medication of whatever kind when possible (there are of course
exceptions but get informed by your medical doctor on the possible risk for the
pregnancy and foetus).
See to it that you have a normal BMI before getting pregnant and see to it that
your body weight doesn’t change drastically during pregnancy.
See to it that you have a healthy diet with sufficient polyunsaturated fatty
acids, normal amounts of carbohydrates, sufficient Iodine, proteins, vitamins
and minerals.
Avoid working with chemicals of whatever kind.

3

Avoid food and products with anti-androgen effect and xeno-oestrogens or
other toxic substances.
Use non-medical remedies for problems like nausea, heartburn,
constipation…
Exercise but don’t exaggerate.
Practice relaxation, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, …
Avoid illness.
Check your family and partners’ health for genetic disorders. Eventually
consult your doctor.
If you have a medical condition, make sure it is under control, eventually with
medication but ask your doctor about the influence on the pregnancy.
Your male partner also has to be informed. Male partners can improve their
own reproductive health and overall health by limiting alcohol, quitting smoking
or drug use, making healthy food choices, and reducing stress. Studies show
that men, who drink a lot, smoke, or use drugs can have problems with their
sperm quality. These might cause you to have problems getting pregnant.
Your partner should also talk to his doctor about his.
Get treated by an osteopath, even when there are no complaints. He/she will
optimize your health with the possibilities he/she has.
Go to your dentist before getting pregnant.
Don’t ask for medication during labour and childbirth.

Bibliography

Bautista, C. J., & Zambrano, E. (n.d.). (2010) [Biology and biochemical aspects of
long-chains polyunsaturated fatty acid during gestation]. Revista de investigación
clínica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutrición, 62(3), 267-75.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20815133

Chatzi, L., Koutra, K., Vassilaki, M., Vardiampasis, A., Georgiou, V., Koutis, A.,
Lionis, C., et al. (2012). Maternal personality traits and risk of preterm birth and fetal
growth restriction. European psychiatry  : the journal of the Association of European
Psychiatrists. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22534551

Corsello, S. M., Di Donna, V., Senes, P., Luotto, V., Ricciato, M. P., Paragliola, R. M.,
& Pontecorvi, A. (2011). Biological aspects of gender disorders. Minerva
endocrinologica, 36(4), 325-39. Retrieved from
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Mathilda Chiu, Y.-H., Coull, B. A., Cohen, S., Wooley, A., & Wright, R. J. (2012).
Prenatal and postnatal maternal stress and wheeze in urban children: effect of
maternal sensitization. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,
186(2), 147-54. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22582161

de Luis, D. A., Aller, R., & Izaola, O. (2005). [Iodine deficiency during pregnancy ].
Anales de medicina interna (Madrid, Spain  : 1984), 22(9), 445-8. Retrieved from

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Gray LE, Ostby J, Furr J, Wolf CJ, Lambright C, Parks L, Veeramachaneni DN,
Wilson V, Price M, Hotchkiss A, Orlando E, Guillette L. (2001). "Effects of
environmental antiandrogens on reproductive development in experimental animals".
Human Reproduction Update 2 (3): 248–64.

Irner, T. B., Teasdale, T. W., & Olofsson, M. (2012). Cognitive and social
development in preschool children born to women using substances. Journal of
addictive diseases, 31(1), 29-44. Retrieved from

Ingstrup, K. G., Schou Andersen, C., Ajslev, T. A., Pedersen, P., Sørensen, T. I. A.,
& Nohr, E. A. (2012). Maternal Distress during Pregnancy and Offspring Childhood
Overweight. Journal of obesity, 2012, 462845. Retrieved from
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3364588&tool=pmcentrez
&rendertype=abstract

Johnson, J. G., Cohen, P., Kasen, S., & Brook, J. S. (2002). Childhood adversities
associated with risk for eating disorders or weight problems during adolescence or
early adulthood. The American journal of psychiatry, 159(3), 394–400. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11870002

Khashan, A. S., Wicks, S., Dalman, C., Henriksen, T. B., Li, J., Mortensen, P. B., &
Kenny, L. C. (2012). Prenatal stress and risk of asthma hospitalization in the
offspring: a Swedish population-based study. Psychosomatic medicine, 74(6), 635-
41. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22753636

McGivern, R. F., & Handa, R. J. (1996). Prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse:
methodological considerations and effects on sexual differentiation. NIDA research
monograph, 164, 78-124. Retrieved from

Rao, R., Tkac, I., Townsend, E. L., Gruetter, R., & Georgieff, M. K. (2003). Perinatal
iron deficiency alters the neurochemical profile of the developing rat hippocampus.
The Journal of nutrition, 133(10), 3215-21. Retrieved from

Rao, R., Tkac, I., Schmidt, A. T., & Georgieff, M. K. (2011). Fetal and neonatal iron
deficiency causes volume loss and alters the neurochemical profile of the adult rat
hippocampus. Nutritional neuroscience, 14(2), 59-65. Retrieved from

Swaab D. (2010) Wij zin ons brein. Van baarmoeder tot Alzheimer. Ed. Contact,
Nederland.

Torres, N., Bautista, C. J., Tovar, A. R., Ordáz, G., Rodríguez-Cruz, M., Ortiz, V.,
Granados, O., et al. (2010). Protein restriction during pregnancy affects maternal liver
lipid metabolism and fetal brain lipid composition in the rat. American journal of
physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 298(2), E270-7. Retrieved from

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Ushiyama, Y., Matsumoto, K., Shinohara, M., Wakiguchi, H., Sakai, K., Komatsu, T.,
& Yamamoto, S. (n.d.). (2002) Nutrition during pregnancy may be associated with
allergic diseases in infants. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 48(5),
345-351. Center for Academic Publications Japan. Retrieved from
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14749672

Li, J., Vestergaard, M., Obel, C., Cnattingus, S., Gissler, M., Ahrensberg, J., & Olsen,
J. (2012). Antenatal maternal bereavement and childhood cancer in the offspring: a
population-based cohort study in 6 million children. British journal of cancer.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22759879

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