As an adult, through a 9 month period of time, we would experience many events, some ‘positive’, some ‘negative.’ The same is true for each baby through their pre and perinatal life, which is from conception through to the end of being birthed.
Babies (like children and adults) respond somatically to stressful or traumatic situations, creating a cellular memory and ‘holding’ the experience in a specific body area. The event is registered in the baby’s nervous system and the foundation is laid for a belief (about them, others, and their world) that can ‘run’ unconsciously for the rest of their life. This can generate life-long patterns that influence their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. They may also hold the cellular memory of associated feelings such as fear, loneliness, despair or panic.
The nervous system of humans is designed to lay down more neural pathways around traumatic events compared to happy events.
Our society generally recognises that adults who have experienced a traumatic and shocking time benefit from being able to tell their story to an empathetic person in a safe environment.
Babies similarly seek to communicate the stress and pain of their time in the womb and/or birth experience non-verbally and through vocal sounds. Behaviours such as crying inconsolably, symptoms of colic or having difficulty with bonding, eating or sleeping may present as a result of earlier stress during the pre or perinatal periods.
A baby may tell their story through specific body postures and movements known as Baby Body Language. They may also express themselves through Memory Crying. This crying is different to that used by a baby to convey a present need for support because they are hungry, tired, wet, hot or cold. Older, verbal children, use words.
It is important to be aware that even babies who had a natural and /or a seemingly easy birth may have experienced aspects of the pregnancy or birth as emotionally difficult and/or physically painful.
In an Integrative Baby Therapy session, I assist the parents in feeling supported in recognising and understanding the body language and crying expressed by their baby and to respond to the story with compassion.
Integrative baby therapy provides an opportunity for the baby to express their story in a safe environment and to be heard and responded to in compassionate way. This can help them to: release trauma; ‘be’ more in their body; lay down more positive neural pathways and bring about a change in their symptoms.
Who might benefit?
Babies/children who may benefit from sessions can present with a variety of problems and histories, including, for example:
- ‘excessive’, ‘incessant’ or inconsolable crying
- feeding difficulties
- poor sleep
- colic
- unsettled behaviour
- where interventions were made at conception or birth
- difficulties with bonding/attachment
What happens during an Integrative Baby Therapy session?
Integrative baby therapy involves creating a trusting environment for the baby/child as well as the parents. The trust facilitates a space that is safe enough for the baby to express themselves, and for the adults to compassionately see, hear and understand the baby’s story of distress.
During a session, those present get comfortable on a mat on the floor. The baby remains clothed throughout the session. Parents may choose to bring a favourite few toys or items and I provide appropriate toys for the baby/child to play with. I listen and talk with the parent/s. I also listen and talk to the baby and observe their baby body language. This helps to establish what the specific stressful event was and where the baby is holding it in their body.
With permission from the parent/s, I use some very gentle, light contact with my hands on the baby’s head and/or body, in areas where trauma was experienced. An opportunity is then created by myself and the parent/s for the baby to ‘re-wire’ the neural patterning from the original event. For example, for the baby to experience a sense of power where they felt powerless, or a prolonged warm welcome if they had been separated from parents immediately after birth.
It is possible to work with the baby whilst they are sitting, lying down, crawling, walking or being held in a parent’s arms.
Read more general information on therapy sessions or view in-depth resources.
Training
My training was completed during a period of time that I was living and working in the UK. Some of the courses were through The Institute for Pre and Perinatal Education (IPPE) with Karlton Terry and Katherine Keir. Most of my training was through Conscious Embodiment Trainings with Matthew Appleton (MA RCST UKCP) and Jenni Meyer. (RN RM BSC Hons). I feel extraordinarily grateful to have had the opportunity to train under these incredible people.
