“Moulded baby” due to intra-uterine constraint or the case of an unhappy “ banana baby” 

Clinical observations from 15 years of Chiropractic Paediatric care by Tone Tellefsen Hughes DC, BSc, FCC (paeds). October 2006. 

Some babies appear to be born distressed. These babies are often brought into the Chiropractic office by worried and tired parents who, suspects a diagnosis of infantile colic and are looking for a magical cure.

The babies cry constantly and almost always have a frown on their foreheads, as if they have a headache. They sleep briefly, very lightly or not at all. Instead, they may fall into a deep sleep once a week from shear exhaustion. Adding to parent’s distress, these babies may not get any comfort by being held or cuddled.

As a parent it is very worrying and distressing since, despite all efforts, your baby is not happy or comfortable. This may lead to problem with bonding.

In my experience the characteristics of these babies are that they often have an asymmetric head or body shape. They may be bent laterally like a banana, hence the term “banana babies”.

Many hate lying on their backs and are often uncomfortable when their nappies are being changed. They may also have constipation, flatulence or difficulty with winding.

Guttman (1990) and Biederman (1992) first described this as part of the KISS syndrome (kinematic imbalance due to sub occipital restraint) which in layman’s terms means postural imbalance due to stiffness of the upper neck. Miller recently classified it as “irritable infant of musculo skeletal origin”(IIMS) (Miller and Caprini 2005).

The “banana-shaped” or moulded baby tells us very clearly by their behaviour that something is wrong and that they are uncomfortable. Children are meant to be able to move around freely to activate their muscles and joints as well as developing their complicated nervous system for the purpose of maturing. The “banana babies” may be hampered in their natural ability to do this.

How might this occur in the first case?

Many women of today are spending long hours a day in a sitting position from morning to night during their pregnancies; commuting to work, at the office and at home in the evening. Gone are the days when women were able to stop working as soon as they fell pregnant.

As a result of this and perhaps other factors, it is possible that some babies may have been restricted in their natural movement in the womb, and therefore become tight and inhibited. A restricted foetal position in the womb may sometimes be defined as “intra uterine constraint”. This means that the baby may lack sufficient space to lie comfortably, or not lie in an optimal position for the birth process (Ohm 2001, Sutton J. 1997).

This is why the basis for prenatal chiropractic care aims to obtain good balance and alignment of the abdomen, spine and pelvis in order to improve the available space for the growing foetus (Ohm J. 2001, Tellefsen 2000, Tellefsen 2006)

It is also possible that the babies’ body restrictions may be as a result of a strenuous birth, which could cause tension through the spine and cranium (Mc Mullen M. 1995).

Since children grow an enormous amount in their first year it is important to help them on this path by making this journey as easy as possible. It is also helpful to assess babies chiropractically as soon as they are born in order to avoid these conditions becoming established.

Chiropractors with a special interest in paediatric care are experienced in recognising the muskulo-skeletal patterns of the banana shaped babies. Having made a diagnosis, our treatment is light, gentle and always with the cooperation of the baby. Once easing of tension and good alignment of the body has been achieved, the relief can be immense both for the baby and the parents!

References:

Biederman H. Kinematic Imbalance due to sub occipital strain in newborns. J of Manual Med 1992:6, 151-156

Gutmann G. Blocked atlantal nerve syndrome in infants and small children. ICA International Review of Chiropractic 1990; 46 (4), 37-43

Mc Mullen M. Physical stresses of childhood that could lead to need for chiropractic care. ICA International Review of chiropractic 1995: 51(1), 24-28

Miller J., Caprini C. Cry baby, why baby? Beyond colic: Is it time to widen our views? JCCP 2005, 6 (3), 419-423 

Ohm J. Chiropractic care in pregnancy for Safer, Easier births. 2001. ICPA Newsletter.

Sutton J.and Scott P. Understanding and teaching optimal foetal positioning. New Zeeland. Birth Concepts. 1997.

Tellefsen T. In: Complementary therapies for pregnancy and childbirth. 2000,4,61-78. Second edition. (Eds: Tiran D. &Mack S.) Baillere Tindall. London. Great Britain

Tellefsen T. Chiropractic management of anterior pelvic girdle pain and instability in pregnancy- A case study, including the management of birth preparation in the Chiropractic setting. European Chiropractors Union Convention, Stockholm, Sweden. 2006