Birth Trauma and Stress Management

We are seeing more and more adults coming into our office due to traumatic birth issues. Traumatic births include breech, very long, very short, C-Section, forceps or suction deliveries. Problems can happen in any birth and, obviously, it is most important that both mother and child come through alive, even if traumatized. So it is without judgment that we look at this issue.

The infant developmental reflexes appear in utero, transform during birth and continue their work through the first year of life. Trauma at any of these times can affect an individual’s ability to regulate muscles, emotions and even thoughts. Most people who have had a traumatic birth have a vague understanding that it has left its mark on them. Deep stress, anxiety, exhaustion, overdrive, sustained learning issues, sensitivities and a lack of peace are only a few of these remnants.

Our work with adults of traumatic birth usually gives voice to this deeper knowledge by measuring and drawing attention to often seemingly inexplicable issues. A Plan for Learning reflex session starts with a short assessment of reflexes preselected by goals and a history. Throughout a session, the checks, integration techniques and home program activities are woven together to aid resolution. A 75 minute session cost $150 and includes a written chart of reflexes checked and measured, home activity suggestions, a DVD of the session and a CD of the activities suggested. The ideal number of visits varies from between two and eight. Reflex integration sessions booked between now and Sept 1, 2011 will receive a 10% discount with the mention of this announcement. A more peaceful future awaits.

Stroke Damage Halted by a Tickle

This is some of the most exciting info. I have found in some time. In Dec. 4, 2010 of Science News on page14, a smallish article describes an experiment with a bunch of rats that had been given strokes. The neuroscientist at University of Arizonia in Tucson stimulated a single whisker of half the rats. The whisker stimulation rerouted blood flow in the brain and got it to the stroke damaged area. The end result from 5 minutes of whisker stimulation was that there was no noticeable stroke damage in the rats whose whisker was tickled. The brain imaging show no difference between these rats and an unaffected rat brain. The only caveat is that the stimulation must be done within two hours of the stroke.



Picture from www.handle.org

Although not proven, the scientist see no reason why this might not work for humans. The whiskers relate to the mouth and hands in humans. So Face Tapping, lip and mouth buzzing, Buzz Snap and facial and hand reflex integration could make a huge difference in human recovery from stroke! Hurray for our developmental resources and neuro-plasticity! I hypothesize that this may not be the only neuro-motor trigger for help in trauma.