At Wilson Wellness, we are obsessed with helping babies and new moms have the best possible relationship. That’s why when new moms have postpartum depression, we understand it can feel heartbreaking and tragic for both parent and baby.
From a traditional manipulative therapy perspective we know that the occiput (bone at back of the head) and the sphenoid (bone in middle of head) where the pituitary gland (master gland that produces many important chemicals and hormones in body) is housed are directly connected to the sacrum. When a pregnant woman carries her baby over time it can push the sacrum down, and during labor the contractions and actual birth can further push the sacrum out of place. This can occur not only in natural birth situations but also with women who have c-sections.
If the sacrum is out of place, the sphenoid can be disarranged and the pituitary may be affected. This means that critical chemicals like serotonin and other “happy” producing chemical production is off. This is how many women end up with postpartum depression. Often times, when the sacrum, occiput and sphenoid are adjusted, moms who were experiencing the baby blues start to experience a lift within hours! We know of course this isn’t the only piece of the puzzle, however it could be a missing link. If you or someone you know is experiencing postpartum depression, consider talking to an Traditional Osteopath about an adjustment to your sacrum.