Tag Archives: bottle feeding

Sleep Apnea in Children, it’s on the rise…. and what to do about it.

We now know that sleep apnea is a serious condition.  There are different forms: central and obstructive, but each can put a tremendous stress on your cardiovascular system, because of inadequate oxygen.  In obstructive, the airway is blocked, which reduces or completely stops the airflow.  In central, the brain doesn’t send the signals needed to breathe.

Decreasing the chance for developing sleep apnea is very real and can be accomplished with proper screening and treatment in children.

Signs of airway constriction in children include:

  • wetting the bed
  • toss and turn at night
  • act hyperactive
  • clench or grind teeth at night
  • have dark circles under the eyes
  • snore
  • have night terrors
It’s important to know this because a lot of “symptoms” in children are considered to be normal “growing symptoms”, but in reality they aren’t normal.  Just like growing pains aren’t normal, it is a sign of cranial tension.

So,
What is the cause of sleep apnea in children??

Obviously, there is some form of airway constriction, but what causes this to happen?

According to a TMJ and Sleep expert, they believe that the increase in sleep apnea in children is because of two reasons:

1. Babies not breastfeeding, and not breastfeeding for long enough periods of time.

2. Introducing soy based infant formulas which cause inflammation in the sinuses and change their shape.

….

So let me elaborate on these two points and include some thoughts of my own.

  • Breastfeeding for babies is really vital and has so many benefits not just nutritionally.  What is amazing regarding this is that the mother’s nipples actually have receptors and sense when the baby needs something and provides it.  Isn’t that pretty cool?  It is also a huge source of immune support, and where babies start building their immune system.
    • When it comes to sleep apnea, we know this is an airway and cranial problem.  Without breastfeeding, the baby misses out on natural development of the cranial system.  Bottles ARE NOT the same and do not provide the same stimulation  an infant needs.
    • A lot of children are bottle fed because of breastfeeding difficulties.  Yes, breastfeeding is actually really difficult, and a lot actually depends on the baby.  Which can be challenging because then moms think they are inadequate. Because birth is so traumatic for both involved, that is where I come in.  Cranial care and screening infants can be extremely helpful for breastfeeding.   So don’t dispair!
      • It is through this I am able to screen for cranial problems, look for tongue and lip ties, screen for allergies, tonsils and neck problems.  All of these can be life changing for breastfeeding and allow mother and baby to connect.
      • There is a lot of controversy about how long an infant should actually breastfeed, and I believe cranially that less than one year is inadequate for cranial molding.
    • So, breastfeeding stimulates cranial movement and growth, so without, the child is more likely to develop sleep apnea.
    • If you have breastfeeding problems, don’t jump to a bottle! Give this care a shot, it could be life changing for your little one.  Lactation consultants can also be extremely important and I work with quite a few.
  • Soy protein.
    • We know that soy for everyone can be a real inflammatory food.  Non GMO organic soy in small amounts can be good for adults, but too much of a good thing is NOT good.  About two ounces a day is adequate.  Most people go wayyyy overboard and have soy in their coffee and soy in there lunch and tofu for dinner, ect.  Soybean oil is also in most every packaged food, so be aware.
    • For growing babies, they need the nutrients in breast milk, and soy is NOT and does not have the essential nutrients the infant needs.  It’s also very high in estrogen and causes a lot of infants to get sinus problems and airway inflammation.
    • Although cow’s milk isn’t a good alternative because the casein amount is about ten times what a human baby needs (it is meant to grow a baby cow).  If there are extreme breastfeeding challenges where the mom is not producing enough (which can be helped as well), or things just aren’t working I recommend making your own infant formula which I can give to you if need be.
  • Birth trauma
    • This ties in with the breastfeeding, but birth trauma effects the cranial bones and creates what are called cranial faults.  This means the sinuses and airways don’t develop properly.  Getting craniopathy after birth is extremely important.  Also if the tongue can’t reach the top of the palate, this will also cause breathing, speech and feeding difficulties.
  • The health of the mom.  
    • I believe the health of the mom is huge as well.  What are they eating? Injecting? How’s their stress level?  Are they getting regularly adjusted and ensuring there is adequate pelvic inlet space and movement.  Are they sitting a lot?  This will cause the pelvis to be out of alignment very easily which causes more painful and difficult births.
  • The Birth.
    • A lot of birth interventions are unnecessarily made, when in reality the realm of a birth has a normal variation for all.  Women are too easily rushed into having babies on a hospitals or doctors schedule rather than intuitively knowing their bodies and what they are capable of.  Of course, interventions are needed , WHEN they are needed, but they are way too often just considered a “norm”, when they can actually do harm.
      • For instance, inducing a child although sometimes needed, causes the infants head to slam into the moms pelvis in abnormal ways than it would with ease naturally.  This can cause huge cranial problems.
      • Epidural’s have side effects for moms and infants.  A lot of women have numerous side effects they don’t tell you about, and although you don’t feel contractions, your baby does, which can put it under distress when natural endorphins aren’t released (they don’t’ get released with epidurals).  The endorphins are what ease the mom and baby through labor.  Without, the baby feels everything, and often more ptocin is used when the baby is in distress which can cause more distress, and then ultimately “emergency C sections”, which they could have potentially caused with the interventions.
      • I believe proper birth positions can change dramatically the birth.  Laying on your back goes against gravity, so why lay or your back the entire labor?  Get up, move, squat…. go with gravity instead of against which usually leads to the next point….
      • Don’t get me started on episiotomies, I see far too many women with trauma and pelvic floor problems because of this unnecessary cut for some women.
I hope this was enlightening to you this week, as I learned a lot from some brilliant minds in the functional dentistry realm, midwifery care and other natural birth professionals. I think the most important factor here is we have to protect the baby, and children’s sleep apnea is on the rise. And the amazing thing is WE CAN GROW THEM OUT OF IT!.

Why make them suffer as adults, when with craniopathy and possible co-mangement, children can grow and develop normally without worry of carrying it into adulthood.

So, please..

Share, tweet, snap…. whatever you need to… Get this out!  Children after all are the future.  

OIL OF THE WEEK

On the spotlight this week is DoTerra’s Breathe Products.

This is a combination of oils, that works wonders for opening up the air passageways, and detoxifying the air.doTERRA Breathe is a remarkable blend of essential oils including Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Lemon, Cardamom, Ravintsara, and Ravensara. doTERRA Breathe maintains feelings of clear airways and easy breathing while minimizing the effects of seasonal threats. doTERRA Breathe can be applied topically to the chest, back, or bottom of feet, or diffused at nighttime to calm the senses and promote a restful sleep.

Uses

  • Diffuse, inhale directly from palms, or rub on chest or feet when seasonal and environmental threats are high.
  • Use when outdoors to minimize the effects of seasonal threats.
  • Diffuse at bedtime for a restful environment.

Directions for Use

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize any skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.

Cautions

Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas. Avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.