Meet Meg! We are former co-ed soccer teammates and now share a passion for supporting families on their health and wellness (and sleep!) journey. Thank you Meg for being a part of my guest blog series!

osteopath professional woman

Intro of Meg

Hey Little Sleep Space readers, my name is Meghan Crewson, an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner working out of Advanced Women’s Health Ancaster. I am passionate about treating infants, children, pregnancy, and postpartum Mommas. I have always been intrigued by the holistic health space, however, when I decided to start school for Osteopathy, I had no idea how much I would fall in love with this work. I have been working as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2016, and an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner since 2021 and continue to learn and grow from my patients and mentors every day. I treat patients through their fertility and pregnancy journey to help them with their ever-changing body and postures. I provide relief for infants from reflux/constipation, as well as older children and adults from joint pain, headaches, and digestive issues. I am excited to have started working in Ancaster as of July 2023 and connect with practitioners in the community to create a comprehensive care team for patients. 

How did you decide to become an Osteopath? What did your training include? 

I was deciding between becoming a Physiotherapist or a Naturopath and ended up shadowing a Naturopath who also had an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner working at their clinic. Once I found out about Osteopathy and how it combined a holistic approach with hands on manipulations, I knew it was the right fit for me. I went to school for osteopathy at the Canadian College of Osteopathy for 5 years part time which included theoretical anatomy and physiology, and hands-on training in joint manipulations, fascial release, organ manipulation and cranial sacral therapy. To complete my Osteopathy license, I was required to conduct a research thesis where I chose to study meditation with Osteopathy students. 

What is Osteopathy? How is it different from a Chiropractor or Physiotherapist? 

Osteopathy is a hands-on therapy that’s goal is to address the root of the problem to gain alignment and proper function of the body. Osteopathy balances the body to promote the body’s ability to heal itself. The big difference between Osteopathy and other practices is the gentle approach, organ fascial release and craniosacral therapy. With that being said, Osteopathy pairs very well with both Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. I believe every patient needs a comprehensive care team, especially with more complicated situations. 

What type of concerns do you help families work through with their babies? 

Osteopathy is well known for how gentle it can be, making it a great practice for pediatrics. The most common concerns I treat for my infant population are reflux, tongue tie restrictions, constipation, head shape, and torticollis. Some extra things I help with are difficulty burping, and developmental delays. 

 If a baby was gassy, fussy, appears in pain, etc., are you able to support a family? What would this support look like? 

 Yes, commonly I see babies when they are uncomfortable, and the parents are seeking support. This means babies won’t always be happy when they see me, and that is OK, I am blessed with thinking all crying babies are adorable. During an appointment I work with parents to have the baby be as comfortable as they can be. This includes me walking around with baby while treating, having a parent feed their baby during treatment, and changing diapers as needed to keep baby comfortable. I also have some toys and books as distractions, but parents are more than welcome to bring their own. I commonly send parents’ home with resources, whether it is another practitioner I would recommend, or visual resource to reference at home. The Dunstan Baby Language is a common resource I give for newborns.

Do you work with babies with delayed physical developmental milestones? 

Yes, I often see babies who are delayed in different categories. Osteopathy works primarily on anatomical issues; therefore, I can help babies through difficulties with tummy time, crawling, walking and hopefully prevent speech issues by addressing restrictions of the tongue early. 

What is your favourite thing about the work you do? 

My favourite thing about the work I do is hearing peoples’ stories and being a part of helping them through their journey in a thoughtful and gentle way. Babies are also cute. 

What could a parent expect at a first visit?

A parent can expect me to listen and ask questions regarding their experience with baby from conception to their present concern. During treatment, parents can expect me to always put the baby and what they need first. The treatment itself is very gentle and usually we lay baby on their back, tummy, or sit them up with assistance.

I also tend to walk around with baby during treatment if they are fussy. The littlest humans are the best to work with as they generally can lay down without too much entertainment necessary, so I encourage parents to bring babies in as early as possible. 

What happens if my baby needs to feed during an appointment?

Feeding is an excellent way to keep baby still and calm during treatment, so if the parent is comfortable, I encourage feeding while I work with baby. This includes breaks for burping. 

You are next in line at Starbucks, what are you ordering?

A London fog with oat milk, cozy for fall!

How could a family connect with you that is looking for support?

My website has an area to email me directly and is the most straightforward way to reach me. I also check my Instagram messages frequently, but not as often as my email. You can reach Meg here.

 

Thank you Meg for sharing your knowledge with the Little Sleep Space community!

If you like guest blogs, be sure to check out my blog interview with Britt Holton, IBCLC Candidate and Owner of Lark & Lux Consulting.

By Published On: November 4, 2023Categories: Baby Health, Guest Blogs, Newborn Baby Sleep, Postpartum