Apple Tree Osteopaths

05/09/2026

If the body keeps the score, when does that start?

A newborn doesn't have the words to say, “That was really scary” They can't make sense of what is happening like we can.

But they do have a nervous system.

So why do we accept that our adult body and nervous systems can be affected by a frightening or life-threatening experience, but thinking about babies that way seems crazy?

Maybe it's because we think of memory as something conscious.

But the nervous system is sensing, responding and adapting long before we have words for any of it.

So what about a baby who has had a really challenging birth?

Could their nervous system be affected by an experience they don't yet have the capacity to understand?

I'm not saying every difficult birth is traumatic. I'm just wondering whether we're missing something when we assume that because a baby can't think about it, their body can't be affected by it.

Maybe the question isn't whether they remember the event.
Maybe it's how their nervous system experienced it.

Just something to think about...

30/07/2026

Does your baby back arch & strain to poo?

Screaming, straining, red in the face — and then a perfectly soft nappy?

That's probably not constipation. It's called infant dyschezia, and it's not a poo problem - it's a coordination problem.

It's like squeezing a tube of toothpaste! To get a poo out, your baby has to do three things at the same time:

- Hold on to the tube (activate their core),
- Squeeze from the top (contract their diaphragm),
- Take the lid off (relax their pelvic floor).

Newborns are brilliant at the squeezing, it's usually the relaxing bit they haven't worked out yet, so they push and push against a closed cap, until eventually it opens and out comes a soft poo.

It's a skill, not a problem.

To get into the right shape for pooing, a baby needs to curl — knees up, bottom tucked, chin down - it's like a squat position. Some babies are much happier in the opposite shape. They live in extension: back-arching, pushing back, straightening out.

Does this sound like your baby?

→ Arches backwards when upset, or when you lay them down
→ Straightens their legs rather than bringing knees up
→ Fights being curled - resists the tucked-up cuddle
→ Arches out of the car seat or bouncer

Lying on their back is often not the best position. It's the easiest position to straighten out in, and the hardest to curl up in.

Try side-lying instead.
Roll them onto their side and that barrier disappears. The arching has nowhere to go, and everything else falls into place on its own. Hips bend. Knees drift up. Chin tucks.

That's the whole curled-up shape they need for pooing, and they find it without you holding them there. A few minutes at a time when they're calm and awake - always on their back for sleep.

Other things such as nervous system dysregulation or asymmetrical movements can contribute but get started with the side-lying and see how it goes. If you need a bit more help, you know where we are x

22/07/2026

"Moments not minutes." 🤍

We get asked a lot about how long a baby should be on their tummy. You'll get lots of replies to this question and the truth is, there isn't a set amount of time. It's not about hitting a number, it's the little moments through the day that build up. On your chest, over your knee, on the mat for a wriggle.

We often say — any time you pop your baby down awake on their back, pop them on their front instead. If they start to complain, move them out of the position. Job done.

If tummy time in your house is more tears than moments, there's usually a reason — and it's rarely about trying harder. I've put together a free guide explaining why some babies resist, and how to work with them instead of against them:

https://tinyurl.com/mwau9sj5

Any worries about how it's going, we're here 🤍

16/07/2026

We love working with babies 🥰

Digestive difficulties.
Preferring to look one way.
Feeding that's harder than it should be.

These are often dismissed as normal — "it's just what babies do," "they'll grow out of it."

But to us, they're signs and clues worth investigating.

A baby's body tells a story, and functional problems like these can be a sign that something isn't quite optimal - even when "it's normal".

25/05/2026

💊 Reflux medication isn't the enemy. But it shouldn't be the destination either.

Getting a baby out of pain is exactly the right call. But it's a bridge - not an answer.

I talk about why in this video. Worth a watch if you're in the thick of it right now x

24/05/2026

Phew it's hot! 🥵
If you're hunkering down indoors with a little one, avoiding the sunshine, checking the room temperature every five minutes - we feel for you x

21/05/2026

🌿 The first thing we ask every family is the same.

Tell us about the birth.

Not because we're being nosy. Because birth is a significant physical experience for your baby — and what happened during those hours often shows up in the weeks that follow.

A long labour. Forceps or ventouse. A C-section. A very fast delivery. Back to back. Each of these can leave patterns in a baby's body — in how they're holding their neck, how they're moving, how they're feeding, how they're settling.

These patterns aren't always obvious. But they're often there. And they're usually where the answers are.

Most parents come to us having already been told everything looks fine. And often it does — on the standard checks. But "fine" and "comfortable" aren't always the same thing.

If your baby is unsettled, struggling with feeding, resisting tummy time, or showing a preference for one side — their birth story is a good place to start looking.

That's what we do. We listen to the whole story. Then we look at the whole picture.

Questions? WhatsApp us.
Ready to book? Link in the comments.

Call now to connect with business.

20/05/2026

🌿 Apple Tree Osteopaths — here's what we actually do.

Every baby is different. But when something feels off — feeding, movement, comfort, settling — and you're not sure where to turn, we can help you make sense of it.

We're a specialist osteopathic clinic for babies, children and families in Berkhamsted and Princes Risborough, with online appointments available too.

We see babies and children where families notice things like:
👶 Unsettled or uncomfortable behaviour
🍼 Feeding difficulties and tongue tie
⭕ Head shape concerns and body asymmetry
🔄 Tummy time resistance and movement patterns

We also see mums.
Because your body went through something significant too — whether you're six weeks postnatal or six years on. The Mummy MOT and C-Section MOT are here to look at you properly, not just sign you off.

We listen first. We look at the whole picture. And we tell you clearly what we find.

📍 Berkhamsted & Princes Risborough
💻 Online appointments available
🏠 Home visits locally
📲 WhatsApp us first if you're not sure — or book directly below 👇

20/05/2026

🌿 Apple Tree Osteopaths — we're still here, and we'd love to help.

We're a specialist osteopathic clinic for babies, children and families — based in Berkhamsted and Princes Risborough, with home visits and online appointments also available.

Between us, we bring specialist training across paediatric and cranial osteopathy, reflex integration, infant feeding support, tongue tie care, women's health & scar therapy.

If your baby is unsettled, struggling with feeding, resistant to tummy time, or showing a head or body preference — we're a good place to start.

If you're a mum still feeling the effects of birth — whether that's six weeks or six years later — we see you too.

We've been quietly getting on with the clinical work. Time to show up here a bit more.

📍 Berkhamsted & Princes Risborough
💻 Online appointments available
📲 Book via the link or message us directly

Call now to connect with business.

30/09/2021

***Baby models wanted!***

Please spread the word! We are looking for a couple of gorgeous local babies for a photoshoot!

We looking for two babies, aged under two, who wear glasses for a commercial shoot at our Tring studio on the morning of Sunday 10th October.

In return we'll also take some gorgeous pics of your baby and mum, dad and any sibings if you choose, which are yours to keep, for free.

Please share or tag anyone who might be interested. To apply, or for more details, please send us a pic of your baby and a few details to [email protected] We will need you for 1.5 hours max on the morning of Sunday 10th October and of course we'll work around nap times.

If you'd like to know more about Lightmonkey Photography please visit our website www.lightmonkeyphotography.co.uk. We are two very experienced family and baby photographer, highly qualified, fully insured and members of The Guild of Photographers and BANPAS (Baby and Newborn Photography Association).