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Your baby's story
You talk through the pregnancy, the birth, feeding, sleep and what you have noticed. Bring any questions you have.
Gentle osteopathy for babies and infants in Parnell, Auckland
Very gentle, unhurried care from Galina Bell, an osteopath with extensive additional training in paediatric osteopathy and more than 15 years of postgraduate study with the Sutherland Cranial College. 45-minute appointments, $120.
Registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand
Why parents bring their babies
Parents often book after a long or difficult birth, or when a baby seems uncomfortable and hard to settle: difficulty feeding or latching on one side, a strong preference for turning the head one way, restlessness, or a flat spot developing on the head. Older children come for posture, growing pains, coordination and recovery from minor bumps and falls.
Osteopathy does not replace your midwife, Plunket nurse or GP. If Galina thinks your baby needs medical review, she will say so and help you get it.
What is cranial osteopathy for babies?
Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle form of osteopathy that uses light pressure to sense and ease tension held in a baby's body, often from the position they lay in during pregnancy or the pressures of birth. It is quiet and slow, and most babies stay calm or fall asleep.
Galina has studied cranial osteopathy for more than 15 years with the Sutherland Cranial College and has extensive additional training in paediatric osteopathy. In New Zealand, only practitioners registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand can practise as osteopaths, and Galina is registered.
How gentle is it?
Treatment for babies uses very light pressure and slow, careful movements. There is no clicking or forcing. Your baby stays with you the whole time and can feed, sleep or be held while Galina works, and you can pause at any point.
What the appointment involves
A first appointment is 45 minutes.
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Gentle observation
Galina watches how your baby moves, turns and holds their head and body, and how they respond to being handled.
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Hands-on assessment and treatment
Very light, precise techniques suited to your baby's age, explained as she goes. Most of the appointment feels like a calm, unhurried cuddle.
4
Advice for home
Simple positioning, handling and play suggestions you can use straight away, and an honest view on whether another visit would help.
What to bring
- Your Well Child Tamariki Ora book
- A feed, if one is due, and a spare nappy
- A favourite blanket or comforter
- Any letters from your midwife, Plunket nurse or doctor
- Yourself, unrushed: allow a few extra minutes before and after
Osteopathy for mothers too
Pregnancy and birth ask a lot of your body. Galina also treats mothers before and after birth for back, pelvic and rib discomfort, feeding posture and recovery. Mother and baby appointments can be booked back to back.
Osteopathy for adults and pregnancyACC and baby appointments
Most baby appointments are not ACC-funded. ACC covers treatment for injuries caused by an accident, and general infant care does not usually qualify. The standard fee for babies and children under 13 is $120 for 45 minutes. If your child has had an accident, Galina’s ACC provider registration is underway and ACC claims will be available once it is complete; the ACC rate for children is $70.
Children and teenagers
Older children come for posture, growing pains, sports injuries, headaches and recovery after falls. Treatment is adapted to their age and explained in words they understand, and a parent stays in the room throughout. Children under 13 are $120 for 45 minutes, and injuries from an accident can be claimed under ACC once Galina’s ACC provider registration is complete.
Baby osteopath in Parnell, Auckland
Bell Osteopathy sees babies, children and their parents from Parnell, Newmarket, Remuera, Grafton, the Auckland CBD, Ōrākei and Mission Bay. The clinic is at 252 Parnell Road with free parking in front, so there is no long walk with a pram or capsule.
Questions parents ask
Book a gentle first appointment for your baby
252 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland. Free parking in front of the clinic.