Bridging the Gap Between Pediatric Osteopaths and IBCLCs  |  June 2025  |

By Sara Ward, Clarity and Compassion: Birth Journey Services

Hey mamas, doulas, and birth worker besties—have you ever noticed how pediatric osteopaths and IBCLCs (those amazing lactation consultants) aren’t teaming up as much as they could? Am I the only one wondering why we’re not shouting this from the rooftops? I’m sitting here sipping my ice lemon water, thinking about how these two could be a total dream team for new moms and babies.

At Clarity and Compassion, I’m all about guiding mamas to better mental health and a happier life, and I truly believe that when we wrap moms in love and support, we’re building stronger families—and a stronger world. So, let’s chat about this gap and how we can fix it!

What’s the Deal with This Gap?

Okay, picture this: a new mama is struggling with breastfeeding. Her baby’s not latching right, she’s stressed, and she’s starting to feel like she’s doing it all wrong. She sees an IBCLC who helps with latch tips and boosts her confidence—love that! But maybe the baby’s still fussy because of some tension from birth, like a tight neck or jaw. That’s where a pediatric osteopath could step in with their gentle, hands-on magic to ease that tension. But here’s the thing: these two pros aren’t always connecting. It’s like they’re both superheroes, but they’re not in the same comic book.

Are any of you seeing this too? I mean, why aren’t we making a bigger fuss about getting these pros to work together? IBCLCs are rock stars at helping with the emotional and technical side of breastfeeding, while osteopaths can fix physical stuff in babies—like cranial tension—that might be making feeding tricky. If they teamed up, it’d be like peanut butter and jelly for postpartum care. So, why’s this not happening more?

Why This Matters for Mamas and Babies

Here’s where my heart’s at: I believe that when we support a mama’s mental health, we’re planting seeds for a healthier society. A happy, confident mom can bond better with her baby, handle the chaos of parenthood, and feel like the superhero she is. But when breastfeeding isn’t clicking, it can hit her hard. She might feel anxious, doubt herself, or even slip into postpartum blues. That’s not what we want for our mamas, right?

And don’t get me wrong, there’s another gap playing a part here: the overuse of C-sections and the lack of education on babys physical changes through vaginal delivery. So many mamas don’t know that C-sections can skip a natural compression process, which helps shape a baby’s skull and body for feeding and movement. This can leave babies with extra tension—think tight necks or jaws—that makes latching tricky. Are any of you seeing this in your doula work too? We need to start shouting more about how birth methods impact infant feeding struggles along with other preventable postpartum challenges!

This is where the gap between osteopaths and IBCLCs hurts. An IBCLC might tweak the latch, but if the baby’s body is still tense from birth—especially after a C-section—it’s only half the fix. An osteopath could help ease that tension, but without lactation support, the feeding vibe might still be off. Why aren’t we making a bigger deal about this? If these two worked together, moms could walk away feeling supported from every angle.

So, How We Can Make This Happen?

I’m not here to blend in —I want to shake things up with ideas that light up the preconception journey over to the postpartum world. 

Heres my thoughts on how we can get osteopaths and IBCLCs to join forces and make life better for mamas and babies:

Link Them Up Locally: Imagine if IBCLCs and osteopaths had each other on speed dial! An IBCLC could say, “Hey, this baby’s latch is off—let’s get an osteopath to check for tension.” And vice versa. It’s like setting up a playdate for pros who can make magic together.

Inviting Osteopaths to join the local breastfeeding clinics is a good place to start.

Throw Fun Workshops: Picture a cozy workshop where an IBCLC and an osteopath teach mamas how breastfeeding and body alignment go hand in hand. They could share tips, answer questions, and maybe even do a demo. It’d be like a doula school study session, but for moms!

Push for Team Care: Let’s dream big—postpartum clinics where IBCLCs and osteopaths work side by side. It’s not just about making things easier for moms; it’s about saying loud and clear that maternal care is a big deal. Who’s with me on this?

Let’s Wrap Mamas in Love. I truly believe that when we pour love and care into moms, we’re rebuilding society one family at a time. A mama who feels supported can shine bright, love her baby fiercely, and face motherhood with joy. But we’ve got to close this gap to make it happen. Are my doula pals agreeing? Or am I just geeking out over here?

So, start the conversation! Share this post with your birth worker crew, drop a comment with your thoughts, or tag an IBCLC or osteopath you love. Together, we can make postpartum care feel like a big, warm hug for every mama and baby. At Clarity and Compassion, I'm here to guide you to solutions that actually help your journey. You got this, mama—your heart guides the love we share. 🌿