Growing Bodies Wellness — Vancouver Island Osteopathy

Osteopathy treatment in support of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, babies, breastfeeding, children and adolescents

Osteopathy is a form gentle, hands on healthcare that focuses on total body health by treating all systems of the body framework. Its aim is to positively effect the body’s musculoskeletal, nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems to promote efficient and healthy body function.

This therapy is a holistic (whole body) approach to health care. Osteopathic Practitioners do not simply concentrate on treating the problem area, but use manual techniques to balance all the systems of the body, to promote overall good health and well being. Osteopathic Practitioners aim to find the root cause of your symptoms and address them in a gentle, manual (hands on) way.

During pregnancy and with babies and children, Osteopathy is gentle and focuses on promoting health;

For babies, treatment takes the form of gentle movements and subtle positioning (and sometimes may seem like we’re doing nothing at all!). Babe can be treated during feeds and while being held by a parent or carer – ensuring baby is comfortable and at ease.

During pregnancy and for older family members treatment remains gentle, never forcing any body to do anything it doesn’t want to, instead, encouraging each body towards efficiency, ease and comfort with gentle hands on techniques.

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Dr. Andrew Taylor Still established the practice of Osteopathy in the late 1800s in the USA.

WE ARE HERE FOR FAMILIES

With gentle osteopathy, we support family growth in all stages including;

Pre-pregnancy / Pregnancy

Conception support
Previous C-section support (include scarring)
Sciatica
Low back, hip, pelvic pain
Neck, shoulder pain
Headaches
Circulatory issues (swelling in legs, varicose veins, tingling in limbs)
Digestive issues (gas, constipation, heartburn)
Pubic symphysis dysfunction
Support for pelvic and whole body mechanicals in the lead up to birth

Post-partum

Breastfeeding related discomfort or challenges

Low back, hip, pelvic pain
Neck, shoulder pain
Headaches
Circulatory challenges (swelling in legs, varicose veins, tingling in limbs)
Digestive challenges (gas, constipation, heartburn)
C-section birth
Incontinence
Pain during sex
Stress

Babies

Torticollis (neck tilted to one side)
Plagiocephaly (flat area on head)
General breastfeeding challenges
Tongue/lip tie
Difficulty latching, sucking or swallowing
High pitched, raspy cry
Notable asymmetries in head or body
Gas
Constipation
Diarrhoea

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I started seeing Sarah after a rough first pregnancy and delivery. The aches and pains I had from my pregnancy made me want to try to get my body into the best alignment I could before having my next child. I didn’t realize how out of alignment my whole body was prior to seeing Sarah. After going through with another delivery I truly noticed a difference, especially in my delivery and post partum body recovery. I was able to use Sarah’s knowledge as well to help identify a tongue and lip tie that was present with my newborn. Which in return helped me be able to proceed with breast feeding in a much more positive way. Our family of five has been seeing Sarah ever since. I cannot even articulate how highly I would recommend Osteopathy to someone.

- Brittany Adcock

"

My family has been seeing Sarah regularly for the last 4 years. Sarah created a safe and caring connection right from the start. Her knowledge is exceptional, yet she is skilled at explaining complex information in a way which I can comprehend and use.

I saw Sarah through my second pregnancy, and during the early months of motherhood Sarah adapted appointments so that I could have my baby on the table with me! Such a treat for a new mum. My kids love going to see Sarah, she has supported them through disease, emotional distress, and more subtle body issues other practitioners did not pick up on.

One injury in particular had been causing me pain for 15 years, I had tried so many practitioners and modalities with no avail. With intuition and skill Sarah has been able to locate and support healing to a point where I no longer have pain and am able to engage in all the strenuous activities I love.

My partner and I regularly recommend Sarah to friends or anyone willing to listen. I am extremely grateful to have her supporting my whole family's health and wellbeing.

Thanks Sarah, you're awesome!”

- Emily Blezzard

"

Sarah Clement is one of the most warm, genuine and compassionate people I've ever met. My eight month old son has always had a tendency to be anxious around most strangers, yet he was immediately at ease with her. I also felt a sort of kinship within mere moments of making her acquaintance. Her gentle hands on support appears to be deliberate yet flexible, making adjustments and moving with my child so that he feels comfortable. It seems like she can sense his discomfort as he is feeling it and is able to quickly adjust or re position so that he remains relaxed. My son has always had difficulty sleeping, this is the main reason we started seeing her, but after each session he sleeps longer and more peacefully than before. She truly is a baby whisperer.

She has supported me in my postpartum recovery as well. I had an emergency c section and a lot of tension from slow healing and not being able to move for so long after his birth. I honestly could barely sit up, due to lingering pain and discomfort in my lower abdomen. Now, after a few treatments from Sarah, I'm back to doing yoga and exercising and feeling better than ever. I truly look forward to each session as I feel she has enabled my body to open up and allow for a more holistic recovery.

- Lara S.

Sarah Clement

***Sarah is back taking infant, children and pregnant clients. Each week she leaves spots that won’t show online for infants, children and pregnant people whereby the care is time sensitive. If you're looking for a spot and don't see it online, please don't hesitate to reach out to her directly (here).

If you have any questions for Sarah, please don’t hesitate to email her.

Practitioner Sarah Clement is incredibly passionate about this work and has spent the past eight years immersing herself in hundreds of hours of pregnancy, baby, child and breast/body feeding related education. As an Osteopathic Practitioner she is trained in Cranio-Sacral Therapy and visceral manipulation.

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Hi! I’m Sarah, an Australian trained (but proud Kiwi) Osteopathic Practitioner passionate in and so incredibly grateful for my work with Parent's, babes and their families. I moved from Melbourne, Australia to Vancouver Island in 2014, initially to Victoria and am now based in the Comox Valley.

As a 16 year old, fascinated by the human body and a high school athlete I decided to pursue a career in working with acutely injured athletes and rehabbing them back to high level sports performance, from start to finish. So, right out of high school I launched into my game plan: undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in sport science (BAppSci and Masters), a graduate diploma in exercise rehabilitation and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Osteopathy (BAppSci and Masters). I spent ten incredible years putting all this information together and working in elite sport with many developing (adolescent age) athletes. Here, I realized that although I loved working in sport, my stronger passion was for supporting these young athletes to understand and promote health in their bodies. So, as a self-confessed learning fanatic I changed my education tact and have spent the past eight years immersing myself in hundreds of hours of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, baby, child and breast/body feeding related education.

I provide gentle hands on treatment that follows the needs of you, your little one and your family; feedings, diaper changes and anything else so that you and babe are comfortable throughout. For babies, treatment takes the form of gentle movements and subtle positioning (and sometimes may seem like I’m doing nothing at all!). Babe can be treated during feeds and while being held by a parent or carer – ensuring baby is comfortable and at ease. For older family members, including during pregnancy, treatment remains gentle, never forcing any body to do anything it doesn’t want to, instead, encouraging each body towards efficiency, ease and comfort with gentle hands on techniques.

In working with families, beyond treatment, I aim to provide clear information, answer questions and act as an accessible resource in collaboration and conjunction with other health care providers (midwives, LC’s, doctors and dentists, for example).

As an Osteopathic Practitioner I am trained in Cranio-Sacral Therapy (Upledger style and biodynamic styles) and visceral manipulation. I continue to update my postgraduate training in both of these areas, including specific training in the area of breastfeeding, infants and children (see below).

I am IBCLE Lactation Consultation designated and am trained in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT). I am designated as a Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialist (CPRCS). I am currently working towards my Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetric and Peadiatric Osteopathy.

Some relevant further education/designations:

'International Board Certified Lactation Consultant' (IBCLC)
‘Oromyofunctional Therapy (OMT) – Level 1’
'Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialist' (CPRCS)

‘Biodynamic Cranial Osteopathy for Paediatrics’ – Phases 1 and 2
‘Cranial Techniques and Advanced Treatment Protocols in Pediatric Osteopathy’
‘Cranio-sacral therapy for breastfeeding infants’
'A manual approach to breastfeeding disorders in infants' (Osteopathic perspective)
‘Treating the birth’ (Osteopathic perspective)
‘Osteopathic Treatment of Parent and Baby’
'Plagiocephaly: Causes, Impact on Breastfeeding, and Solutions'
'Torticollis: Causes, Impact on Breastfeeding, and Solutions'
‘Tongue tie assessment workshop’
‘Breast Feeding for Health Professionals’ (90 hour program)
'Classifying Infant Sucking Problems'
'Pediatric Bowel and Bladder Disorders'

'Brain and Sensory Foundations (Level 1)'
'Primitive Reflexes in Pediatric Osteopathy'
'Primitive Reflexes: A means to understanding motor development'
'Primitive Reflexes 2: A means to developing 3D motor function'

‘Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist’ (PCES)
‘Treating Female Pelvic Pain Through the Uro-Genital System’
'PopUp Pro' (45 hour program exploring supporting pelvic organ prolapse (POP)support and management)
‘Treating the obstetrical patient throughout all of the stages of pregnancy: An Osteopathic approach’