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When Connection Feels Hard: How Craniosacral Therapy Supports New Moms and Their Babies
- Briana Pontius
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Becoming a mother is one of the most profound transitions a person can experience. It brings beauty, tenderness, and awe, but it can also bring exhaustion, overwhelm, and moments of disconnection.
If you are a new mom who feels like you’re struggling to be fully present for your newborn because you need healing yourself, you are not alone. So many mothers quietly navigate these experiences, wondering why bonding feels harder than they expected.
I want to share how pediatric craniosacral therapy (CST) can support not only your baby, but also YOU, and how healing the nervous system of both mother and child can deepen connection, bonding, and emotional stability during one of the most sensitive times in life. I have also created a free guided meditation video for new mothers. Please share it with any moms you know who could use some support.
Signs You May Be Struggling More Than You Realize
Motherhood is a massive physiological and emotional shift. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. But some signs warrant closer attention.
You may notice:
● Pain or discomfort with latching or breastfeeding
● Emotional instability or mood swings
● Difficulty feeling connected to your baby
● Feeling lonely or isolated
● Overwhelm in your body or mind
● A sense that something is “off” but you can’t explain why
Likewise, babies often exhibit dysregulation through their physical behavior.
Your baby may show:
● Fussiness or irritability
● Difficulty latching or feeding
● Restless or fragmented sleep
● Arching, crying, or signs of discomfort during feeding
● Trouble settling or relaxing
If you find yourself nodding along, please know:
Nothing is wrong with you. You’re healing. And your baby is communicating their needs, too.
Why Mother and Baby Both Need Support
Mother and baby share more than a physical bond, they share a nervous system dance. When your system is overwhelmed, activated, or depleted, it’s common for your baby’s system
to reflect that.
This is where co-regulation comes in - the deeply biological process where your baby’s body learns safety and calm through your body.
But here’s the truth that many mothers feel ashamed to admit:
Sometimes your body doesn’t feel calm. Sometimes you need support to come back into balance before connection feels possible.
And that’s okay.
How Craniosacral Therapy Supports Mothers and Newborns
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that helps reset the craniosacral system - the rhythm created by the movement of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. It influences the entire nervous system, emotional regulation, and your sense of safety in your own body.
During a mother/baby craniosacral therapy session:
I hold space for both the postpartum mother and her newborn child.
Your baby receives gentle, supportive work to soothe tension patterns from birth, feeding challenges, or nervous system overwhelm.
You receive support for grounding, nervous system regulation, and bringing your craniosacral rhythm back to a neutral, balanced state.
Together, your systems begin to settle into alignment — creating the foundation for
deeper bonding and presence.
How Craniosacral Therapy Helps Mothers and Newborns: My Personal Experience
I share this not only as a practitioner, but also as a mother.
When I entered motherhood, I struggled to feel a sense of connection to my daughter. I felt overwhelmed, dysregulated, and unsure of myself in ways I had never experienced before. My daughter was beautiful and perfect, yet I didn’t feel like I could fully meet her emotionally or energetically.
Craniosacral therapy and other somatic tools helped me come back into myself. They helped me settle my body, soften my nervous system, and connect with my daughter in a way that felt grounded and real.
This work changed me.
And now I hold space for other mothers and babies with the same tenderness and intention I once needed.
If you’re struggling, you’re not failing, you’re human. You deserve support. Your baby deserves support. And neither of you should have to navigate this tender season alone.
If you’re noticing disconnection, overwhelm, or challenges with feeding, sleep, or bonding, pediatric craniosacral therapy may be exactly the gentle, nurturing reset both of you need.
🌿 Your healing supports your baby’s healing.
🌿 Your calm becomes their calm.
🌿 Your presence deepens their presence.
If this resonates with you, please reach out. I provide craniosacral therapy to children, adults and families in New Castle, Pittsburgh, and the Shenango Valley, PA. I would be honored to hold space for you and your little one.
Blessings,
Briana
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