Integrating Osteopathic Care Into Treatment of the Breastfeeding Dyad: Anatomic and Physiologic Considerations

Abstract

Care of the breastfeeding dyad involves an interprofessional and multidisciplinary team that may include lactation consultants, physicians, bodyworkers, and more. One often underutilized resource in the care of both breastfeeding parents and their infants is osteopathic physicians (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine or DOs). DOs are full-scope physicians who have additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Osteopathic manipulative treatment is a form of manual medicine that can be utilized to optimize the breastfeeding relationship. It can be useful to address latch challenges, tongue dysfunction, torticollis, plagiocephaly, colic, reflux, and more in breastfeeding infants. Osteopathic manipulative treatment can also be incorporated into the management of the breastfeeding parents to help with engorgement, low milk supply, mastitis, associated postural issues, and/or address other sources of pain. There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment in this population. This paper aims to provide insight and education on osteopathic manipulative treatment and how osteopathic physicians can uniquely contribute to the care of the breastfeeding dyad as both physicians and manual medicine practitioners.