About Us
Alexander Taylor BSc Hons(Pharm), BSc Hons (Ost)
Registered Osteopath
Proprietor
Alexander graduated from the British School of Osteopathy in Central London and moved directly to Cambridge to practice. With a degree in Pharmacology, he has a deep medical background.
He has also several post-graduate courses in Cranial Osteopathy and Visceral Osteopathy which enable effective treatment for babies to adults with more emphasis on pelvic dysfunction, for men and women and gastro-intestinal related disorders. He also has special interest in the treatment of headaches, facial pain, arthritic conditions, IBS and repetitive strain problems.
Alexander adopts an adaptive approach to Osteopathy and treatment is based on individual needs, he also focuses on patient awareness and self-help to prevent future injuries Alexander also works closely with Cambridges’ Rheumatology department for more effective cross referral with general medicine.
Alexander also maintains most of the first team at Histon Football Club. He also is the proprietor of the Coach house Clinic and splits his time between both clinics.
Steven Goddard
Registered Osteopath
Steven Goddard graduated from The British College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004 and spent his first post-graduate year in Cardiff before moving to the Coach House Clinic in April 2006.
"Anyone who has experienced osteopathy will know that each osteopath has an individual approach to treatment, honed and developed through practise and experience.
During my time in practice I have found it helpful to consider the human body as a complex machine, though one we tend to neglect until it shows signs of malfunction. Generally speaking, the more care we take of this machine, the better it performs and the longer it will function smoothly.
Pain is the symptom of dysfunction that generally drives people to seek advice form an osteopath. My approach is to treat the symptoms using a variety of techniques, but also to analyse the cause of the problem and work with the patient towards preventing its occurence."
Steven uses a variety of techniques including structural, cranial and soft tissue manipulation in a programme designed for the individual patient. He also encourages patient participation in recovery from injury by giving simple stretches and exercises to be performed at home.
Caroline Bordoni BSc (Ost.)
Registered Osteopath
Caroline is a fully qualified registered osteopath with 15 years experience who specialises in cranial osteopathy. She trained at the British School of Osteopathy and completed the 4 years degree course in 1992.
Caroline worked for several well known cranial osteopaths until setting up her own practice in King’s Lynn in 1996. This quickly successfully grew into a multi-disciplinary complementary clinic with 3 osteopaths. Caroline moved to Cambridge in 2007 for family reasons. Caroline keeps her practice alive and vibrant through continuous professional development, group workshops and post-graduate courses in the UK and overseas.
Caroline’s gentle approach is particularly suited to working with babies, children, pregnant women. Caroline has a lot of experience of working with sensitive or nervous people who may have had bad experiences in relation to being touched. She is interested in why some people are slow to get better and has found many reasons for this. One of the blocks to healing can be shock or trauma both physical and emotional that gets held in the body tissues, inhibits the person’s full potential, creates pain and contributes to disease. Caroline’s holistic, respectful, insightful and effective approach has helped a lot of people to get better.
Moraig Goodwin
Registered Osteopath
Moraig is a fully qualified Registered Osteopath, having re-trained after working as an archaeologist for many years. She continues her development as an osteopath by undertaking post-graduate courses and by working as a teaching assistant at the College of Osteopaths where she trained; she is also a member of the British Osteopathic Association.
Moraig has a mixed approach to treatment, using both structural techniques as well as gentler cranial approaches. She treats a wide range of people but has a particular interest in working with babies and children and with women during and after pregnancy.
Osteopathy is very much about self-empowerment and Moraig often gives advice to patients on posture, exercise and lifestyle changes. This advice can aid recovery and prevent or reduce the risk of re-injury, as well as ensuring that each patient is fully involved in his or her healthcare.
The Arrival of Henry
Published November 2008
There is nothing quite like being woken up by the sound of a lady having a contraction at 8 am on a Wednesday morning. But the good news was being told that she had started at 2 am but decided to let me sleep!
We had decided to elect for a home birth, even though it was our first, and had stored everything we needed under the stairs ready for the moment. We were fully prepared. We had had attended eight NCT group meetings in Cambridge and had met five other lovely couples. I thought that this would be perfect for C as many of my patients had mentioned the benefit of a group for support and friendship following the birth – both for the ladies and their partners. We had read the recommended books and watched the videos – especially the breast feeding video (highly recommended for those of you that think the process will happen instantaneously!). I had also been giving C regular Osteopathic treatment to help her body adjust to the changes; quickly eliminating her Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction (PSD), back and neck pain and reducing her reflux.
At first I thought; then panicked; then took a deep breath; then more panic. It’s at this point you suddenly realise that your role is to take charge of everything under her guidance. ‘Coffee Honey?’ was probably not the best first question to ask. Once I had established that her contractions were coming about every 20 minutes, I gathered my thoughts. Time to prepare the house (basically bubble-wrap everything) and must make sure she has fuel and liquid for the journey (and for me too). We had already prepared plenty of energy drinks, glucose tablets, frozen mango juice cubes for her to suck, and my favourite sliced oranges in a bowl with ice cubes and some orange essential oil to mop her brow between contractions. Later on that day I discovered that she found the orange water most refreshing and soothing – not surprisingly as my Aromatherapist mother had recommended Mandarin oil.
‘Are you OK Honey?’ I say tentatively. The eyes read ‘Anymore of that crap and we are going to fall out!’ My advice is to keep your mouth shut; don’t ask the obvious; don’t be too touchy-feely as this can be an unwanted stimulus and end up in a Paddington Bear stare. My role, I felt, was to do as much as I could to make her comfortable – hydrated and fed - and to use my skill as an Osteopath to aid in anyway that I could. I had been given carte blanche by C to do whatever I could; a fairly rare opportunity but easier for being at home.
To be perfectly honest, the morning went very slowly with contractions every 20 minutes and declining. We even went for a walk, with the occasional pause to hug a lamppost. Browsing in the Salvation Army shop we were asked by a fragile old lady when we were due. The moment that followed was truly comical - C could not have timed a better contraction!
I need to add that even at this point we had no show and the contractions were then nudging 15 minute intervals. In reality there is not much that can be done at this stage so we spent some time watching Green Wing. There’s nothing like a bit of comedy to relieve a fairly serious situation. In mid-afternoon I gave C a 30 minute Osteopathic treatment in between contractions to really allow the pelvis to open naturally and relieve some of the muscle fatigue. We had spent the last few weeks routinely performing perineal massage. This technique is very uncomfortable and not in the least bit sexy but I would stress that, even as an Osteopath with a very high degree of palpatory skill, I was amazed at the changes in the musculature tone and flexibility. This can only be beneficial in initiation of crowning and preventing tearing. I can’t recommend this highly enough but it is a technique for the man, or extremely close friend, to do as it is very ineffective done by the lady on her own! I should add that the NCT classes did provide adequate techniques for massage and positions for the lady to aid pelvic mobility.
It is worth mentioning that since 8.30am I had been making a note of every contraction and intervention for future reference. By this time C had gone to lie down and rest whilst I made some food - pasta being the obvious choice. My recommendation is to make double the quantity as you will need it later. It is important to get some sleep yourself if you have the chance as you won’t be steam-rolling on hormones. When C arose I made sure that she ate as this would be her last meal. The contractions were now every 10 minutes or so and she started with the TENS machine; she said it seemed to help and kept it on a low level in case she required more later. We had made a birth plan, which basically consisted of no intervention unless needed but we had managed to obtain some Pethidine for use only as a last resort, as this does have effects on babies, especially when trying to get them to feed. We were also not keen to avoid any heroic metal work as I see enough babies in my job that need a lot of treatment as a result of trauma during birth.
By 7pm we still had no waters but some show. Some people do like to take their time; something that I shall be reminding my son about when he’s older. At 9pm I administered another 20 minute treatment and each time that I treated her there was an increase in contractions and the contractions were now getting a lot longer and stronger. At 10.30pm we tried her in the bath, which she found OK, and it was nice to get clean, but we weren’t in for long as we were now heading towards the five minute or less zone, so I made the call.
After what seemed like an age whilst C lay on the stairs to make herself comfortable, a midwife called Elsa that we had not met before arrived. She was great and took some immediate pressure off us, reassuring C she knew what she was doing. Elsa said C was at 8cm dilation, still no waters but more show and that she thought everything was going to plan, bringing a huge internal sigh from me.
I should mention that I had been using the orange water and making sure that she kept drinking. C refused to use the garden and made numerous trips upstairs to the bathroom. I was almost placing bets with the midwife as to how many steps she would take before we heard the howl. In these circumstances, it’s vital to find some kind of humour, believe me!
What followed is still a bit of a blur. It is now midnight, almost 22 hours since the first contraction, with the dilation still at 8 cm and contractions coming every 2-3 minutes. C had now assumed a standing position, leaning forward as this seemed the best for her. Working as a team Elsa checked and monitored, I dabbed C’s forehead, fed and watered and treated her frequently to try and stimulate the waters to break. At 2.34am she gave in and asked for Gas & Air combined with the TENS machine. It seemed to help and the occasional intake from the mask when C went to the toilet did me no harm either! My diary tells me that I took my first yawn at 2.21am as my adrenalin was waning. On the other hand, C pumped full of hormones, was unstoppable - every 2-3minutes until I flaked out from my diary work with the last entry being ‘4.38am Too tired to take results @ moment.’ I was exhausted. I had tried everything I could to aid our son’s exit. The midwife was very happy to let me do my thing and just interrupt to take blood pressure and baby’s heart rate. The adrenalin was now low and I was really fatigued, not just from doing what I could but also from watching her, watching her endure a lot of pain. It was almost like torture - nature can be cruel - and still the waters had not bloody broken. The midwife had taken the decision early on not to break the waters as she was worried about complications that might require medical assistance. C had had spinal surgery some years previously was also the reason that she would not be able to have an epidural.
At about 6am with no progression at all Elsa threw in the towel and made the call for an ambulance. I headed for bed for 45 minutes as my eyes were so heavy and I’d run out of matchsticks. I tried to sleep but the devastation I felt in what I thought was my failing in helping the process hit hard. C was wheeled down the street on the gurney by some super paramedics and I just couldn’t stop crying. Fatigue had really set in and the thought of now having to go to hospital after 29 hours of no progress was truly hitting home. I followed in a daze in the car. Elsa had stayed far longer than she was supposed to and I think she was determined to see this through. (Note to other dads: make sure the car or ambulance has all that your partner needs. Somehow I managed to grab some energy drinks and tablets, you’ll need them too as food is not quite so appetising and glucose will help).
When I finally got to the Rosie Maternity Unit at Addenbrooke’s, C was in a ward with the hospital midwife and Elsa was saying goodbye. As we were waiting for the full team to materialise C was leaning against the window experiencing the unrelenting 2-3 minute contractions. Eventually the Consultant, Senior Registrar, Houseman and nurse arrived and gave us their verdict. They were going to break the waters and give us another two hours. This was done on the bed and there was a lot of water and some meconium which did scare us but we were reassured that this was OK and not always indicative of a distressed baby. I must just point out that Henry’s heartbeat had been monitored and despite so many hours of being squashed it had never reached even 160 bpm.
Two more hours passed slowly and painfully. The head had engaged and when C was re-examined we had 10cm of dilation. The Consultant gave us another hour and C spent that on a birthing chair with the help of our midwife. I think she managed one push where the head moved south but it was just not enough; she was exhausted; she had not had the urge to push and the contractions were reducing; he was too big and we were out of time. The team came in again and gave us the options - we could try the forceps and veunteus or opt for caesarean. At this point my second wave of adrenalin faltered and the sound of a caesarean brought more tears to my eyes, as this really was the final blow to the plan of natural birth that we had fought so hard to achieve. So I asked the team to leave so that I could spend some time alone with C to discuss our options. In truth, we already knew the answer and she was wheeled off to the theatre with me in tow donned in our blue Rosie gowns.
There were a lot of people in that room, who all seemed to know what job they had to do and I felt she was in safe hands. Still sniffling, I held her hand whilst they put her under and was asked to leave. As she was having a general anaesthetic – not an epidural - I was not allowed to stay. I sat outside on my own fighting emotions and tiredness that I had never felt before. I heard the cries of a baby, but it didn’t really register. Then out came the midwife carrying a swaddled, fairly large baby in a yellow bobble hat. She presented me with this perfect little creature that I could not make head or tail of. I hadn’t seen him being born and I did not recognise him but I had this innate need to just to talk to him and that I did for one and a half hours whilst we waited for mum; just watching him breathe and stroking his soft skin. He was big, 9lbs 6oz, and long. His APGAR scores were an amazing 10 and then 10; my father was most impressed and was the first to congratulate the little lad on his results. It is at this point I would like to say that the Rosie team were amazing. They had pitched their involvement perfectly and let us take control with their guidance. The right decisions had been made and at 13:26pm Thursday 29th May 2008 Henry was born after 35 hours of true determination and internal strength showed by C. I have never witnessed such balance, courage and unlimited stamina by anyone. And in all that time we never had a cross word.
Before his mother woke up Henry had his first Osteopathic treatment to gently rebalance his head and diaphragm which had been compressed during the labour. It took C a little while to realise that the little bundled mass next to her was her child. Not long after I had to go before I collapsed. I don’t remember getting home but I do recall not being able to sleep, the rain was hammering down, and all I could hear was the drops falling off the gutter that seemed to mimic the heartbeat I had heard for the last few hours. Two hours at most then I went back to hold my family close to me.
The next two days were very relaxed for C in the Rosie as Henry was still muzzy from the after effects of the GA and the natural peace that a baby experiences after birth – unless it is a difficult one. But there was a problem. Henry was having a lot of trouble breast feeding, both directly and with expressed milk from a bottle. From the videos that I had watched, I knew that this was normal so I was able to reassure C which is important as new mums need a lot of support at this time. The Rosie team made it clear that they would not let us leave until we were comfortable with the feeding process and that Henry was taking sufficient nourishment. C was great and was trying hard with a lot of help from the supportive staff. On the other hand I was getting very frustrated and worried watching my son’s inability to feed. I had also just remembered that I’d wanted to plant the placenta under a tree but C on the other hand hadn’t been so keen! At least she was expressing and Henry was getting all the colustrum via a syringe. There are also some practical issues to deal with following a caesarean. Remember that you are not quite so mobile and will need a lot of assistance - especially with picking up the baby - and you can’t drive for at least 4-6 weeks.
In order to give Henry the best possible start, I called Stella, one of my Osteopathic colleagues, to visit us as I was not comfortable treating my own son. We had noticed that Henry had quite a deep crease in his chin and his jaw seemed quite retracted; it is also common for babies born by caesarean to be very mucusey in the stomach and bowel due to the lack of squeeze seen in a normal birth. Stella very quickly ascertained that the base of his skull was slightly extended and his jaw was being held back preventing him from bringing it forward to suckle. Quite honestly, by the time she had finished treating him his jaw was visibly forward and by the afternoon he had developed a really strong suck – C’s eyes were watering! Stella also worked on improving his bowel movement to clear the mucus. She followed up this treatment four days later and he has been fine since. I was of course happy to treat other babies in the Rosie maternity unit and worked with the midwives to offer help to other couples who had suffered from difficult births. I would highly recommend that every mother and baby should have some post-natal osteopathic treatment.
Four and a half days later C and Henry were allowed home. For a man this is when it really hits home. The seemingly long process of labour and birth – all of 35 hours - is very quickly forgotten to be replaced by the realisation that you have the responsibility of looking after this amazing and totally dependent child. With all the classes, books and videos you are still never quite prepared for what will be an amazing, frustrating and exhausting time.
As all your friends have said, ‘It will change your life forever’ and you will never hear anyone say they regretted having children. Let the journey begin, enjoy and take loads of pictures!
Written by:
Alexander Taylor BSc(Hons) Pharm BSc(Hons)Ost
Registered Osteopath
Partner at the Coach House Clinic Cambridge
01223 841541
Clinical Statistics
