Osteopathy in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a unique experience. Enormous physical, chemical and emotional changes take place over a relatively short period of time. The body has to adapt to carrying up to 20lb of baby, waters and placenta, which can impose terrific physical strain on the organs and tissues of the body. For many years, osteopaths have used their skills to help relieve the aches and pains caused by weight and posture changes during and after pregnancy.

For many women pregnancy means having to cope with a whole range of symptoms from back pain to morning sickness. As the baby grows in the womb, its extra weight results in a changed centre of gravity and posture changes from week to week. This can lead to a variety of aches and pains. As breast weight increases, this also causes changes and pain may occur in the upper back and neck.

Why osteopathy?

• Osteopathic treatment through pregnancy is a wonderfully gentle way of helping the body adapt to the changes which are taking place.
• The safety of mother and baby is the osteopath’s first concern. After a thorough assessment, osteopathic treatment may help relieve the aches and pains caused by growth in size of the baby and the accommodation of the mother to this.
• Advice from your osteopath can help you to change your posture and learn to use your body correctly through pregnancy.
• Osteopaths can also help to ease other side effects of pregnancy such as heartburn, indigestion, constipation and pain in the buttock, groin or leg (commonly called sciatica). Some patients, too, report reduced morning sickness after osteopathic treatment.

Benefit of osteopathic treatment

• Easing some of the physical discomforts in pregnancy
• Preparing the way for a more trouble free childbirth, by allowing greater flexibility in the pelvis and abdomen
• Helping the mother to recover after birth

It can also help with the following examples and more...

Nausea and vomiting

Osteopathy can help by releasing strains caused by the vomiting. Treating the liver to improve its circulation can help reduce nausea.

Heart Burn

As the uterus expands, it distorts the diaphragm contributing to heartburn, reducing diaphragm tension can help alleviate these distressing symptoms.

Breathing difficulties

Postural changes through the lower ribs and spine can impede the action of the diaphragm and make breathing difficult. Osteopathic treatment to improve the function of the whole rib cage allows full use of available lung capacity.

Aches and pains

Aches and pains are common in pregnancy, as the body changes shape to accommodate the increasing size and weight of the uterus. This involves considerable changes to posture. If the mother has existing back problems, or strains in her body from past accidents or trauma, it may be more difficult for her to accommodate these changes, and she may suffer more discomfort as a result.

The ligaments of the whole body soften during pregnancy due to the action of hormones. This allows the bones of the pelvis to separate slightly during the delivery to facilitate the passage of the baby’s head through the birth canal. Unfortunately, this softening affects the whole body and makes it much more vulnerable to strain during the pregnancy, when is under maximum strain already.

Poor posture may cause back ache, neckache, headaches, aching legs and undue fatigue. Osteopathic treatment is helpful in assisting the body to make postural changes easily and makes the pregnancy much more comfortable.

Preparation for labour

An important part of the preparation for childbirth is to ensure that the mother’s pelvis is structurally balanced and able to allow the passage of the baby down the birth canal.

Trauma to the pelvic bones, coccyx or sacrum at any time in a mother�s life can lead to increased tension in muscles and strain within the ligaments and bones of the pelvis. This can limit the ability of these bones to separate and move out of the way during labour, and thus limit the size of the all important birth canal.

Osteopathic treatment is extremely effective at releasing old strains within the pelvis, thus giving the best chance of an easy and uncomplicated labour.

In most cases, treatment can help with discomforts of later pregnancy, and can often help the baby turn into a better position for childbirth.

Treatment after birth

Mother

The mother’s pelvis is vulnerable to lasting strains from the forces involved in childbirth. Some of these strains can have a profound effect, not only on posture but on the likelihood of future mechanical back problems.

Also, caring for the baby can put an enormous amount of strain on the back and pelvis, from carrying the baby and associated luggage to moving car seats, bending forwards changing nappies and carrying the child on one hip!!

Osteopathy can help the mother return to normal, physically and mentally, after birth by taking away strains and restrictions so that the mother can relax and enjoy her new baby.

Baby

The baby can suffer long lasting effects from the moulding process during birth, and a check-up with the osteopath is highly recommended, if the mother is a patient, often this can be without charge.

Remember

• Osteopaths are highly skilled and undergo thorough training
• Osteopaths deal with pain every day
• Osteopaths can advise on good posture
• Osteopaths may help relieve back and leg pain in pregnancy
• Osteopaths can advise on pain relief during labour
• Return for advice and a check-up after delivery