Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very strenuous time for a womanʼs body. A lot of changes occur in a very short period of time. Mechanically, the centre of gravity changes almost on a weekly basis and the body has to adapt its posture to support the weight of the growing baby. Sometimes the body needs help accommodating these changes. Thankfully both structural and cranial osteopathy can safely be used during pregnancy.
To minimize the occurrence of any problem I would always recommend women who are thinking of having a baby to go for a treatment before they get pregnant. That way, any existing strain can be corrected before the demands on affected joints become too overwhelming.

The pelvis is the most important component for the mechanics of delivery. As a matter of fact, during labour the bones have to separate slightly to let the baby through the birth canal. An imbalance and/or restriction will impair the progress of labour, whichcould in turn make medical intervention necessary.
Regular check ups during the course of pregnancy will not only relieve physical discomfort, it will also insure the best possible outcome for the birth.

Finally, sometimes during childbirth the position the mother is in, combined with the strength of the forces involved can create a distortion of the pelvis. More often than not it corrects itself, but if severe it can have long lasting effects on spinal mechanics and create symptoms ranging from back ache to stress incontinence, and even postnatal depression.
Mum and baby (link) will both benefit from getting a treatment to start their new life together.

Osteopathy during pregnancy can help with:

  • back pain
  • neck pain
  • pubic symphysis dysfunction / symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)
  • fatigue
  • indigestion
  • good positioning of the baby
  • postnatal problems

A special note about miscarriage:

Unfortunately, most miscarriages cannot be prevented but in some cases, osteopathy can help.
Firstly, cranial osteopathy (link) can help with the emotional distress associated with a miscarriage and reduce the normal anxiety that will overshadow following pregnancies.
Secondly, if one of the contributing factors to the miscarriage is related to a physical  limitation, making sure the body is well balanced and functioning properly will increase the chances of carrying the pregnancy to full term.