PREGNANCY

During pregnancy, your body undergoes tremendous change to accommodate the growing foetus. Apart from the obvious physical changes like expansion of the abdominal region, hormonal releases can affect the function of your body’s internal systems.

What Osteopathy can help with:

Your osteopath can help prevent or manage a wide range of pre-and post-natal conditions, either solely or in conjunction with other health care practitioners.Osteopaths can assess and assist with the management of many common complaints associated with pregnancy and the post-natal period including:

• lower back pain and sciatica
• hip pain
• aching legs or feet
• numbness and tingling in the hands
• neck, shoulder or middle back pain
• shortness of breath

• incorrect positioning of the foetus
• incontinence
• painful intercourse
• mastitis
• poor sleep

Osteopathy during pregnancy

Osteopathy is an extremely safe method of manual medicine which treats the whole person. Osteopathy is proven to be a safe, gentle and effective therapy for mothers and babies. Your osteopath will carefully select the most appropriate treatment techniques to assure the safety and comfort of you and your growing baby.

Changes during pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body undergoes tremendous change to accommodate the growing foetus. Apart from the obvious physical changes like expansion of the abdominal region, hormonal releases can affect the function of your body’s internal systems. As your pregnancy progresses, the extra weight creates a shift in your body’s centre of gravity. Your supporting ligaments also soften. These factors can add stress to your body, causing problems like back pain, sciatica, insomnia, shortness of breath, swelling, high blood pressure and fatigue. Your osteopath can offer advice about managing these symptoms and demonstrate self-help techniques which you and your partner can use during pregnancy and labour. Your osteopath’s aim is to assist the natural process of pregnancy and birth — maximising your body’s ability to change and support you and your baby with a minimum of pain and discomfort.

Birthing and beyond

In birthing, the descent of the baby through the pelvis is influenced by a range of factors. If the mother’s pelvis is twisted or stiff, it can interfere with the baby’s passage through the birth canal. Osteopathic care will restore and maintain normal pelvic alignment and mobility, and contribute to a successful birth and healthy baby. After the birth, your osteopath will advise you to make return visits with your newborn to help prevent or manage problems like pelvic and low back strain, pelvic floor weakness, mastitis, incontinence, interrupted sleep, fatigue and depression. This will help you meet your baby’s needs, whilst caring for your own.