Osteopathy and Pregnancy
Pregnancy produces the largest postural change that a woman’s body will ever undergo. As the baby grows in the womb and extra weight is gained, the centre of gravity alters resulting in postural changes from week to week. This may lead to a variety of aches and pains.
Expecting a baby is a unique and special experience; enormous physical, hormonal and emotional changes take place in a relatively short period of time. The body has to adapt to carrying up to an extra 20lbs!
This can be particularly challenging if you already have a child in the family, especially when carrying them and lifting them into car seats and cots. You may be experiencing backache, pain in your pelvis, ribs or hips, and you may also find that simple things like walking, sitting, or turning over in bed are now uncomfortable, or even painful.
Problems like these are so common in pregnancy that they are often considered normal. This should not mean that you need to suffer! Pain or discomfort is a sign that your body is struggling to adapt to its new shape and needs help.
Osteopathy can help to provide relief from numerous pregnancy related aches and pains, as well as more specific conditions such as pelvic and groin pain.
Any imbalance within the pelvis and pelvic ligaments may affect the position of the baby. Osteopaths use gentle techniques to correct this and can also advise on appropriate posture and positions antenataly, and for the birth.
Our objective is to help to improve your quality of life, allowing you to enjoy your pregnancy. The safety of mother and baby is our primary concern, and osteopaths are highly trained to deal with antenatal issues. Osteopathy is perfectly safe at all stages of pregnancy.
A post-natal check after your baby arrives may also help you to recover from the birth. Treatment is aimed at gently easing sore and tired muscles, and rebalancing the pelvis. It can also help to ease back pain from breast feeding and lifting your baby.
Osteopaths sometimes work alongside lactation consultants to give postural advice related to breastfeeding.