Pregnancy Care

During the journey into motherhood pregnant women undergo many changes, both physical and emotional, and women may seek osteopathic treatment for a variety of different reasons during this time of transition. Pregnancy osteopathy can assist your body adjust and adapt to the changes of pregnancy with ease, assist in managing pre-existing conditions to new aches and pains and prepare the body to encourage positive labour and birth outcomes. The techniques used during pregnancy are carefully selected to minimise risk. These techniques alway take the comfort of the mother into consideration and are adapted to suit each individual patient.

Our pregnancy osteopath has experience working alongside obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives and doulas and strongly believes in the importance of collaboration and communication between all your care providers.

Some common reasons women seek osteopathic care in pregnancy are:

Pelvic girdle (front & back) and round ligament pain

Middle back and ribcage discomfort (Rib and upper back strain)

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Restriction through foot and ankle joints

Headaches and neck/shoulder pain

Muscle cramps

Preparation for labour

Please note that although osteopathic care is generally considered safe during pregnancy, we do advise that you check with your care provider if you are in a high-risk category before seeking care from any manual therapy modality.

Postnatal care and beyond

Although labour is a natural process, it is physically demanding and can place great strain on the mother’s body. This can not only create local and short term discomfort in your lower back and pelvis, but it can also have long-term implications as the rest of your body compensates for the imbalance. Postnatal osteopathy in the first few weeks and months after birth not only provides comfort and relaxation by reducing muscular tension but can also help restore balance, prevent ongoing issues and improve your recovery and mindset as you look after your new baby. A happy and healthy mother is the centre of a functioning family.

The weeks after birth can be both magical and challenging as you embrace your new normal and connect with the changes pregnancy and birth have gifted you. In the short term the joys of motherhood are often mixed with long hours spent feeding and staring at your new bundle, lifting car capsules and prams, carrying and settling your baby and bending over bassinets and cots. These sustained and occasionally awkward postures and movements are the cause of some of the most common postnatal complaints.

Osteopathic treatment postnatally can help ease and manage some of the following common postnatal complaints:

Middle back pain

Neck pain and headaches

Low back, pelvic pain and pubic symphysis pain

Wrist and hand pain

Abdominal separation

Stress incontinence

Constipation

Many women are unsure if they are able to have treatment before their 6week postnatal check up with the GP or Obstetrician. Unless you have any significant postnatal complications we consider treatment before this time safe, even post caesarean section, and will tailor all treatments to suit the women and the presenting condition. If you are unsure if treatment is suitable for you at this time please reach out to us for a chat.

To ensure your body is supported after pregnancy and birth, please contact us or book your appointment online today.