How can osteopathy help during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time to cherish and enjoy, however many women are affected by pain and discomfort that can make life very challenging. Whilst how healthy you are before your pregnancy can play a large part, some women are just unlucky and their body struggles to cope. Having been quite fit and healthy before, I was sailing happily through my pregnancy last year until the obligatory shopping trip to Ikea was the last straw – my back had had enough and decided to tell me with excruciating pain. With so many demands on the body, something that may take a few days to heal in the non-pregnant body may well hang around during pregnancy and even get worse as the body is directing its resources elsewhere.

Contrary to some ingrained beliefs, pregnancy is not an illness and you do not need to ‘just get on with it’. If treated early enough, a lot of pregnancy related pain can be eased with osteopathy, aiding the healing process, and helping the body to adapt and cope with the extra demands placed on it. In addition treatment can prepare the body for childbirth.

As the foetus grows, the body’s mechanics alter to allow for the extra room and weight and this has a significant impact on balance and posture. Joints start to take extra strain, and so other areas of the body start to take the impact and can become overloaded. In addition there are hormonal changes which make ligaments more stretchy, affecting the stability of the joints, which means muscles have to work harder to support them. Commonly the hip muscles get extremely tight, the back is stiff and the ribs can get restricted. Some of the most common complaints during pregnancy are: low back pain, sciatica, pelvic girdle pain, rib pain, upper back pain, fatigue and swelling.

Osteopathy works with the body’s own healing abilities. By ensuring that the structure of your body is free of restrictions, this then allows the body to function at its optimum. This in turn has a positive effect on the fluid moving around your body, reducing swelling and ensuring healthy tissue. This is why osteopathy can be effective for pain anywhere in your body. The aim of treatment is to assist the whole body in adapting as the pregnancy progresses. Treatment can also prepare for the baby’s descent through the birth canal by ensuring the mechanics of the low back and pelvis are free of tension and are in the best possible position.

Is it safe?

Osteopaths undergo extensive training and learn a whole range of approaches. This allows me to carefully select appropriate techniques suited to the individual which are safe throughout pregnancy. Generally I keep these gentle such as joint articulation to increase motion through specific joints and soft tissue techniques including massage to reduce tension and assist fluid drainage. Your first appointment includes a full case history being taken so that I can make an accurate diagnosis and ensure you receive the most suitable treatment.

As the majority of medication needs to be avoided during pregnancy, osteopathy is a good option to assist with a healthy, pain free pregnancy.

As always, do give me a call on 07870 595071 if you are still unsure if osteopathy can help you.