Osteopathy & pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of change for a woman’s body. Your body’s normal hormonal fluctuations change to allow you to adapt to the pregnancy and to accommodate a growing baby. As the pregnancy progresses, the extra weight of your abdominal area (baby and placenta) and breast tissue creates a shift in your body’s centre of gravity. Your supporting ligaments also soften due to a hormone called relaxin. These factors can add stress to your body, causing problems like neck pain and headaches, lower back pain, sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction, insomnia, shortness of breath, swelling, high blood pressure and fatigue.

Your osteopath will take a thorough case history considering your presenting symptoms, general health, previous injuries and surgeries that may be relevant. During any stage of pregnancy women may experience exacerbation of previous conditions or injuries, or there may be new aches and pains that arise. Each stage of pregnancy places different mechanical stresses and strains on the body that your osteopath is trained to assess and also provide treatment and advice to improve mobility and reduce pain. 

We believe it is important to work alongside your obstetrician, GP, midwives and birth attendants to assess and discuss ways in which osteopathy may support you and your baby during pregnancy. Treatment will be varied and individual, it may include stretching, massage, mobilisation, manipulation and general osteopathic techniques applied carefully during your pregnancy.

After giving birth mothers may sometimes experience discomfort caused by repetitive postures and movements that occur when taking care of children including lifting and holding your baby, breastfeeding and sleeping postures. Whilst it is only natural to put your children first it is important to remember that taking care of your baby also means taking care of yourself. 

• Back pain

• Pelvic pain

• Hip and knee pain

• Rib pain and tightness breathing