Osteopathic care through your pregnancy
Preparing you for the demands of labour
An important part of preparation for childbirth is to ensure the mother's pelvis is structurally balanced to allow for delivery. Previous problems with the pelvic bones, coccyx or sacrum can leave increased tension in the muscles and ligaments. This can affect the ability of the pelvis to expand during delivery and allow the smooth and efficient passage of the baby. Prevention of tears and trauma is the aim of all midwives, obstetricians, and other birthing practitioners, and osteopathic treatment may help limit the eventual trauma onto the perineum and pelvic floor. Osteopathic treatment is effective at releasing old strains within the pelvis, thus giving the best chance of an easy and uncomplicated labour.
Helping you to recover after birth
Sometimes, problems only start to show up after the birth, and back pain can start once you begin to lift and carry your baby. Even breastfeeding can cause problems with the neck and shoulders which can be helped through treatment. Breast soreness and some cases of mastitis may also be eased by treatment to your neck, ribs, shoulders and surrounding muscles, which allows drainage within and from the breast. Osteopaths can advise you on lifting, feeding postures, and re-strengthening exercises for your back, abdomen and pelvic floor muscles.