Andy Caughey • October 13, 2020
Is osteopathy safe in pregnancy?
Suffering with back ache during your pregancy?
For many women, their first real experience of back pain and the detrimental effect it can have on day-to-day life is during pregnancy. The increase in weight gain and the position of the baby can place significant pressure on the spine and pelvic muscles and combined with the vast chemical changes that occur during pregnancy, which soften the ligaments, carrying a child for many can be a very uncomfortable experience.
Women experience a range of back-related pain and discomfort during the nine months they carry a baby including lower back pain, pelvic pain, neck, shoulder and upper back pain and sciatica. Osteopathic treatment is a very safe and successful means of alleviating this discomfort and helps the body to better respond and prepare to the changes taking place as it moves through the transitional stages of pregnancy.
Women can gain up to 20lb during pregnancy and this can place the joints under significant physical strain. Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy utilises safe and gentle techniques, helping to align the body so that the pelvis and lower back is in optimum position for giving birth and reducing any discomfort the additional weight is imposing on the body. It can also be used to successfully treat nausea and vomiting, particularly in relation to the strain this can have on the diaphragm and ribs.
Some osteopaths prefer using cranial and functional techniques for expectant mothers but there are a number of safe techniques available. The comfort of the patient is a top consideration and the therapist may use specially designed pregnancy cushions to ensure the patient is comfortable during treatment.
Osteopaths have comprehensive training in the anatomy and biological systems of the body which can be usefully applied to ease the physical stresses and strains of pregnancy. Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy can alleviate a range of ailments associated with carrying a baby including lower back pain , sciatica and pelvic pain , aching legs and feet, neck and shoulder pain, incontinence, insomnia, and shortness of breath.
In addition to helping ease common back-related symptoms during pregnancy, osteopathy can be a useful treatment postnatally, helping to restore and pelvic alignment and movement caused by carrying additional weight as well as helping to alleviate the aches of a poor breastfeeding posture, carrying the baby, bending over the cot and frequently carrying the car seat.
Typically, osteopaths view pregnancy in three stages: pregnancy and the physical pain and discomfort it causes, the demands of the labour process, the recovery of the mother after the birth has taken place.
If you have previously suffered with back problems or have an existing injury prior to falling pregnant, it’s even more important to seek the professional help and expertise of a qualified osteopath as pregnancy is likely to exacerbate the problem.
There is an abundance of information available online on the benefits of osteopathy during and after pregnancy. If you would like more information on any specific problems please contact us here at Osteopathy4Health or ‘Ask Andy’ a question and we will be happy to help.
Andy Caughey | Registered Osteopath
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