Prenatal discomforts
Discomforts during pregnancy
Did you know osteopathy is useful during pregnancy?
Osteopathy as complementary manual medicine can help during the preparation for childbirth, it can provide support during pregnancy and improve postpartum imbalances.
Osteopathy can help support the body through the changes that occur both during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Prenantal osteopathy
During pregnancy the woman's body undergoes profound structural and functional changes.
These changes require continuous adaptations to the body, a normal consequence of those adaptations can be fatigue, aches and pains. Aches and pains that can be listened to, understood and addressed, reducing the effects they have on the wellbeing of the expectant mother.
Some of the normal and natural changes that allow a woman to adapt to the child's growth are:
Sudden and important hormonal changes this may cause the joints to become increasingly mobile in preparation for growth and delivery of the foetus.
Other changes include:
• Increased water retention;
• Increase in body weight;
• Physiological increase of the spinal curves (in particular the lumbar and cervical curve is accentuated in the last few months);
• Morphological changes in the pelvis and lower limbs;
• Increased lumbosacral load;
• The viscera are pushed by the growth of the uterus;
• The rib cage adapts to increased abdominal volume and changes in curves.
The female body has an incredible ability to adapt to these changes and as pregnancy progresses, these changes may effect daily activities.
Osteopathy in pregnancy can act globally on the body of the future mother, recognising what is adapting well and what areas are struggling to cope. Under these extra demands, muscles can fatigue and joints can become sore, osteopathy helps to promote movement, strength and overall wellness.
One of the main purposes of osteopathic medicine is to promote the best possible expression of health for the person. Therefore, it is important that obstetric, gynaecologist and osteopathy is taken into consideration to maintain health and wellbeing.
Some common disorders that osteopathy can help the symptoms of during pregnancy are:
- Lumbosciatica
- Pelvic pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Swelling
- Nausea
- Carpal tunnel disorder
What does the osteopath do?
Using gentle techniques, and sometimes deep tissue massage, osteopathy helps the muscles and joints to move, increase blood supply, and improve movement and strength. Resulting in reduced pain and better movement, with the overall aim of you feeling better.
This new comfort will have a double advantage:
It will remind the body of its capabilities in adapting to the extra demands of pregnancy.
It will have a relaxing effect on both the mother and baby.