PractitionerDr. Annette Richardson
Pregnant Woman holding hands in a heart shape on her baby bump

Osteopathy in Pregnancy

The health of the neuro-musculoskeltal system is very important during pregnancy, labour, birth and post natal. Osteopathy may assist pregnant women to achieve and maintain both physical & emotional strains & stresses.

Some of the most common complaints associated with pregnancy are:  low back pain, pelvic pain, pubic symphysis problems, pelvic instability, neck pain, headaches, Migraines, shoulder & mid back pain. To accommodate the growing foetus the body goes through tremendous changes. As the foetus grows, the abdominal grows too causing the body’s centre of gravity to shift forward, causing strain on the lumbar spine and pelvis. 

Hormonal changes that prepare the body for delivery causes softening of the muscles & supporting ligaments. This can also cause lower back and pelvic pain and associated pain that travels down the legs, sciatica. 

At birth the descent of the baby through the pelvis is determined by factors such as ligament laxity, hormonal control, uterine contraction, gravity and position of the baby. If the mother’s pelvis is mechanically unstable or is lacking mobility, it may interfere with the baby’s passage through the birth canal. It is important to restore balance and improve quality of movements of the whole pelvic girdle, promoting hormonal and neurological feedback, which in turn allows stimulation of the uterine contraction.

It is also important to balance the body after birth. Some women experience postural problems, constant back pain which maybe due to different physical activity of bending over cots, feeding positions, carrying baby. Ligaments and muscle strength may still be weak and so changing the whole structure of the body.