Empowering Maternal Wellness, Embracing New Beginnings: Osteopathy for Pregnancy
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What is Women’s Health Osteopathy?
Women’s Health Osteopathy focuses on all issues related to Obstetrics and Gynaecology and for women at any time of life – from the teenage years through to the 90s. Women’s Health Osteopathy can help whether you are pregnant, a new mum, recovering from gynaecological surgery or experiencing continence or pelvic floor problems, helping to improve your health, fitness and general wellbeing.
Osteopathy during pregnancy offers safe and gentle treatments to help alleviate common discomforts, promote optimal pelvic alignment, and support the body’s natural ability to adapt to the changes of pregnancy. With a focus on the mother’s well-being and the baby’s development, osteopathic care can enhance overall pregnancy experience and prepare for a smoother childbirth.
Osteopathy for Women’s Health
Women’s Health Osteopathy refers to all obstetrics and gynaecology-related problems for women of any age, from teenagers to the 90s. Whether you are expecting, a new mother, recovering from gynaecological surgery, or having issues with your continence or pelvic floor, women’s health osteopathy may help. It can also help you feel better overall.
Common complaints from pregnant women
Prenatal
- Stress urinary incontinence, hyperactive bladder
- Hypertonic pelvic floor,
- Pelvic pain
- Dyspareunia
While pregnant
- Morning sickness, stress, and anxiety during the first trimester.
- Treatment of cramps, oedema, fatigued legs, back, dorsal, and rib pain during the second trimester.
- During the third trimester, pelvic mobility should be maximised, sciatic nerve pain should be relieved, and tension in the lumbar, dorsal, uterine, pelvic and pubic regions should be reduced.
Osteopaths also treat other symptoms such as:
- Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sciatalgia
- Coccyx pain
- SUI (Stress Urinary Incontinence)/urinary urgency
After-birth care
After delivery, the post-natal period is not for 3 or 6 months but for the rest of our lives.
For some women, having a baby can be the most wonderful event of a lifetime, but other times, things don’t go as planned, and we are here to support you as you recover from delivery.
- Recovery after childbirth
- SUI (Stress Urinary Incontinence) /Urgency
- Diastasis
- Faecal incontinence/urgency
- C-section / episiotomy 2nd – 3rd degree tear scar tissue release
- Pelvic organ prolapsed
- Back pain (from skull to tailbone)
- Musculoskeletal pain (knee, foot, De Quervain tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Mastitis, canal blockage
- Scar treatment from a caesarean section
- Dyspareunia
What takes place during the appointment?
A complete case history, including any present symptoms, prior medical history, and obstetric history, will be taken during the consultation. Each patient’s course of treatment is unique, although it may involve methods like various forms of soft tissue massage, cranial osteopathy and mobilisations. This will help you stretch your muscles, release tension, relieve pain, and move your joints.
When your symptoms improve, you can be given maintenance treatment to take care of particular areas of your spine and body that will change over the next few months. Osteopathy can reduce tension and discomfort, making pregnancy easier and more natural.
An osteopath will:
- Offer suggestions for breathing exercises, stretches, and physical activity you can take to keep yourself healthy and happy during your pregnancy.
- Assist in preparing for childbirth by increasing pelvic and abdominal flexibility.
- Assist with any pain experienced throughout pregnancy.
- Assist the mother in her postpartum recovery.