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Osteopathy During Pregnancy And Osteopathy For babies

Your posture and body shape changes during pregnancy to adapt to the growing size and weight of the uterus. Previous injuries, accidents, postural strains from work can make it more difficult for your body to adapt to these changes. Your body's ligaments soften during pregnancy as a result of certain hormones so the pelvic bones can allow the baby to pass through. This can mean the rest of the body is more vulnerable to strain as the baby grows. This may cause backache, neckache, heartburn, breathing and digestion difficulties, nausea and vomiting, aching legs, varicose veins, haemorrhoids and fatigue.

Osteopathy can help during and after pregnancy by:

  • relieving the symptoms mentioned above
  • preparing the body for the demands of labour
  • helping the mother to recover after the birth

Is osteopathy safe during pregnancy?

Osteopaths undergo a minimum of four years training, including an intensive obstetric and paediatric course. Osteopathy is safe at any time during pregnancy

How does osteopathy help post-natally?

Birth can be traumatic for both mother and baby. After giving birth the mother's body needs to recover from the changes of pregnancy and the effects of the delivery and/or surgery, however, the demands of caring for a new baby, such as lifting, carrying on one hip, reaching into a cot and feeding in uncompromising positions, make recovery more complicated. Unresolved stresses can contribute to problems with periods, digestion, headache, backache and urinary difficulties, and even to post-natal depression. Osteopathy can help the mother return to normal after the physical and emotional upheaval by releasing the strains endured from both labour and pregnancy, making it easier to enjoy her new baby.

Newborn babies

The distance a baby travels in birth is little more than the length of the baby itself. But the twisting and turning subjects the baby to enormous forces as it squeezes through the resistances of the birth canal and pelvis. The baby's head has an exceptional ability to adapt to these stresses: to reduce the head size bones overlap, bend and twist to accommodate the movements. But the position of the baby's head and neck at the onset of labour are not always optimal for the best delivery. This can result in some babies being born with odd-shaped heads. Fortunately, during the first few days the head usually returns to its usual shape as the baby yawns, cries and suckles. However, in cases of extremely quick or long and difficult births, the unmoulding process is often incomplete. As a result the baby may have to live with strains within its body, head and neck.

We are able to treat newborns and infants for the following problems:

  • Asthma
  • Sleep Disturbances
  • Colic
  • Feeding Difficulties
  • Screaming/Irritability
  • Flat Head Syndrome
  • Recurrent Infections
  • Ear Infections & Glue Ear
  • Sinus Problems & Headaches
  • Behavioural problems
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy and other types of brain damage

To find out more about this you can download our pregnancy and labour factsheet.