What changes occur during pregnancy?

Increase in progesterone and relaxin hormones causes a laxity or loosening of ligaments and joints in the body, a necessity for a women to carry a baby to full term. However, these higher levels of hormones can increase the risk of sprains and strains due to the increased fragility of ligaments.

​

A pregnant women’s body shape and posture also changes as the months goes by. Her breasts increases in size, her abdomen becomes bigger and increasing the concave curvature of her lower back. The combined effect shifts the center of gravity forward and places more body weight in the lower back, pubic bone and hip regions. This process also affect the circulation of the body, as a result pregnant women can often experience water retention in the face, hands and feet.

​

Conditions that can occur during pregnancy:

• Back Pain

• Headaches

• Diastasis recti (splitting of abdominal muscles)

• Sciatica

• Pubic bone pain

• Groin pain

• Hip Pain

Osteopathy can help your body adapt to these changes by helping your body weight bear more efficiently which in turn minimises the pain that you have to endure during pregnancy. In order to maximise your comfort, we use a specialised pregnancy pillow that allows you to safely lie on your stomach during your treatment.

 

Osteopathy can prepare the pelvis for natural labour

​

Weeks before the labour the body naturally prepares itself for the birth by allowing the bones of the pelvis to open and maximise the pelvic cavity for the baby to pass through.

​

Trauma to the pelvic bones, coccyx or sacrum at any time in a mother’s life can cause increase tension in muscles and ligaments and the misalignment of bones within the pelvis. This can limit the ability of these bones to separate and move out of the way during labour, and thus limit the size of the pelvic outlet.

​

Osteopathic treatment is extremely effective at releasing old strains within the pelvis, thus giving the best chance of an easy, quick and uncomplicated labour.