How Osteopathy Can Help With Post-Natal Problems

October 1, 2017

Maria Nolan

As I’m sure you’ll have noticed from my previous blogs on the topic, I’m very passionate about using osteopathy to help mums to be who are suffering with aches and pains as a result of pregnancy. In many cases, what is required is some straightforward posture and lifestyle advice and adjustments. You’ll find more information on this in my blog:

What I haven’t really spoken about before now is how osteopathy can help women with post-natal problems. After giving birth, new mums have less time to care for themselves and very often injure themselves. Poor posture and activities such as lifting, carrying and feeding your child and lifting car seats and prams all put significant strain on the neck, shoulder and back areas in particular.

Pregnancy will also have weakened the abdominal muscles and will have considerably changed your posture and how you walk, which tends to put a lot of pressure on the lower back area.

Furthermore, the hormone Relaxin, which was released during pregnancy will continue to affect your ligaments for around five months after childbirth and longer if you are breastfeeding. This hormone makes your ligaments more lax, which in turn provides less support to the joints and makes you more susceptible to injury.

How does osteopathy help?

Osteopathy can help to restore your pelvic alignment to its optimal state, which will improve your posture and mobility and help with any pain and discomfort you may be feeling. It can also help with problems caused by the stress of childbirth on your body such as symphysis pubis disorder (SPD), stress incontinence, urge incontinence, bowel issues such as constipation and difficulties with menstruation.

Our treatment approach will be tailored to the patient and what is best for them but will typically include:

• Soft tissue massage – this helps reduce muscle spasms and improves mobility
• Joint mobilisation – to promote greater range of movement in the affected areas
• Postural guidance and exercises to do at home

As always, please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about the above or the conditions we treat. We offer a FREE 15 minute consultation, either by phone or by appointment, where we can discuss any concerns or issues you may have and how we can help.

Thanks for reading,

Maria