PRE / POST NATAL OSTEOPATHY
During pregnancy the body undergoes huge physiological and hormonal changes which have a significant effect on its biomechanics and musculoskeletal pregnancy pain is very common as a result.
As your bump gets bigger, it starts to put increasing amounts of pressure on the spine and the hips causing the lumbar, pelvic and lower extremity muscles to tighten up in order to compensate and adapt.
The rapid weight change and alteration in your centre of gravity results in a different posture and gait and as a result the muscles are used in a different way. As pregnancy continues, certain hormones increase which cause ligaments and muscle tendons to loosen in preparation for labour and they are therefore more prone to straining. Disorders such as pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) can develop during pregnancy, as well as general pelvic and hip pain. So as you can see it’s unsurprising that so many women experience aches and pains throughout their pregnancy.
These hormonal and postural changes continue after birth with the body having to re-adapt as it returns towards its pre-pregnancy weight, while ligament-loosening hormones may remain present for several months postpartum. On top of this, nursing and carrying your child can contribute to back issues persisting.
Osteopathy can be effective in helping to alleviate these symptoms through conservative treatment, supporting comfort and reducing stiffness and pain throughout your pregnancy and beyond. We are happy to treat through every term of pregnancy and discuss any concerns individually prior to treatment. However, we recommend patients seek advice from their consultant or midwife first. The safety of you and your baby is paramount to us, along with your comfort during treatment.
At Wandsworth Town Osteopathy we pride ourselves in treating pregnancy-related postural pain. Alongside this, osteopathic techniques may be utilised to help reduce muscular tension and support circulation. You will be under experienced specialist care and the safety of you and your baby is our number one priority.
Pregnancy Massage based appointments are also available at Wandsworth Town Osteopathy. All our osteopathic practitioners are trained in treating pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain. Pregnancy massage appointments are simply osteopathy treatments for pre-natal patients, with a greater emphasis on soft tissue release and remedial massage. Book Online or call our reception to find an appointment suitable for you.
Mummy MOT®
Mummy MOT®’s are available at Wandsworth Town Osteopathy. Up to half of all women experience weakness in both the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy and up to a third still have a tummy gap at eight weeks post-birth. This can cause instability or reduced core strength, potentially contributing to pelvic or back pain or bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. These conditions should not be something you feel you simply have to put up with after having a baby.
A Mummy MOT® is a specialist postnatal examination for women following both vaginal and caesarean deliveries. It assesses how your posture, pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles are recovering after birth. If additional support is needed, we can provide exercises and treatment to assist your recovery and help you return to exercise safely.
Our specialist Mummy MOT® practitioners Mollie and Jennie provide a comprehensive postnatal check-up including a full postural screen, pelvic floor muscle assessment and abdominal muscle examination.
Initial consultations are recommended from 6–8 weeks postpartum; however, the appointment is suitable for women who may have given birth years ago but still have a tummy gap or are experiencing pelvic floor related issues.
Treatment can include manual therapy, tailored exercise rehabilitation, advice and education to help alleviate your symptoms.
Please bring shorts to wear at the appointment. If you would like a chaperone to be present during an examination, please inform your practitioner.
For more information about Mummy MOT®’s please see www.themummymot.com