Having a baby is a very special time in your life and for your family. Being relaxed and creating space for baby to grow will make your pregnancy a joy. It will help relieve pain and prepare you for natural delivery. We try to include all members of the family to share in this experience, especially your partner, so come together if you wish.

In preparation for birth, the lower back, pelvic floor and pelvic outlet have to change “shape” to give as much space as possible for the baby to exit. Pregnancy Osteopathy helps this natural process to take place. Together with simple instructions, pregnancy exercises and your partner’s involvement (if you wish) we can prepare you in the best way for this wonderful time.

Maternal Weight Bearing
From the moment pregnancy begins, the maternal body puts on weight. During each trimester of the pregnancy the new weight gradually shifts the centre of gravity anteriorly or posteriorly (ie frontward or backward of the spine). To allow this to take place correctly there are changes in the low back and pelvic mechanics that also need to take place. Thus the back muscles, the spinal and pelvic bones potentially are liable to become symptoms if there are any restrictions in the body’s ability to accommodate to these changes. This can lead to pain, spasms, or difficulties with the birth canal (pelvic mechanism).

Maternal Posture
As the unborn child grows and if the mother undergoes posture-related stress (ie excessive sitting, standing or not enough movement) this may result in the child suffering from restriction related stiffness. This would normally spontaneously correct at or shortly after birth. This is similar to when (in an adult) you may have been carrying a shopping bag for a while with your elbow bent. Then when you put it down you may not be able to straighten your arm fully. This situation may be present most obviously during the last part of pregnancy when there might be less room for movement inside the womb or if the pregnancy is longer than the usual term. As osteopaths we often see the neonate who may appear with a torticolis of the neck or their shoulder joint in restriction.

Maternal Digestion
Pregnancy has its own special effect on the digestive system. Essentially it slows it down, but what is less well known is that pressure on the spine can lead to changes in nerve communication. Nerves that leave the lower back can send altered signals to the digestive organs. This is sometimes described as a viscerosomatic reflex by osteopaths.

These effects combined with direct pressure on the bowel or bladder (from the baby) can make things difficult too. Overall one can see that this would affect gut efficiency and energy levels, as well as causing pelvic pain. As Osteopaths we also consider the diaphragm. The oesophagus as it passes through the diaphragm. This can provide the potential for reflux, sickness feelings, tight mid-back region etc. In this way we can offer help to mother with heartburn or reflux.