Pregnancy is a special time for a woman. Creating and nurturing a child from within your body is a miracle. But the changes happening to your body during this time can often leave you feeling uncomfortable.
If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort during your pregnancy, osteopathy can help.
Osteopathy in pregnancy can provide support to the body’s changing structure and ease any associated pain or discomfort. During pregnancy, it’s best to check with a health professional if your usual exercise routines and prescribed medications are safe to continue with.
If you’re pregnant and looking for pregnancy-safe activities to help keep you fit and healthy, our team at OsteoClinics can guide you. Each pregnancy is unique, and so are the problems or issues each expectant mother may experience. Our expert therapists offer personalised treatment plans that target your areas of concern. In this blog, we’ll look into the benefits of osteopathy during pregnancy.
How Does Pregnancy Impact a Woman’s Body?
During pregnancy, the body undergoes massive changes to support the growing foetus, and this change impacts the overall bodily systems. The gestation period is divided into three trimesters, and you may experience many different changes during each.
Here are some common changes you can expect during pregnancy:
First Trimester
- Your heart rate is higher as the heart pumps blood for both you and your growing baby.
- Increased hormonal changes lead to mood swings.
- You can also experience symptoms like heartburn, morning sickness, and indigestion.
Second Trimester
- As the pregnancy progresses, your belly grows to accommodate the baby, which shifts your centre of gravity. This posture change, due to the curvature of the lower back, leads to pain and discomfort during pregnancy.
- The pelvis also widens in anticipation of labour and birth. This causes pain in the hips, lower back, and legs.
Third Trimester
- The growing foetus will put pressure on your bladder, making you want to urinate more frequently.
- During the final weeks of pregnancy, you’ll experience fatigue and restlessness.
- Body pains and aches also increase.
The symptoms and the intensity of these symptoms may vary from woman to woman. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to handling different pregnancy concerns is that the expectant mother is often not allowed to take medicines or perform exercises which would otherwise alleviate these issues.
It’s best to consult with your GP or midwife and opt for pregnancy-safe activities to help resolve or alleviate aches and pains.
Benefits of Osteopathy During Pregnancy
If you’re looking for pregnancy-safe activities that won’t harm you or your baby, then osteopathy can be a solution.
So, how exactly does osteopathy in pregnancy help?
Migraine
Hormonal changes often trigger migraine headaches. Migraine headaches can be debilitating, and often, the medicines that are usually given can’t be taken during pregnancy.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is among the most popular pregnancy-safe activities. Experts will use exercise, pregnancy relaxation massages, and corrective techniques to improve function and motion and reduce pain.
Sciatic Pain
As your baby grows, you might experience strain on the pelvis, hips, and spine. This often pinches the sciatic nerve that originates near the hips and runs along the bottom, thighs, and calves.
Sciatic pain and discomfort during pregnancy can be problematic and make your journey to motherhood less enjoyable. Osteopathy treatments like gentle stretching, massaging, dry needling, and mobilisation of musculoskeletal joints and tissues can provide relief.
If you’re wondering, ‘Is pregnancy massage safe?’, you can be assured that our certified experts at OsteoClinics are trained to handle all your needs and concerns.
Back Pain
The change in the musculoskeletal framework due to the pregnancy belly leads to lower back pain. With a shifting centre of gravity, the lower back curves and the rounded shoulders put weight on the tailbone and the L4-L5 spine.
Many pregnant women struggle with their sleeping positions, which can further increase the pain and discomfort. Finding safe medicine during pregnancy can be challenging and can also hamper the well-being of the growing foetus.
Therefore, choosing osteopathy for pregnancy pain treatment can help you to safely and effectively address lower back pain.
Fatigue
Whether in the first or the third trimester, fatigue is a common symptom experienced by pregnant women. This can be due to hormonal changes, supporting a growing baby, and the increased blood flow to the extremities.
Osteopathy is extremely effective in treating chronic fatigue. Experts use different manipulation and massage techniques to restore blood flow, making you feel energised and rejuvenated.
Preparation for Labour
Osteopathic treatment will help release the pressure on the belly and diaphragm, making it easier for you to breathe. Osteopaths also help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to prevent tearing and make it easier for vaginal delivery. These treatment methods also promote relaxation, which further helps during labour and delivery, along with postpartum recovery.
Enjoy Your Pregnancy Pain-Free With OsteoClinics
Don’t let pain, discomfort, and fatigue rob you of the many joys of pregnancy. Osteopathy in pregnancy can help address these issues and make the entire journey more enjoyable and comfortable.
At Osteo Clinics, we offer several treatments to help manage various pregnancy-related aches and pains. Our professionals specialise in understanding the underlying issues and creating personalised plans for your needs.
We also offer other alternative treatment methods like reiki, acupuncture, hypnosis, and counselling.
Contact us today to book an appointment!