For many women, pregnancy means having to cope with a whole range of symptoms from back pain to morning sickness.As the baby grows in the womb its extra weight results in a changed centre of gravity and posture changes from week to week. This often leads to back and leg pain. As breast weight increases, this also causes changes and pain may occur in the upper back and neck.
Osteopathic treatment through pregnancy can help the body adapt to the changes which are taking place. The safety of mother and baby is the osteopath’s primary concern. After a thorough assessment gentle osteopathic treatment may help to relieve the aches and pains caused by weight and postural changes and assist in the body’s adaption to these changes.
Advice from your osteopath may help you to adjust your posture and learn how to use your body correctly curing pregnancy.
Osteopathic treatment can also help to ease other side effects of pregnancy such as heartburn, indigestion, constipation and sciatic pain.
Useful tips
- Look after your back during pregnancy. Take particular care when lifting other children or carrying shopping or other heavy packages. Do not carry a small child on one hip for any length of time. Ask your osteopath for simple back-stretching exercises.
- If you stand for any length of time, keep your bottom ‘tucked in’ to reduce the curvature of the lower part of your spine.
- When sitting, use a cushion for support and don’t sit with your legs crossed. Avoid twisting movements. These may cause torsional strain within the pelvis.
- Lying on your side in bed, place a pillow under ‘the bump’ to provide support and also put a pillow between your knees to prevent back strain.
- If you prefer to lie on your back, place pillows beneath your knees to keep them bent.
- Buy a pram with handles at a comfortable height for you.