Pregnancy and Osteopathy
Being pregnant is a wonderful and special time for most women during which they feel very good for the most part, but not every woman experiences it this way.
A lot changes in the pregnant body in a short period of time. Major changes take place in your body mechanically, hormonally and emotionally. The shape of the body and position of the spine becomes different, various organs are pushed out of place, and under the influence of the action of hormones the connective tissues change. If the body is unable to accommodate these changes harmoniously, complaints may arise. These can be very diverse in nature, ranging from extreme fatigue to prolonged and extreme nausea. In addition, complaints in the back and pelvis may also occur. These are generally the result of the changes in posture.
When you want to become pregnant
For a good pregnancy, good fitness, good muscle tone and a good diet are very important.
Osteopathy can help reduce these symptoms and can properly prepare your body for childbirth. Osteopathic care in pregnant women focuses on the total body so that the various systems can better cope with all the changes within your body during pregnancy. This is better for you as a mother as well as for your child; both during and after pregnancy.
If you have suffered from lower back and/or pelvic pain before pregnancy, it does not mean that you will automatically suffer more from it during pregnancy. Sometimes we see that these symptoms diminish or even disappear during pregnancy. This is due to the changes in the body caused by hormones which, among other things, relax the ligaments in the pelvis. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the symptoms will not return after childbirth. The osteopath can advise and help with this. Many pregnancy-related complaints can be treated osteopathically.
Some indications are:
- Pelvic pain, painful tailbone, painful pubic bone
- Back and neck pain
- groin pain
- Complaints between the shoulder blades
- Headache
- neck pain
- Shortness of breath
- Acid regurgitation
- Digestive complaints
- Obstipation
- Congestion in the legs
- Tingling in arms/fingers
- Radiating pain in the limbs arms/legs.
- Bladder problems
- Excessive fatigue
During pregnancy
When you are pregnant, a lot changes in your body in a short period of time. It starts with hormonal changes to create an optimal environment for the baby's development. These changes that promote the well-being of the growing baby can actually cause problems for the mother. Hormones cause the ligaments in the pelvis to relax and become more flexible. This allows the body to prepare for childbirth. This increasing mobility is not limited to the pelvis, but is noticeable in all joints and can be the reason for complaints in the back and pelvis.
Within osteopathy there are several treatment techniques for spine, skull, organs, fascia related complaints that can be applied very well during pregnancy. These are safe for mother and child, but of course this will always be discussed in detail with you.
A properly functioning pelvis is also important for the baby. Too much or too little mobility in the pelvis can affect the position the baby assumes in the womb such as in breech presentation or other entrapment positions. Osteopathic treatment can optimize movement and tension in the pelvis. Once the pelvis moves properly, it can no longer negatively affect the baby's position and, in turn, the baby can lie in the most optimal position
After childbirth
Even after childbirth, symptoms can remain, worsen or just arise. Everything is possible. We usually see the mother for the first time six weeks after delivery. The uterus has shrunk to its original size and the body has recovered from any stitches. If there are many complaints, then treatment can be given just after delivery. This will always be done in consultation, taking the situation into consideration.
Gynecology and Osteopathy
Many women have complaints in the pelvic area that they do not know there is a therapy for. Gynecologic osteopathic treatment can provide remarkable improvement and relief from these complaints.Most often, external techniques are sufficient to resolve the complaint, but sometimes internal treatments are also indicated.
Below are some indications:
- Painful and/or irregular menstruation
- Pain during intercourse
- Pelvic Pain
- restless legs
- Complaints after caesarean section, due to formation of scar tissue or adhesions
- painful stool
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain at the tailbone
- Tense pelvic floor
- Heavy feeling in the pelvis or legs
- Discomforts after childbirth
- Complaints after gynecological procedures including curettage
- Urination
- Sagging of bladder or uterus
- Recurrent bladder infections
- Fertility problems without medical obvious cause
The osteopath can also help after abdominal and breast(s) surgery by treating scars and adhesions created after breast surgery, radiation, mastectomy, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation.
- Heavy feeling in the pelvis or legs
- Discomforts after childbirth
- Complaints after gynecological procedures including curettage
- Urination
- Sagging of bladder or uterus
- Recurrent bladder infections
- Fertility problems without medical obvious cause
The osteopath can also help after abdominal and breast(s) surgery by treating scars and adhesions created after breast surgery, radiation, mastectomy, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation.
Preconception treatment
Preconception stands for the period between wanting children and a positive pregnancy test. Osteopathy increases your chances of becoming pregnant faster and has a beneficial effect on your physical condition. Thus, osteopathy helps to prevent and or relieve physical complaints before and during pregnancy.
As an osteopath, you treat the body as a whole. In fertility, hormones, blood flow and movement in the body play a crucial role. As an osteopath, I can improve these factors. For women, I can optimize the mobility and blood flow of your lower back, pelvis, abdominal organs, especially your bladder, uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes and adjacent organs. This also has a positive impact on your hormone system and also on the transport of the egg towards the uterus. The goal of treatment is to improve mobility and stimulate blood flow to support fertilization (natural or medical). In addition, osteopathy has a beneficial effect to prevent and or remedy physical complaints before and during pregnancy.
If becoming pregnant is not natural for you, osteopathy can help you with this. This also goes well with a medical treatment/procedure. For example, in hormone treatments and IVF, the mobility of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes is very important for the success of the treatment. As an osteopath, I can also help increase the success rate of an IUI insemination, IVF, ICSI treatment.
In addition, you may have had abdominal, pelvic surgery, inflammation or trauma in the past. This affects the mobility of your organs and may hinder successful conception. As an osteopath, I improve the mobility of tissue and organs to support conception. This significantly increases the chances of pregnancy.
In men, good blood flow to the scrotum is important for sperm quality. Osteopathy is suitable for this as well.
Osteopathy is the therapy of choice when there is a desire for pregnancy.
Through courses, study and experience, I have mastered specific treatments and approaches in infertility. Depending on the cause of fertility problems, uro-gynecological techniques (that is: specific local mobilizations) can be an added value in spontaneous pregnancy desire, IUI insemination, IVF, ICSI.
If you have any further questions about whether osteopathy can also do something for you please feel free to contact Anne-Marie.