Pregnancy

Whenever the body’s alignment is altered, the body’s mechanics are compromised and never is this more common than in pregnancy. As the bump gets bigger, the spine has to bear more load and each part of the spine is affected in its own way.

The hips increase in mobility because the pelvis is tilted forward, the lower back has to arch more to support the extra weight of the baby, the mid-back has to accommodate to this and pulls forwards and the neck and shoulders suffer from having to use the upper ribs to breathe, making them more rounded and stiff.
This is exacerbated in the second and third trimesters as a hormone called relaxin is secreted and circulates around the body to prepare the ligaments for birth. This loosens all ligaments making them more flexible but as a result the muscles work harder and tighten.

Through gentle manipulation of the joints and stretching of the muscles the Osteopath can ease the discomfort and pain. Pregnant women are often the patients who respond the best to osteopathic treatment and it is safe to see the osteopath throughout pregnancy.