How Osteopathy can help during Pregnancy and postpartum
Pregnancy is one of the most amazing events that many people will experience over the course of their lives. While the process is nothing short of miraculous, it can be both uncomfortable and painful for the mother. All of these aches and pains are caused by both physical and physiological changes that occur for the growth of the baby. Seeing an Osteopathic Practitioner during the course of your pregnancy can provide comfort and pain relief before and after the birth of your child.
The most commonly recognized physical changes that occur during pregnancy are the increase in the size of both a woman’s abdomen and her breasts closer to the delivery of her baby. There is also a significant increase in the amount of fluid within a mother’s body, in order to meet the increased demands placed on her body during this time. Other physical changes that may be observed are stretch marks, swelling, hemorrhoids, fatigue, and increased frequency of urination. These physical changes are the primary reason for aches and pains during the course of the pregnancy, and may cause things like back pain, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, leg cramps, itching, nasal problems or nosebleeds, and fatigue. Several physiological changes can occur as well, such as: hormonal changes, sensory changes to vision, smell, and taste, increased hair and nail growth, increased blood volume and blood pressure changes, increased breathing rate, and body temperature changes to name a few.
Osteopathy can provide relief for many of the symptoms that are a part of a healthy pregnancy, with the primary role being pain management to help the mother be as comfortable as she can while the baby is growing. This means helping with back pain, tingling or numbness, cramps, itching, or anything else that may arise throughout its course. The true healing can begin once the baby has been delivered and the mother has been cleared to receive treatment by her doctor. At this time, the practitioner can realign the pelvis and any other imbalances that may have occurred during the pregnancy. By doing this, they are assisting the body’s natural healing process and helping the mother get back to the normal she had previously known prior to getting pregnant. This allows the body to regulate itself both physically and physiologically.
During the birth of the baby, your body releases a hormone called relaxin. The role of this hormone is to relax the ligaments, specifically in the pelvic region, to allow a widening of the birthing canal and to make it easier for the baby to come out. Ligaments normally are very rigid and are expected to keep the bony structure together during everyday stresses. Between the ages of 25 and 30, your body begins to experience a decrease in mobility and misalignments within your pelvis and spine may become stuck in the position they are in. An interesting benefit to this hormone is that after giving birth, it remains in your system for 3 to 6 months. During this 3 to 6 month period, the correction of problems within the body is made much easier than it normally would be. Relaxin gives the opportunity to fix pre-existing dysfunction that otherwise may not have been possible, both in the pelvic region and the rest of your body.
Osteopathic treatment is safe for both the mother and child after the first trimester. Receiving treatment in the first trimester is unsafe, and should not be performed in any circumstance. Once you have entered the second trimester, it is important to discuss and receive clearance from your doctor to ensure that there is nothing that could potentially be harmful. After this point there is nothing that makes receiving treatment unsafe for the mother or the baby and you will be able to get relief from your pain without having to worry. You should always feel comfortable to discuss any questions you have with your Osteopathic Practitioner throughout the course of treatment.
Jeffrey Parker - Osteopathic Practitioner, M.OMSc, B.H.K.
