Pregnancy & how your body changes
Posture
There are many postural changes that occur during pregnancy to accommodate for the size and weight of the foetus. This picture explains most of the changes:
Hormones
- The hormone relaxin is responsible for an increase in ligamentous laxity throughout the body,beginning at the 10th to 12th week. Its primary targets are the cervix, uterus and ligaments of the pelvis. It’s responsible for widening and increasing the mobility at the pelvic joints to allow passage of the baby during birth.
- Higher levels of progesterone alter respiration leading to increased demand for oxygen, this explains the postural changes that occur in the chest wall.
- Progesterone and other steroid hormones are responsible for an increase in fluid retention which can cause swelling of ankles, haemorrhoids, varicose veins.
Circulation & Fluids Dynamics
Increased circulation is needed to a mother’s pelvic organs to keep up the demand for thegrowing baby. Sometimes fluid return can be insufficient usually due to the baby taking upmore and more space within the abdominal cavity and compromising major blood vessels.This altered venous flow can contribute to many common problems in pregnancy such ashaemorrhoids, varicosities, back pain, headaches, nausea and light-headedness.
Common Problems During Pregnancy & When An Osteopath Can Help
- Sacroiliac joint and coccyx pain: due to an increase in ligament laxity these joints become very mobile and can cause torsions or shifts through the pelvis. Osteopaths are able to gently treat associated musculoskeletal and neural structures to allow the pelvis to move in a more symmetrical way.
- Pubic symphysis pain: the joint at the front of the pelvis can expand and be strained by abdominal weight. Osteopaths can help by relieving tensions in the muscles and fascia that attach to the pubic bone and advise on avoiding activities that may exacerbate the problem.
- Low back pain: generally due to increased postural and weight demands. Osteopaths can use gentle unwinding muscle and spinal release techniques to alleviate pain and prevent further pain post partum where a lot of lifting may be involved in taking care of a new born.
- Hip and leg pain: changes in centre of gravity mean that weight is distributed more to the front of the hips and legs causing fatigue and pain. General mobilisation of hip joints and soft tissue stretching can not only alleviate pain but prepare the pelvis for delivery.
- Sinus, ear, nose and throat problems: osteopaths have a lot of success alleviating fluid congestion of the head and neck which can plague many women.#
- Morning sickness: nausea and vomiting which is usually kept at bay by eating dry crackers before getting out of bed in the morning.
- Chest pain: due to upper body postural changes and increase in breast size. Osteopaths can help by mobilising the rib cage and thoracic vertebrae, stretching chest muscles and the diaphragm. This can improve breathing and fluid dynamics.
- Carpal tunnel: generally due to fluid retention compressing neural structures in the hands but may be related to postural changes of the upper body.
- Sciatic pain: the growing baby may impinge on the sciatic nerve and cause nerve pain down the buttock and leg. General osteopathic techniques are modified for the pregnant patient to help with this condition.
Post-partum Care
After the baby has arrived the mother has to deal with a great deal of new changes from brokensleep to breastfeeding. Common ailments are upper thoracic and neck pain from breastfeeding,low back and wrist pain from lifting and holding the baby and sacral pain from mechanicaldisturbances during the birth process. Osteopaths can help with all these issues not only withhands on treatment but self care advice.A few simple tips to help in this period of time are:
- Sleep: your body needs rest to function probably. Try to rest when your bub does.
- Breastfeeding: try to find a position that puts as few demands on you as possible. Avoid looking down for long periods and use pillows if necessary to support arms and wrists.
- Exercise: start some light exercise to improve fluid dynamics, fitness levels and your general well being.
- Pelvic floor exercises: to restore altered mechanics of the pelvis after birth.
Osteopathic Paediatric Care
Mums are not the only ones that can benefit from osteopathic treatment. Many new borns havedifficulty sleeping, suckling, have chronic colic and other digestive ailments. Circumstances of thebirth may have contributed to these conditions and osteopathic treatment can gently alleviatethe pressures placed on the baby as they exit the birth canal.