Osteopathy for Pregnancy & Postpartum
Supporting people throughout their pregnancy and into the 4th trimester, is our passion. Find out how our Pregnancy Osteopaths in Murwillumbah can help you!
How can we help pregnancy related pain?
As Osteopaths, we treat the whole body. We aim to address tight muscles, restricted joints and fascial strain patterns to allow your body to feel more comfortable during your pregnancy. We use a range of techniques to suit what your body needs and what makes you feel most supported. We will also give you tips about what you can do at home to help prevent the pains from returning or becoming worse. This may be stretches, strength exercises or simple tricks such as how to roll over, bend or get out of the car. As your body changes throughout your pregnancy, you may begin to experience aches and pains around your legs, pelvis, low back, ribs and upper back. This is often due to the biomechanical and postural changes that occur to allow your belly to expand and your baby to grow!
Read on to find out the conditions our pregnancy osteopaths in Murwillumbah can help you with!
Low Back Pain in Pregnancy- It is estimated that 70% of women will experience low back pain during or after their pregnancy! As the body increases in weight and your belly extends forward, the shift in centre of gravity may increase the curve of the vertebra in your low back, increasing the stress in this area and potentially leading to pain. Pregnancy-related changes in ligament laxity has also been shown to be associated with back pain.
You may feel
Pain with walking, standing, sitting or sleeping
General tightness around your spine
Pain that travels down your legs
Round Ligament Pain in Pregnancy - The round ligaments are bands of connective tissue that attach onto the left and right sides of your uterus. The ligaments extend from the uterus on both sides and eventually connect into the tissue of the labia majora and mons pubis. During pregnancy, it is often a source of pain due to the uterus growing and the ligaments stretching.
You may feel
A sharp pulling feeling in the lower front of your abdomen
Tenderness over your pubic bones
Pain with breathing, rolling over in bed and twisting.
Sciatica in Pregnancy - Sciatica refers to pain felt along the sciatic nerve; a big nerve that exits the low back and sacrum and travels down the back of your legs. During pregnancy, your low back and pelvis undergo many changes to accommodate your growing baby. Your weight shifts forward, placing more strain on your low back. As you progress through pregnancy, the hormone Relaxin is also working to soften your ligaments to allow for your pelvis to move more to prepare you for birth. Your muscles may tense up around the pelvis to provide a little more support as the ligaments soften. A combination of tight muscles, softening ligaments and a shift in your centre of gravity can cause compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve. You may feel
Numbness or tingling in your legs and feet
Sharp pain radiating from your low back down to your leg
Tenderness bending forward
Rib Tightness and Costochondritis in Pregnancy - As your baby grows, your uterus expands up further in your abdomen, pushing organs to the side to make way. This can cause a feeling of breathlessness as more pressure is placed on the diaphragm. Your rib cage is also required to expand which can cause irritation at the joints between your ribs and spine and your ribs and sternum.
You may feel
Pain taking a big breath
Sharp pain at your breastbone
Pain moving your arms
Pain with twisting or laying on your side.
Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy (PGPP) is a common issue during pregnancy. It refers to pain that is felt in the joints around your pelvis. These include the Pubic Symphysis (at the front) and the Sacroiliac Joints (at the back). PGP is commonly caused by one of these joints becoming restricted and not moving normally. This means the other joints around the pelvis have to work harder to compensate. This can lead to the muscles around the joints becoming tight and overworked too. You may feel
Sharp pain in between your legs and at the front of your pelvis
Pain either side of your sit bones
Pain with sitting, standing, rolling over in bed, getting out of the car or bending over
Pain during sex
Pain with exercising.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in Pregnancy - As your centre of gravity shifts forward, the curves in your spine begin to change. This change in posture can cause your thoracic outlet to become tight and your upper ribs to become elevated, placing tension and compression on the brachial plexus (the bundle of nerves and blood vessels that exit your neck and travel down your arm) leading to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
You may feel
Tingling or numbness in your arm, hand and fingers.
Tension across the top of your shoulders
Tight in the front of your neck and chest.
The Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor is important in providing support for your baby. Your pelvic floor also needs to be functioning well to contract and relax appropriately for labour and birth. Your pelvic floor is three layers of muscles and fascia that sits underneath your pelvis. As Pregnancy Osteopaths in Murwillumbah, we don't only assess your pelvic floor, but your whole body. We look at how your whole system may be affecting the functioning of your pelvic floor.
A healthy pelvic floor is one that can contract but also relax!
After assessing your whole body and pelvic floor, we will prescribe exercises tailored to your needs. This may involve breathing exercise, pelvic floor relaxation techniques or strengthening exercises. The aim is to help your pelvic floor function as best as it can in preparation for birth! It has many roles including
Supporting the abdominal and pelvic organs
Maintaining continence by controlling our urethral and anal sphincters
Provides stability for our core and trunk
Allows for optimal sexual function, labour and birth!
Some signs your pelvic floor may not be functioning well
Urinary Incontinence
Low back and pelvic pain
Urgency and frequency (urinary voiding)
Constipation
Pain during sex
Signs and symptoms of a prolapse such as a bulging, heaviness or a dragging feeling around the vagina.
Our Pregnancy Osteopaths in Murwillumbah, are passionate about the assessment, treatment of pregnancy related pain. Both Nim and Teleah strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for you to talk about your concerns and are focussed on creating a treatment plan specific to you, combining a gentle hands-on approach with education and exercise.
We are here to enhance and nurture the amazing adaptability your body is already capable of! We love to work with the rest of your pregnancy healthcare team too, to ensure you are receiving the best care possible!
How can we help in the postpartum period.
The post-natal period is such an incredibly special time for new parents. We love to work with you during this time to ensure your body is functioning as well as it can be. If you have concerns about your pelvic floor, abdominal separation, returning to exercise or musculoskeletal aches and pains, a post-partum check-up may be just what you need.
We provide a safe space to share your birth experience. Your birth story is unique and important and helps us gain an understanding about what may be happening in your body. Along with learning about your pregnancy and labour, we want to understand what your goals are and what you want to get out of your consultation. We work with you to reach these goals with a thorough whole body assessment, treatment, education and exercise prescription.
We focus on
Musculoskeletal imbalances
Areas of tenderness and tension
Postural advice
Pelvic floor function
Prolapse assessment and management
C-Section scar recovery
Concerns about abdominal separation (Diastasis recti)
Preparing you to return to activity.
Treatment usually involves hands on manual therapy such as myofascial release techniques to help improve your overall range of motion and muscle tightness. We will also help you understand exactly what is going on in your body and what you can do at home to assist your recovery. This may include breathing techniques, pelvic floor rehabilitation or strengthening exercises.
Our clinic is a family friendly space. Your little ones are always welcome to join you at your appointment. If you’d like to know more about how osteopaths can help you in the post-partum period, get in touch!
Are you ready to take the next step towards achieving your health goals?
We are ready when you are!
We understand you might have a few questions before you come to see us. Please get in contact with us via email or phone so we can help you decided if the Caldera Allied Health approach is right for you!
Phone: 0493687206
Address: 9/41-43 Commercial Road Murwillumbah 2484
Osteopath in Murwillumbah
Caldera Allied Health services Murwillumbah, Condong, Nunderi, Cabarita, Kingscliff, Tumbulgum, Terranora, Chillingham, Tyalgum, Uki, Crystal Creek, Dungay, Tomewin, Dulgaigan, Burringbar, Stokers Siding, Pottsville, Hastings Point, Tweed Heads, and Numinbah. We offer Osteopathy, Remedial Massage, Dry Needling, Women’s Health, Pregnancy and Postpartum support. For more information call us on 0493687206 or head to our bookings page below.