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Osteopathy & pregnancy related symptoms:

For many women, pregnancy means having to cope with a whole range of symptoms, from back pain to heart burn and morning sickness. As the baby grows in the uterus, it's extra weight results in a changed centre of gravity and, as a result, the mother’s posture can change from week to week.

Osteopathic treatment throughout pregnancy can help the body adapt to the changes that are taking place. The safety of the mother and the baby is always the osteopath’s first concern. As many as 2 in 3 women suffer back pain during pregnancy and more than half complain that this impairs their quality of life. By gaining weight, as a result of pregnancy, women face their greatest postural changes. This can lead to varying degrees of discomfort and other possible long-term effects. Osteopathic treatment during pregnancy assists the body to adopt the ideal posture ensuring efficient use of postural muscles. Secondary weight gain and breast enlargement also force changes in how a woman carries herself, sits and undertakes daily tasks. Back and leg pain may result if she is unaware of how to handle these changes appropriately. Gentle techniques are used to ease pain, reduce swelling and improve mobility where necessary. Treatment also aims to prepare the mother’s body for the birth. An osteopath can advise on positions in labour to help prevent back problems later and pain relief techniques for coping during labour. Exercise and stretching techniques will be offered as part of the maternity clinic consultation and treatment programme.

Osteopathy can help ease other symptoms associated with pregnancy. For example:

• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Headaches
• Sciatic Pain
• Morning sickness
• Groin and pelvic pain.

Post-natal care

After the baby is born, it is important for both mother and child to be checked to ensure that any variations that may have been created by either the pregnancy or labour can be addressed. These      re-assessments are recommended in an attempt to avoid unnecessary complications in later pregnancies. Post-natal problems such as headaches, coccyx pain and pelvic pain may respond favourably to osteopathic treatment, as will back, neck and shoulder pain associated with feeding.

The ESO Clinic, where necessary, utilises cranial osteopathic techniques for the treatment of babies and children to help ease problems such as asthma, headaches, growing pain, glue ear and irritability.

The ESO Clinic provides osteopathic treatment to the general public based from the Tonbridge Road site in Maidstone (Kent). For further information or to book an appointment visit the 'Contact us' page.