Osteopathy for Pregnancy and Postnatal Health

Osteopathy & Pregnancy

Hi, I’m Mia, an osteopath here at Oak Park Clinic. If you’re looking for some relief during pregnancy or support after giving birth, I’d love to help. Osteopathy can be a gentle and effective way to ease discomfort, restore balance, and help your body adapt to the incredible changes that come with pregnancy and beyond.

What Happens to the Body During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy brings about remarkable physical changes as your body adjusts to support your growing baby. These changes affect not only your posture and musculoskeletal system but also your circulatory and hormonal systems. It’s common to experience tension, aches, or new movement patterns as a result.

Osteopathic treatment aims to support these natural adaptations, helping to relieve strain and improve overall function. Each treatment is gentle, safe, and tailored to your individual needs, always taking into account the stage of pregnancy you’re in.

How Osteopathy Can Help

During pregnancy, osteopathy can provide relief from discomfort and help you move with greater ease. I use a combination of techniques to encourage balance and relaxation throughout the body. These may include:

• Soft tissue techniques to ease tension in the back, hips, and legs.

• Lymphatic techniques to support healthy circulation.

• Gentle mobilisations and harmonic techniques to restore mobility in the spine, pelvis, and ribs without putting stress on ligaments. These techniques can also help calm the nervous system and promote relaxation.

• Postural advice and exercise guidance to improve body awareness, breathing, and pelvic floor activation.

Pregnancy often brings specific challenges, and osteopathy can be particularly beneficial for issues such as:

• Lower back or pelvic girdle pain

• Rib and upper back discomfort (often linked to postural or breast changes)

• Swelling or leg discomfort

• Breathing restrictions

• Headaches or neck tension

Osteopathy After Birth

After delivery, your body continues to undergo major changes as it begins to recover and rebalance. Osteopathy can play a valuable role during this period by helping to restore movement, support postural changes, and address the physical demands of caring for a newborn.

Common postnatal concerns I can help with include:

• Pelvic or sacroiliac joint dysfunction

• Persistent lower back pain

• Diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)

• C-section scar mobility - we also have a specialist scar tissue therapist at the clinic who can provide complementary treatment

• Postural strain related to feeding, lifting, and daily childcare

Treatment in the postnatal phase may involve gentle pelvic and spinal mobilisation, soft tissue release around the diaphragm and pelvic floor, and practical guidance on lifting and feeding positions. Rehabilitation exercises are also discussed to help you regain strength and confidence as your body recovers.

In Summary

Whether you’re preparing for birth or settling into life with your new baby, osteopathy offers a safe, personalised, and supportive way to help your body feel more comfortable and balanced. My goal is to help you move well, recover fully, and feel at ease throughout your journey into motherhood.

If you’d like to learn more or book an appointment, please get in touch with us at Oak Park Clinic, I’d be happy to discuss how osteopathy could support you.