The benefits of osteopathy for pregnant women
Why consult an osteopath during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the reasons for consultations are numerous and varied. We have listed in this article the specific ailments of pregnant women that osteopathy can relieve.
Ligament pain during pregnancy
Relaxin" is a pregnancy hormone that softens ligaments, muscles, cartilage and the cervix in preparation for childbirth. The ligamentous stretching produced by the secretion of this hormone can cause pain, especially in cases of joint blockage. Osteopathy sessions will help reduce ligament tension by balancing the entire osteo-articular system.
Specialized in perinatality, your osteopath will be able to direct you towards an adapted and effective solution to relieve your pain. In some cases, your osteopath can advise you on other elements such as Bernadette de Gasquet's physiomat belt.
Sciatica of the pregnant woman
Sciatica is a pain related to the sensitization of the sciatic nerve. It is often affected by the piriformis muscle in women. Pregnant women with sciatica may experience varying degrees of pain. The pain may be limited to the buttock or extend to the foot through the leg.
Low back pain during pregnancy
Very common among pregnant women, low back pain during pregnancy is due to the position of the baby which forces you to solicit your lumbar vertebrae to remain upright and not lean forward. The more muscular your back is before pregnancy, the less pain you will have in this area.
If you want to strengthen your back during your pregnancy, you can go to the pool and practice backstroke. Be careful, in this type of case, breaststroke is not recommended because it digs into the back and risks aggravating the situation. You can also do adapted muscle strengthening.
Osteopathy can help you and relieve back pain. During a session, your osteopath will analyze your entire body from head to toe. This check-up will allow us to identify the structure of your body that is suffering and to understand the causes. With this information, your osteopath will use specific and adapted techniques to treat the areas involved in your back pain.
Rest assured, pain in early pregnancy that is well treated may not last for the following months.
Circulatory problems during pregnancy
Water retention and swelling are very common in pregnant women. Your osteopath will act on the different fluids that make up your body through circulatory techniques, this will reduce pain and limit the stagnation of fluids. Your osteopath can also advise you on exercises and little tricks for everyday life to relieve you.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in pregnant women
Occasionally and especially at the end of pregnancy, many women suffer from GERD or even vomiting. These refluxes are due to a too high tension on the stomach because baby presses in this area.
Your osteopath will be able to use gentle manipulations to help baby understand that he can press on the sides and not necessarily in this area. The father can also participate in these osteopathic sessions by placing his hands so that baby can curl up in this area.
At what point in the pregnancy should I consult my osteopath?
Osteopaths do not all share the same opinion on this issue.
Unfortunately, not all osteopaths are trained to treat women during pregnancy.
Osteopathic work on a pregnant woman requires specific knowledge and techniques to be adapted according to the progress of the pregnancy.
For my part, I recommend osteopathy during the last three weeks of pregnancy to remove all osteoarticular blockages and prepare the pelvis to facilitate the arrival of the baby.
Don't hesitate to ask your osteopath if he or she has perinatal diplomas.
How does an osteopathic consultation during pregnancy work?
First, your osteopath will conduct a quick interview by asking you questions about your pregnancy. Do not hesitate to bring your baby's latest ultrasound scans to the consultation, as this will help guide the osteopath towards the most appropriate techniques.
Your osteopath will manipulate you with gentle techniques adapted to the progress of your pregnancy (a pelvis is not treated the same way at the end or the beginning of a pregnancy).
To avoid any recurrence, your osteopath can also advise you on exercises to do at home as a complement. The consultation with your practitioner can also be the right moment to evoke possible worries around the pregnancy (epidural, childbirth, ...). Take the opportunity to ask all your questions, and remember that there are no stupid questions!
What are the contraindications to osteopathy during pregnancy?
If your practitioner is trained in perinatality, osteopathy has no contraindication for the baby or for you.
Your osteopath must therefore master the osteopathic approach of the pregnant woman in its entirety because certain techniques are practiced for one term but not for another.
Women who are bedridden should avoid being manipulated, with the exception of very gentle techniques at a distance from the pelvis, and these manipulations should obviously take place at home. Bleeding is also not recommended in the treatment of pregnant women.
In the case of organic pathologies, osteopathy will relieve you but not treat you.
Do not hesitate to contact your osteopath to discuss this.
Marie Messager
Osteopath D.O
Specialized in pediatrics
In Versailles - 78
