What Can Osteopathy do for you?

Can a pregnant lady have Osteopathic treatment for a bad back?

She certainly can. There are no contraindications to Osteopathic treatment because someone is pregnant.The registered Osteopath may not use manipulation during the early stages but they can use other techniques to help the back pain. Back strain is common in pregnancy due to the change in posture (the spine alters shape 3 times in 9 months) but also the mechanics differ and with lifting a young infant at this time, damage is easily done.The mother may also get neck/upper back symptoms later due to breast enlargement, or may suffer indigestion due to the baby limiting space for the stomach. These symptoms can often be helped by manipulation.

I very commonly see pregnant mothers who are told there is nothing that can be done for your sciatica because the baby is lying on the sciatic nerve.This is nearly always a mechanical problem involving the joints of the lower spine and muscles in the buttock irritating the nerve. This can be treated very effectively with Osteopathy.

I had a call from a pregnant lady who was due in the next week but was upset because not only was she planning a mobile birth but the low back pain she had meant she could not weight-bear. She had 2 young children to look after and little help at home. She responded very well to a simple manipulation and was able to have her mobile birth with no problem. I have seen each of the children for small injuries and developmental troubles since then. Do not be put off if the doctor says the child's' pain are growing pains, seek advice from the osteopath.