Osteopathy and the Postpartum Period
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Osteopathic Treatment After Childbirth
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Pregnancy is a process that profoundly alters a woman’s body.
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Throughout this period, all bodily structures are subjected to stress—gradual, certainly, but requiring significant stretching and adaptation.
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The anatomy of various structures and the physiology of all the body’s systems and organ networks are put to a rigorous test.
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As the uterus grows, it causes other abdominal organs to be displaced upward and compressed.
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The function of the diaphragm—which acts as a vital pump for both the circulatory and respiratory systems—is also profoundly altered.
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Childbirth, in addition to exerting intense mechanical stress on a woman’s body, creates an "abdominal void" that often leads to various issues and symptoms, such as lower back pain, upper back pain, digestive difficulties, and more.
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The rebalancing work performed during an osteopathic consultation helps the new mother return to her physiological equilibrium more quickly; in most cases, it also allows various symptoms and discomforts to resolve much faster.