Elisabeth Davies BA DO ND MSCC Registered Osteopath Registered with the General Osteopathic Council

Osteopathy in Pregnancy and Childbirth:
A guide for parents and parents-to-be

Why is it important to have osteopathic treatment during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time of rapid change and expectant mothers often experience low back and other pains due to the postural changes in pregnancy and the extra weight being carried. Structural problems that existed before pregnancy are more likely to cause complaint, and pregnancy is the ideal time to sort these problems out.

Can osteopathy help prepare for birth?

Another reason why it is important to seek treatment at this time is to help prepare for an easy birth. Good structural balance in the joints of the pelvis and lumbar spine can aid the baby's chances of engaging in the correct position and finding the easiest way through the birth canal. Joint restrictions in this area can easily and safely be corrected through osteopathic treatment.

In the last few weeks before the birth, osteopathic treatment can help resolve any conflicting tensions in the abdominal wall and pelvic floor. This can reduce the feeling of heaviness at the end of pregnancy and can help make contractions more efficient, reducing the chances of a prolonged labour.

Should I return for a check-up after the birth?

Ideally yes. The effects of pregnancy and giving birth do not always fully resolve themselves. The whole body will benefit from a check-up to ensure that the spine, pelvis and ribcage are returning to normal. Ligaments loosen in pregnancy and it takes a while for them to tighten up again; while they are still lax and while the mother is lifting and carrying her baby, lifting child seats in and out of cars etc, it is important for her to use her body well. If there are difficulties osteopathy can often help.

Sometimes the bearing-down strain of giving birth can remain in the pelvis. This can drag on the membranes lining the spinal cord, exerting a pull on the low back and even right up to the base of the skull. Apart from predisposing the mother to fatigue and low back pain, it may also drag on the membranes lining the brain. It is suggested by some osteopaths that this may be an important contributing factor in postnatal depression. A possible explanation might be that the function of the pituitary gland, which controls the hormonal changes in pregnancy and childbirth, is affected by the drag on the membranes. However, this dragging effect can be treated osteopathically.

Is it true that osteopaths can check newborn babies' heads?

Any osteopath who is familiar with the "cranial" approach can do this. A baby's head is designed to undergo compression in the birth canal and decompression afterwards, aided by breathing (the first breath is especially important here), crying and breast feeding.

However, the baby's head can become compressed in a distorted way which may not decompress itself so easily. This is more likely if the birth is difficult or slow, especially if forceps or other intervention is used, or if the birth is very quick, or even in caesarean births where there is often no compression prior to decompression. During birth the base of the skull and top of the neck are particularly vulnerable; this is an area which is designed to take the force of the pressure as the baby is pushed out. If the presentation is not normal then the base of the skull may stay compressed after birth and this may contribute to colic, restlessness and sleeplessness or hyperactivity.

Strain patterns like these can be easy to resolve with osteopathy especially if detected at an early age; the mother's postnatal visit is an ideal time for the baby to be examined.

Do cranial osteopaths only treat heads?

Not at all. "Cranial" osteopathy is a particular approach to osteopathic treatment of the whole body which involves tuning in to the patient through touch and working with the body's own attempts to correct itself. It is very gentle and always in tune with the needs of the person receiving treatment. Some osteopaths use it as their main or only approach to treatment as it is suitable for people of any age and can address any of the structural problems which cause people to seek osteopathic treatment.

The name "cranial" is therefore misleading, as the whole body is treated in the same way as the head. The name "cranial" became a label as it is the only technique that can be applied also to the joints of the cranium (the skull).

Can the birth process cause strains in other parts of a baby's body?

Structural problems in the baby's body can arise from the baby's position in the womb such as an in-turned foot. They can also arise from the birth process itself. For example, if the umbilical cord is coiled round the baby's neck it can sometimes exert a traction producing a twisting strain in the area of the baby's diaphragm and may be one of the causes of colic or projectile vomiting. Strains of this kind can respond well to the cranial approach.

What if my baby is premature?

In premature babies, some parts of the skull that normally fuse before birth (while the baby is protected in the womb) have to fuse after birth. These parts are more vulnerable to distortion during the birth process, in some cases giving rise to eye and ear problems. Cranial osteopathy may at times be able to assist a return to normality, especially if treatment is sought during the first year of life.

When my children were born I didn't know about cranial osteopathy. Is it too late to do anything now?

Generally speaking, the younger the child, the faster the response to treatment and the more complete the resolution. However, treatment of children of any age is important as strains and compressions which may seem insignificant in childhood may eventually produce structural imbalances such as spinal curvatures: "as the twig is bent so doth the tree incline".

There is hope for adults too, as the final stages of growth do not take place until the early twenties, and even after that our body structure constantly renews and remoulds itself. It is never too late to improve function, but it becomes harder to modify structure as the body ages.

How can I find a practitioner I can trust?

Qualified osteopaths have an academic qualification indicated by DO (Diploma in Osteopathy) or more recent graduates may have BSc(Ost) after their names. Since the Osteopaths Act became law in 1993, the General Osteopathic Council has been formed to replace all pre-existing professional bodies. It has drawn up a statutory register and after the year 2,000 no-one will be able to use the title "Osteopath" who is not listed on it, providing patients with the same assurances as when they consult a doctor or dentist. Members have professional indemnity insurance, work to a code of ethics and are bound by a disciplinary procedure.

(Revised July 2000)

Copyright © Elisabeth Davies 1999.  Not to be reproduced without permission from the author.