Our osteopath, Radhika Madahar, specialises in treating new mums whether pregnant or postpartum. She explains why she recommends osteopathy after childbirth and explains why it’s helpful for a new mum to treatment soon after labour and childbirth.
Pregnancy and birth are always celebrated as a magical time for all the family, and particularly for the mum. Yet what’s often not acknowledged is that it can also be a hard time for a woman, both physically and emotionally. To avoid aches and pains turning into something more serious, Radhika works with women not just throughout pregnancy but after childbirth as well.
In the days and weeks after birth, a new mum’s body is working harder than ever to not only recover from labour and birth, but to feed, lift and carry her newborn. Combined with lack of sleep, it can feel overwhelming, and back pain can make it feel all the harder. Plus if you’re used to an active life with regular sports and exercise, it might feel like an age before you can consider getting back to your favourite sport.
If you’re a new mum, help is at hand! Osteopathy can help support you and your body during this lovely but physically demanding time. Your osteopath can also provide advice on good posture when feeding, holding and lifting your baby so you can really enjoy his or her first months, pain-free.
Postnatal Osteopathy
Osteopathic treatment is effective for the diagnosis and treatment of common postnatal aches and pains. Regular sessions support recovery from childbirth and can help to prevent pain developing in the future.
When pregnant, your posture has gradually adapted as your baby’s weight grew and shifted. Suddenly, after birth, this weight has gone and as a new mum your body must quickly adapt. Pregnancy hormones also continue to affect your muscles and ligaments for around six months after birth, making them looser and longer. This puts pressure on the joints, ligaments and discs of the lower back and other areas of your body, increasing the risk of injury.
At our Epsom clinic, osteopath Radhika Madahar works to rebalance a new mum’s body and support her through the changes in life with a new baby in the house, including the new demands of constant lifting, carrying and feeding. Osteopathic treatment can also help harmonise your nervous system and balance the flood of different hormones released at this time.
How soon should you see an osteopath after giving birth?
Radhika says “I recommend you book in for a consultation as soon as you can comfortably travel to the clinic after giving birth. Particularly after a challenging labour and birth, osteopathy will support a speedy recovery and nip potential future problems in the bud. Even if you’ve been blessed with a straightforward experience of labour and birth, a postpartum check-up between 4-6 weeks will mean that any imbalances are spotted early on and corrected.”
What if you’ve had a C section?
If you’ve had a Caesarean birth, please do contact us.
Your osteopath will not work directly on the scar but instead will work on the surrounding tissues to speed healing. C-sections create scar tissue around the womb and pelvic tissues, and your osteopath will work to release adhesions and mobilise scar tissue. This will relieve lower back and pelvic pain.
Not only will this support you to fully enjoy your baby’s first months, it’s also important in the prevention of future reproductive problems and help you to potentially have a later vaginal birth.
Postnatal osteopathy appointments
Make an appointment with Radhika Madahar in our Staines clinic today, if you are a new mum. It’s never too early to get a check-up and see if a programme of treatment can help you really enjoy life with your new baby, pain-free.
