Movement and posture changes significantly during pregnancy and many women experience pain, discomfort or movement/function challenges as part of their pregnancy journey.  These are often able to help helped by advice, hands on work , exercise suggestions and general antenatal support education woman about how their body changes so they are more comfortable and confident as they look forwards to the birth ad their new family.  In the UK, in England, the NHS recognises osteopaths as allied health professionals who can contribute to the antenatal care pathway, and many osteopaths care frequently for pregnant women.

Post partum recovery can be complex for some women, who may have had a variety of birth experiences, or tissue injury or complications for surgical, assisted or challenging birth journeys.

Apart from the actual tissue damage there are often many challenges about sense of self, about how women feel about their bodies, how they experience their pelvic function and how the pain and symptoms they experience complicate their retainership with their baby and their family. 

An osteopathic post partum service can include pelvic floor rehabilitation, scar management, pain management and tissue recovery.  But it can also include embodied support and using hands on to help a woman gain greater confidence, understanding and healing of her pregnancy and birth journey, from an embodied and somatic perspective.  

Sensitivity and experience in hands on care can help women on many levels, and osteopaths are sensitive to complex histories and when women may need the support of other health professionals. 

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Osteopaths with women's health training have extensive knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles, the pelvic joints, and the pelvic organ soft tissues and function.  Having a global and three dimensional understanding of pelvic function is very important when offering service to support women with a variety of pelvic dysfunctions and pain. Many pelvic pathologies or surgeries such as laparoscopy or bladder suspension can cause ongoing problems that can be helped with hands on care, self help advise and exercise advise and guidance.   Sometimes, the muscles and tissues of the pelvis may need to be assed internally through the vagina or rectum, and osteopaths with advanced training have the scope and competence to perform these assessments sensitively and carefully.  Osteopaths can add to your body awareness, self knowledge and confidence by identifying an individual strategy of treatment, advice and education to aid and support your recovery and / or ongoing function.