Women’s Health
As an Osteopath, I know how much women’s health issues can affect the rest of the body, and how much Osteopathy can help. Read more for info on
Menstrual Cycles and period pain
Pelvic floor in pregnancy, birth, and post-natal, generally, and during menopause
Comfort in carrying and fetal position in pregnancy
Final trimester care plan
Pre-conception prep
MENSTRUAL CYCLES AND PERIOD PAIN
Your pelvic organs are very much affected by your musculoskeletal system - weightbearing through the middle pelvis instead of distributing weight properly outwards into the hips, tipping your lumbar spine forward or backward, the orientation of your hips and knees, and the action of your diaphragm in breathing, and the positioning of the glands that exert hormonal control, all affect how your uterus can do its job, and how well the surrounding muscles can support the actions that cause ovulation, periods, and healthy nutrition and drainage of the endometrium and ovaries.
THE PELVIC FLOOR
The pelvic floor can affect everything, from the way you walk to headaches.
Pre-natal - The pelvic floor is often far too tight, and needs releasing with a variety of direct muscle release, pelvic realignment, pelvic organ balancing, and craniosacral treatment to make sure the pelvic floor is able to function, and its nerve supply isn’t irritated or compressed.
In order to give birth, the pelvic floor needs to be able to stretch and flex - this means the muscles need to contain high numbers of types of collagen fibres that allow this action to happen without tearing, and the muscles to bounce back after the delivery. As a trained post-natal qualified Pilates Instructor, I can give you specific exercises that take the focus off “strengthening” the pelvic floor, and on to allowing the muscles to create more of these collagen fibres to give you the best chance of a pelvic floor that can deliver without tearing.
Post-natal (including any woman who has delivered a child and is still experiencing the effects of that delivery, no matter how much time has passed) - The pelvic floor may experience severe trauma during delivery, including tearing, and leading to a host of symptoms, such as a lack of control of urination, changes in frequency of urination, pelvic pain, back pain, digestive discomfort and more. Osteopathy can help address why the pelvic floor is taking its time to recover, and look at the mechanics of your whole body to figure out how to best create a change. Sometimes, your bladder may stay pushed up against the pubic bone, or pulled to one side, as a result of poor visceral regrouping after pregnancy. I consider all possibilites, from the muscles and joints, and weightbearing mechanics, to the positioning of the organs themselves.
Menopausal changes - as we experience hormonal changes, the pelvic floor can lose its elasticity, become too tight in places and too loose in others, which can affect many inconvenient aspects of life. As in all cases, this issue in your pelvic floor may be a direct issue with the pelvis itself, or be a consequence of a problem lower down or higher up in the body, which the consequences of the menopause have simply highlighted.
COMFORT IN CARRYING and FETAL POSITION DURING PREGNANCY
During pregnancy, baby can choose some rather unorthodox positions to get snuggled into, which can lead to too much pressure on the diaphragm, stomach, throat, liver, bladder and digestive system. This pressure can wreak havoc with your breathing mechanics, heartburn, gallbladder drainage and more. Baby uses muscles that run through your abdomen as a guide rail to know where to go in positioning and engaging for labour, so if something isn’t quite right in your musculoskeletal system, your baby loses its “This Way” signs. With a full assessment and treatment of your back, pelvis, and rest of your body, Osteopathy can re-stimulate these muscles to wake up and get back on board with helping baby understand where the most comfortable positions are, for both you and them.
FINAL TRIMESTER CARE PLAN
Osteopathic treatment is designed to give you a totally individualised preparation during your final trimester. Whether your body needs just a little support, or if you need a comprehensive top-to-toe realignment, getting your problems sorted in the lead up to labour can make everything go a little more according to plan when the time comes to deliver.
Preparing for labour can involve exercise to do at home, or a series of treatments to balance your pelvis, encourage your baby to engage, treat your pelvic floor to get it ready for The Big Stretch, treat your back for optimal positioning of weightbearing, and get your hips and pubic symphysis steady and ready. Staying mobile during the last few weeks of pregnancy can make a big difference to your sanity, as well as your short and long-term wellbeing through labour and parenthood.
PRE-CONCEPTION CARE
If you’re thinking of having children, or actively trying, it’s never a bad idea to make sure your low back and pelvis are well aligned and well-supplied with your nerves, arteries and veins able to deliver nutrients and remove cellular waste without any sticking points in the system, and a flexible, strong pelvic floor able to cope with the future physical demands of would-be parenthood.
BOOK ONLINE WITH DR ANNA BROWN
Warrnambool Osteopathic Clinic is located at 8 Stacey Ct, near the Gateway Plaza.
You are welcome to bring your other children to attend your appointment with you - please bring something for them to do if they are old enough to get bored.
