Osteopathy During Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings remarkable changes to your body — and sometimes, discomfort. Osteopathy offers gentle, safe, hands-on care to help ease physical strain, improve mobility, and support your body through each stage of pregnancy.

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Common Reasons Women Seek Osteopathy During and After Pregnancy

Discomfort in the lower back, pelvis, ribs or shoulders
Coccyx or sacral pain (often post-birth)
Tension related to posture or feeding positions
Breathing restriction or reflux due to postural changes
Preparation for labour and pelvic mobility
Support during postnatal recovery
Gentle follow-up care after caesarean or vaginal birth

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How Osteopathy May Help in Perinatal Care

Pregnancy, birth, and recovery each bring remarkable changes to your body. As posture shifts and ligaments soften to prepare for delivery, new areas of tension or discomfort can develop — especially through the lower back, pelvis, ribs, and shoulders. These changes are normal and necessary, but they can also make your body more vulnerable to strain.

Osteopathic care is designed to support you through this transition. Using gentle, hands-on techniques, we aim to reduce discomfort, improve joint mobility, and help your body adapt to the demands of each stage — from early pregnancy to postnatal recovery.

In the weeks and months after birth, many women seek treatment for:

Pelvic or lower back pain
Rib discomfort and upper body tension (especially from feeding or holding positions)
Sacral or coccyx strain
General postural fatigue and recovery support
Scar tissue mobility following birth or caesarean delivery

Every treatment is tailored to your body, your birth experience, and your stage of recovery. Research suggests that osteopathic care during pregnancy may assist with reducing pain and improving function in some women
(Licciardone 2013, Schwerla 2015).

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Osteopathy for Asthma

Osteopathy can improve breathing mechanics, potentially reducing the severity of asthma attacks triggered by exercise, temperature changes, or allergies.

Common Physical Changes in Pregnancy

As your baby grows, your body goes through major shifts — some expected, others surprising. You may notice breathlessness as the uterus pushes up into the diaphragm, or reflux as pressure builds on the stomach. It’s also normal for your ribcage and shoulders to expand to accommodate your changing posture and growing baby.

These changes can lead to discomfort in areas like the upper back, ribs, pelvis, and hips. Our osteopaths use gentle, hands-on techniques to support your body as it adapts, aiming to ease tension and improve mobility where needed.

Osteopathy may support a wide range of common pregnancy symptoms — from lower back and pelvic discomfort to rib pain, tension, and sciatica. Some women also find it helpful for managing symptoms like reflux or constipation (Müller 2014), or simply feeling more mobile and prepared as labour approaches.

Why Movement Matters During Pregnancy

Staying active during pregnancy can help improve circulation, reduce discomfort, and support your body as it adapts. But what’s safe and helpful can look different for everyone.

As osteopaths, we don’t just treat pain — we also guide you on how to move well throughout your pregnancy. That might mean adjusting your posture, modifying your workouts, or learning a few simple stretches to ease tension and support recovery after birth.

We’ll always tailor movement advice to your needs, your stage of pregnancy, and how your body’s feeling day to day.

Osteopathy for Asthma

Osteopathy can improve breathing mechanics, potentially reducing the severity of asthma attacks triggered by exercise, temperature changes, or allergies.

Preparing for Birth — and After

As your body prepares for labour, mobility in the pelvis and lower back becomes especially important. Osteopathic treatment can gently support these changes, helping reduce tension and encourage freer movement in the lead-up to birth.

After birth, we often work with women experiencing discomfort from feeding postures, pelvic strain, or simply adjusting to a new physical rhythm. Whether it’s weeks or months down the track, care is always tailored to your recovery and lifestyle.

Further Information

Back pain, pain in the pelvis, coccyx and pubic symphysis (research link: Licciardone 2013).

Care with baby positioning (book link: Walsh 2007).

Wondering if Osteopathy Can Help During Pregnancy?

Every pregnancy is different — and so is the care we offer. We support women through the physical changes of pregnancy with safe, hands-on osteopathic treatment. From easing common discomforts like back pain, pelvic tension, and rib discomfort to helping your body prepare for labour, your care is always tailored to what you need most.If Osteopathy isn’t the right fit, we’ll refer you to a trusted specialist — because your wellbeing always comes first.

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Personalised Care Across All Ages

Explore how osteopathy can support you and your family—through pregnancy, newborn care, and childhood development.

Osteopathy for Pain & Movement

Whether you’re dealing with postural tension, headaches, jaw pain, fatigue or needing diagnosis for a sports injury, osteopathy offers hands-on treatment that supports the way your whole body functions. Each session is tailored to your needs—relieving discomfort, improving movement, and restoring balance.

Support for Growing Bodies

As children grow, their bodies go through rapid changes—physically and developmentally. Osteopathy can help support posture, movement patterns, growing pains, and musculoskeletal tension from sport, study, or everyday life. Each session is tailored to your child’s age, needs, and comfort level.

Pregnancy & Infant Osteopathy

Osteopathy offers gentle, supportive care during pregnancy and after birth. We help manage the physical demands of pregnancy, ease postural tension, and support your baby’s comfort and development. Treatments may include cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy—adapted to your stage, needs, and goals.

Not sure if osteopathy is right for your situation? Just give us a call—we’re happy to chat about what you’re dealing with and whether we can help.
As one of the Gold Coast’s longest-running osteopathic clinics, we believe in honesty, not guesswork. If we don’t think we’re the right fit, we’ll let you know and help point you in the right direction.

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Let’s talk about what’s going on in your body — and how we can help.

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Osteopathy During Pregnancy

Common Reasons Women Seek Osteopathy During and After Pregnancy

How Osteopathy May Help in Perinatal Care

Osteopathy for Asthma