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treatment throughout pregnancy
Whilst the joys of bringing a new child into the world are obvious, the process can be physically and emotionally demanding on the mother and the family. All the more reason to look after yourself and your baby.
At Vigor we have a great team willing and able to accommodate and help the pregnant mum during and after her pregnancy with massage, osteopathy , personal training, naturopathy and podiatry. Massage and PregnancyMassage is a great way to nurture yourself and your baby during the gestation period. As you can imagine, the positioning and techniques used will be adjusted throughout the pregnancy to accommodate the changes in your body as your baby develops. The benefits of massage include easing muscle tension, reducing stress levels, working on the lymphatic and circulatory systems to help decrease oedema, eliminate metabolic waste products and increase the delivery of oxygen to your muscles and organs as well as to the baby. Pregnancy massage is a soothing way to encourage better quality of sleep which you should get as much of as possible before the baby arrives!!!
Peta Griggs is our resident pregnancy massage specialist. She can provide a terrific relaxation or remedial massage for the pregnant mum in complete comfort. We have excellent treatment tables and appropriate belly pillows to allow the mum to be as comfortable as possible during the treatment. We also have a seated massage facility for the times where laying down is just a bit too tricky. As a guide treatments can be scheduled as follows: - 1st trimester - monthly
- 2nd trimester - fortnightly
- 3rd trimester - fortnightly to every 2nd day (with shorter treatment durations)
Peta also can treat your infants at the clinic and show you how to provide a lovely therapeutic massage for your own baby in her Infant Massage Workshops. Make a Booking for a Massage Osteopathy and PregnancyBecause Osteopaths look at the body as a whole and the interelationship between structure and function, they can understand the biomechanical strains placed upon the mother's body during pregancy. Preganacy is a variation of normal posture and the body compensates for the additional weight and altered strength of muscles and ligaments. Sometimes in preganancy as in everyday life, the body struggles to compensate adeqately for these changes and musculoskeletal pain can result. Osteopaths will aim to normalise the mother's musculoskeletal framework within the functional state of preganancy to improve the general well being and ability to compensate for the pregnancy. The osteopath will use appropriate gentle techniques and advise on suitable exercises to assist the mum through her pregnancy. Osteopathic treatment is just as pertinent after your child is born as your body begins to return to its pre-pregnancy physiology.
Often a combination of massage and osteopathic treatments is ideal for body maintenance during and after pregnancy. For more information download our Health Focus Article on Osteopathy & Pregnancy. Podiatry & PregnancyPregnancy impacts the feet in several ways that may result in various aches and pains. Professional advice can be provided by your Podiatrist to help keep the feet and legs comfortable and pain free during and after pregnancy.
The foot is a complex structure with ligaments playing a strong role in maintaining healthy foot posture. Particular hormones released during pregnancy to prepare the pelvis for birth, similarly relaxes the ligaments in the foot. This can result in flattening of the arches or unstable ‘over-pronating’ feet. Consequently, common symptoms of flat feet may develop in the pregnant individual, most typically that of heel and arch pain or ‘plantar fasciitis’. Individuals with existing poor foot posture prior to falling pregnant are particularly susceptible to developing foot and leg pains.
As the baby approaches full term, the pregnant lady’s body posture is further impacted upon as the she adjusts to her new centre of gravity. Changes in pelvic alignment to accommodate the growing baby may directly increase the degree of instability and increase the risk of aches and pains at the feet. Similarly the knees, hips and spine may become symptomatic from altered weight-bearing stresses being placed upon them.
A natural increase in body-weight during the course of pregnancy places greater loads at the feet. Such loads continue after the birth as the mother carries her baby and then toddler. Avoiding standing for long periods of time is recommended. This is also helpful to combat the natural increase in swelling or oedema at the feet and ankles, as a result of the extra blood circulating around the body during pregnancy.
There are many conservative measures that can be taken to relieve lower limb aches and pains during pregnancy. Footwear advice and the assessment of a patient’s potential need for a pair of pre-fabricated or custom foot orthotics or ‘arch supports’ is certainly beneficial if not sometimes essential.
With all the changes and preparations occurring during pregnancy, it is not uncommon for the pregnant women to ignore any foot and leg pains that may occur. Although the structural changes to the feet as a result of hormonal changes are not typically permanent, injury sustained as a result of weaker feet during pregnancy may not necessarily resolve without the professional help and support of your Podiatrist. Naturopathy & PregnancyGetting Pregnant
Naturopaths can promote conception by increasing the fertility of both parents as well as ensuring that both partners are in optimal health to begin and maintain a pregnancy. If you are having difficulty conceiving, your naturopath at Vigor can assess your hormonal profile and your overall health to assist you becoming pregnant. Preconception Care
Preconception care is important for everyone who is considering pregnancy. This phase before conception works on promoting a healthy egg, healthy sperm, and the best environment for the fertilised egg to implant and develop. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a very demanding time for a woman’s body. The aim is for a healthy mother, healthy baby and fewest possible complications during pregnancy and birth. Naturopaths notice deficiency signs with indications such as constipation, thrush, heartburn or varicose veins. Mineral deficiencies often occur during times of rapid growth and may give symptoms such as cramps, heartburn and fluid retention. Your naturopath will ensure you have the nutrients you and your baby need during these demanding times. Other concerns that commonly pop up during pregnancy are morning sickness, digestive upset, blood sugar dysregulation, gestational diabetes and oedema during pregnancy. We can help to prevent or manage these conditions. Many naturopaths will suggest using a ‘partus prep’ to prepare for your birth. Raspberry leaf is most well known for this and raspberry leaf tea can be started at 28 weeks, while other herbs are usually started around 34 weeks to encourage the uterus to contract and relax properly during labour. The postnatal period
Your naturopath at Vigor can help manage issues that may arise during this time such as mastitis, infant colic and reflux, or thrush in your baby which may be in the mouth or gut causing feeding problems and tummy troubles. Homeopathic treatment, dietary changes for breastfeeding mothers, and herbal treatment using teas are all commonly part of treatment during this time and get great results.
paediatric treatment
Osteopathy and ChildrenThe principles of osteopathy equally to all ages. In children there can be seen the greatest opportunity to promote the body's inter-related mechanisms of structure and function. Tissues are still forming and growing and hence more mailable and responsive to gentle treatment. It is thought that some of the strain patterns seen in adults can be attributed to trauma that occurred as a growing child or at birth or even in utero. In infants, gentle osteopathic treatments are aimed at 'unwinding' any strain patterns that may have evolved due to a difficult birth or feotal posture in utero, that is, the baby may have been awkwardly squished inside the womb - another reason for the mother to seek osteopathic treatment herself, as this will hopefully allow more freedom for baby to 'float'. Young children have a knack of bumping into things, falling and interacting with their environment in a very 'hands on' way. This combined with rapid growth rates are often causes of underlying strain patterns that may interfere with optimal structural and functional maturation. As children move into adolescence they become more involved in sport and the strains that accompany it as well as the bane of adult life - seated study and work. Certain paediatric conditions have been shown to respond favourably with osteopathic treatment* particularly in conjunction with general paediatric and medical care: - Otitis media (middle ear infection)
- Asthma
- Colic
- Voiding dysfunctions
- Postural asymmetry
* Refer to Study - Systematic Review of the Evidence for Osteopathic Treatment of Paediatric Patients (Submitted 2009) - Download Abstract Naturopathy and ChildrenA natural and safe approach
Your naturopath at Vigor can provide a natural approach to your children’s health problems. We know that as a parent you always want what is best for your children and your child’s health is often an area of particular importance and concern. Acute infections
If you feel as though your kids are often getting sick with coughs and colds, ear and sinus infections, or gastroenteritis then your naturopath can help to boost your child’s immune system as well as relieving symptoms and supporting particular areas of vulnerability such as the ears or tummy. Ongoing concerns
Your naturopath can help children with ongoing issues such as difficulty sleeping, where there may be an overactive nervous system or perhaps behavioural habits that are preventing melatonin production that is essential for sleep onset. Chronic conditions such as constipation, eczema or food allergies also respond well to naturopathic treatment. Your naturopath at Vigor will offer safe and effective treatment with simple and practical treatment options that you can incorporate into everyday life.
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