The Osteopathic Approach to Pregnancy

"Osteopathic Approach to Pregnancy" is a three-day training course to explore osteopathic principles concerning the care and treatment of the pregnant woman from conception to the post-natal period.

During the course, Julie Fendall, DO MOstSc (Paeds), will cover the following topics:

Management of the musculoskeletal issues of the pregnant woman;
Optimal fetal positioning;
Management of the gastrointestinal disorders;
Specific osteopathic techniques for lymphatic and vascular congestion.

A part of the course will be dedicated to breastfeeding, and we will explore the following topics:

Pre-conception care;
Structural and physiological changes in the pregnant woman during each trimester;
Role of the osteopath at birth;
Osteopathic assessment and treatment of the mother and newborn postpartum.

Every session will start with a theoretical introduction followed by practical sessions. The teacher will demonstrate cranial techniques, balanced ligamentous tension techniques, muscle energy techniques and myofascial release techniques.

The course is mainly practical, and you will be able to use the techniques in your practice immediately.

Programme

Introduction

Osteopathic principles and approaches applied to conception, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum,
Practice,
Palpation, quality of contact and approach to treatment.

Preparation for pregnancy

Anatomy of the pelvis, skull base, pituitary gland, longitudinal and transverse fascial connections,
Practice,
General structural and functional problems related to conception; preparation for pregnancy,
Treatment of the pelvis, sacrum, thoracolumbar passage and skull base.

1st trimester considerations

Hormonal changes, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, gastro-oesophageal reflux, fatigue, headache,
Practice,
12th rib, thoracolumbar junction, diaphragm, liver position changes, temporal bones, vagus nerve and lateral fluctuation.

2nd trimester considerations

Postural changes, low back pain, pelvic instability,
General health, increase in the physiological demands for the respiratory and circulatory system, urinary frequency,
Practice: therapeutic approaches to the lumbar and pelvic area,
Pelvic instability, sacro-iliac joints, pubic symphysis, uterus and bladder.

Pelvic congestion

Constipation, varicosities and lymphoedema,
Practice,
Mesenteric release, colon, pelvic floor and lymphatic siphon.

3rd trimester considerations

Systemic health, cholestasis, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, optimal fetal positioning,
Practice,
How to assist optimal fetal positioning,
Breathing and circulation, thorax.

The role of osteopathy at birth

Practice
Sacral release, bilateral pelvic release, antero-posterior and lateral improvement of the pelvis diameter, cranial base release, CV4.

Feeding

Optimal nutrition for mother and baby,
Clinical case.

Postnatal care

Pelvic recovery, position of the sacrum, postnatal depression,
Practice,
Treatment of the sacral sag, anterior sacral lift, cranial base and central nervous system.

The thorax and cervical spine of the mother

Breast health and peripheral symptoms, carpal tunnel syndrome,
Practice,
Treatment of the thoracic inlet, first and second rib and upper thorax, breast, forearm, wrist and carpus.