Safe, Gentle Osteopathic Support for Expecting Mothers

Preparing Your Body for a Smoother Labour and Delivery

Our Toronto clinic specializes in providing Osteopathic care during Prenatal | Preparing Your Pelvis for Labour and Delivery

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) Relief | Lower Back Pain Support | Rib & Diaphragm Release | Optimal Foetal Positioning Prep | Lower Back Support | Heartburn & Breathing Ease | Pelvic Balancing | Prenatal comfort | Labor preparation | Managing Morning Sickness with Osteopathy

At Erica Pearson Osteopathy we will be part of this most precious journey with you. Let Osteopathic care give you the gift of a smooth and energetic pregnancy!

Osteopathic Treatment has much to offer an expecting mother and her family.  Whether the mother desires to have a home birth, hospital birth, cesarean or natural delivery, osteopathic treatment during your pregnancy can make the process easier and ease, or even remove, your discomfort.

From the moment of conception until the delivery, the mother’s (and baby’s) body undergoes many changes.  Hormones shift and change, the pelvis, rib cage, and internal organs all shift their positions to accommodate the developing child, and the breasts enlarge and adapt as well.  Any or all of these natural changes to a woman’s body can cause pain, discomfort or mood swings.  Gentle osteopathic treatment during the pregnancy can help make these changes smoother and reduce or relieve the discomfort.

No matter what type of delivery you have, getting osteopathic treatment during treatment during the pregnancy, and especially as the delivery date draws near, can help the baby take the correct position in relation to the birth canal.  This means that your delivery is more likely to go to full term (which is better for the baby). Getting treatment can help the bones of the pelvis (which are more loose than normal to help deliver the baby) stay in their correct anatomical relationship. This helps the mother have less pain and can aid in a natural delivery.  This can mean shortened delivery times, fewer complications, healthier mothers and infants, a greater likelihood of a low-risk pregnancy and less necessity of medical intervention during your delivery. 

Getting osteopathic treatment during pregnancy can help to limit or alleviate stretch marks (we can help the mothers body and skin adapt to the rapid changes in the baby’s growth).  It can also help with back aches, headaches, shortness of breath, poor sleep, mood swings, breast tenderness and many other pregnancy induced ailments.  

After your delivery osteopathic treatment can help to alleviate and prevent post-partum depression and it can shorten your recovery time as well.  

​​My goal is for you to feel comfortable and relaxed when you arrive for your treatment. Here is what you can expect for your first visit:

The initial appointment is approx. 50 minutes. It includes a thorough, confidential health history, an assessment, and treatment. Please bring or wear comfortable non-restrictive clothing to allow free range of motion.

Palpation, observation, and motion testing will be used in order to find asymmetries, restrictions in motion, tissue tension, and/or sensorial changes within the body. ​The assessment and treatment incorporate the whole-body head to toe, as all parts function together in an integrated system.

🔸A gentle touch for deep relief 🔸 

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​​​The treatment is gentle and should feel relaxing. The body is gently manipulated to free up the restricted areas impeding the vital forces of the body (nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatics) providing overall balance to the structure.

Osteopathic manual therapists use levers and fulcrums to softly free up tight tissues and restricted joints. As structure and function are inter-related, the mechanical treatment has a neurophysiological effect, allowing the body to function more efficiently.

Every stage of a woman’s pregnancy presents different challenges to the anatomy and physiology of your body. With our help, you can enjoy each phase of pregnancy with minimal to no pain. Below is a short list of issues that can be successfully treated with Osteopathic Manipulation, diet counseling, stretching exercises and emotional guidance and support.

First Trimester
Morning Sickness
Round Ligament Pelvic Pain
Increased Urinary Frequency
Second Trimester
Lower & Upper Back Pain
Pubic Bone Tenderness
Constipation & Hemorrhoids
Varicose Veins
Heartburn & Acid Reflux
Sleep Difficulties
Third Trimester
Increased Back Pain
Lower Extremity Swelling
Leg Cramping
Preparation of the Pelvis for Birthing.

Follow up treatments are 40 minutes in length:

Treatment plans are based on individual health needs and on the body’s ability to heal, with improvement typically after 3-5 treatments. In more serious or chronic cases, a longer treatment plan may be necessary.

The end goal for each patient varies depending on the individual. An Osteopathic treatment aims to fix the root of the problem, opposed to temporary relief and frequent visits. We are working with natural law, and with the body, rather than against it to facilitate the healing process. This could mean more energy, better sleep, less pain, improved digestion, and a higher quality of life among many other potential positive effects. As Osteopathy treats the individual, each case is unique and may be preventative, curative, or palliative depending on the nature of the condition.

​Ultimately, Osteopathy aims to optimize the self-healing mechanisms of the body, helping you be your best!

🤰 Pregnancy and Pediatric Care FAQ

Is Osteopathy safe during Pregnancy?

Yes. It is safe for both mother and Baby. It helps the body adapt to shifting weight, eases pressure on the Pelvis and lower back, and can help with complications like Migraines.

When should a Baby see an Osteopath?

There is no minimum age, Babies can be seen from birth. We recommend a check-up every six months to help with growth spurts or minor tumbles.

How can it help my Infant?

We use extremely gentle techniques, such as Visceral Osteopathy (for digestion) and Cranial manipulation. It can help with:

• Latching and breastfeeding difficulties
• Colic, reflux, and gassy/trapped wind
• Sleep disturbances and excessive crying

Should you take a Baby to an Osteopath?

Yes, Osteopathy for babies is generally considered safe when performed by qualified and experienced practitioners. Osteopaths use gentle and non-invasive techniques tailored to the delicate nature of an infant's body.

How often should a Baby see an Osteopath?

An occasional check up with a Paediatric Osteopath may be helpful in alleviating any aches and pains, following bumps and falls, minor sports injuries or growth spurts. At Erica Pearson Osteopathy we recommend all children have a check up every six months.

Is Pediatric Osteopathy safe for Newborns?

Yes! Infant Osteopathy and Pediatric Osteopathy are extremely gentle. We use soft, non-invasive techniques like Cranial manipulation to help babies with latching issues, sleep disturbances, or birth-related tensions. If you are looking for a Pediatric Osteopath in Toronto, Erica Pearson provides a calm and safe environment for your little one.

When should a Baby see an Osteopath?

There is no minimum age. You can take your baby to an Osteopath from birth. If you have any particular concern, the sooner the better. The sooner the baby is seen, the easier it will be to detect and release the tensions that may upset the balance of his body and eventually create various inconveniences.

What are the benefits of Prenatal and Postnatal Osteopathy?

Prenatal Osteopathy helps the body adapt to the shifting weight of Pregnancy, easing pressure on the lower Back and Pelvis. Following Delivery, Postpartum Manual Osteopathy is essential for realigning the Pelvis and supporting the nervous system, helping mothers’ transition smoothly into the fourth trimester.

Can an Osteopath help a gassy baby?

Visceral Osteopathy can relax baby digestion by releasing muscle tension around the organs of the abdomen. This in turn improves the blood supply and healing of the gut and improves the motility or natural movements in the gut to help calm issues such as constipation, bloating/ trapped wind and abdominal discomfort.

How old does my baby need to be before they can see an Osteopath?

Osteopathic treatment is safe from just a week or so. We typically like parents to complete neonatal checks with their midwife before bringing a newborn baby to clinic. Osteopathic treatment is very gentle and safe at any age.

Is Osteopathy good for Pregnancy?

An Osteopathic treatment is an effective way to improve the body's ability to adapt to pregnancy, while also reducing discomfort. Osteopath can help reduce pregnancy complications such as: Migraines. Pelvic pain etc.

Is Osteopathy safe when Pregnant?

An Osteopathic treatment is safe for both pregnant moms to be and the baby, an Osteopathic treatment uses gentle hands-on techniques to help restore proper alignment to the body while ensuring the mother is comfortable throughout the course of her treatment. During pregnancy, women's bodies go through extreme physical and hormonal changes.

What does an Osteopath do for Infants?

An Osteopath can detect potential problems and correct them quickly. An Osteopath can help you with a multitude of issues: excessive crying, frequent regurgitation, Colic, Digestive problems and Reflux, Breastfeeding difficulties, Sleep disorders, Signs of Anxiety, recurring Bronchitis etc.