Pregnancy is very hard on women's bodies. Growing another life inside of your body is not easy at all! Most women put on at least fourteen kilos of weight during an average pregnancy and those fourteen kilos strain the muscles in the back and around the spine quite a bit. Of all of the different types of medical practitioners a pregnant woman will visit those who try osteopaths find that they prefer the treatment and advice offered by the osteopath over the advice given to them by midwives or "traditional" doctors. Here are some of the ways Osteopaths treat back pain in pregnant women.

1. Do not get talked out of exercising! The only reason to give up exercise while you are pregnant is if your doctor makes you take some time for bed rest. With just a few adjustments to the intensity of your workout, you should be able to follow your regular exercise schedule without too much difficulty. You probably won't be able to exercise with the same intensity, but some exercise is better than none! You will want to do exercises that help you control your heart rate. Going over 145 bpm is dangerous. Exercises to build up your core and your strength are the best exercises you can do. Swimming is an especially enjoyable way to have a full body workout when you are pregnant.

2. Some osteopaths will advocate that a pregnant woman get regular relaxing massages to help soothe the tension that can build up in her back muscles and along her spine. Carrying around an extra person puts quite a bit of physical strain on the body. The emotional weight that one bears while they adjust to becoming parents can also take a physical toll on the muscles and spine, so an osteopath will work on helping a pregnant woman find ways to naturally ease her tension.

3. An Osteopath will work with you to figure out a well rounded and nutritious diet that will keep you and your baby nourished properly. The "do not eat" list of food for pregnant women gets longer and longer every day but your osteopath will help decide upon a sensible diet that does not force you to eat food that is harmful to your baby. Eating a nutritionally balanced diet while you are pregnant will ensure that your body and your baby's body are as healthy as they can be.

Osteopaths believe in treating the whole body and not just specific symptoms. Together you and your osteopath will work to figure out the specific physical and emotional triggers that cause your back pain and will invent a plan to deal with those triggers to help your back stay pain free during your pregnancy.