The Putney Clinic

Osteopaths are trained in many aspects of women's health including complications that may result during and after pregnancy. Osteopathic treatment can help your body to adapt through the different stages of your pregnancy. The treatment is a gentle, safe and effective way of dealing with stresses and strains that have been placed on your body due to the growing fetus.

Characteristics of Clinical Pilates

• SPD/groin pain
• Low back pain
• Shoulder and upper back tension
• Headaches and sinus problems
• Information regarding foetal presentation and positioning
• Heartburn
• Constipation/Hemorrhoids

Following pregnancy your body has to re-adapt and recover from your pregnancy and labour whilst dealing with the new stresses of caring for your newborn child. Unfortunately due to long hours of carrying and feeding mothers experience back pain. Poor postural positioning whilst feeding, carrying car seats and bending over cots often contribute this.

In a postnatal check up we can give a structural assessment of your pelvis and spinal alignment as well a review of your general posture and whilst feeding your child.

Characteristics of Clinical Pilates

• Exercises to strengthen your postural muscles and pelvic floor
• Techniques whilst feeding and sleeping to help maintain good alignment
• If necessary, we can refer you to local specialists such as breast-feeding councilors, yoga and pilates classes or back to your doctor or health visitor

Cranial osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of osteopathic treatment that encourages the release of stresses and tensions throughout the body, including the head. It is a very gentle, safe and effective form of osteopathy, and may be used to treat a wide range of conditions from birth to old age.

For babies

• Colic, sickness and wind
• Excessive crying
• Feeding difficulties
• Sleep disturbances
• Re-current infections
• Flat-head and neck problems

Young Children

• Ear infections, sinus
• Dental problems
• Asthma
• Headaches
• Behavioural problems and learning difficulties

Our team of on-site physiotherapists have specialist expertise in the treatment of women's health.

Common women's health issues where physiotherapy treatment can be helpful include:

• Pre/Postnatal back pain
• Pelvic girdle pain
• Incontinence
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic pain

There will be an initial 60-minute assessment to go through the issues carefully with you and create a treatment plan you are happy with.

Clinical Pilates rehabilitation exercise can be relevant as you continue to work on core stability and pelvic floor muscle strength during and after the physiotherapy treatment and our qualified therapists will be able to advise you on whether this form of exercise is right for you.

Women of all ages can benefit from acupuncture. Acupuncture helps to support women in every stage of their lives from puberty through menopause and mature age. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years to treat a comprehensive range of women's health concerns including:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Menstrual problems (including PMS)
• Infertility
• Pre and post-menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats and dryness

Acupuncture techniques can be used in conjunction with many of our other treatments here at The Putney Clinic and our highly qualified acupuncturists will be able to recommend whether this is the right treatment for you. We may also refer you back to your GP or to one of our colleagues at Parkside hospital (located on the fourth floor).

Hypnobirthing is growing in popularity and it is the ideal solution for expectant mums who are want to have a natural child birth and release any worries or fears they may have about the delivery.

The benefits of hypnobirthing include:

• Manage any discomfort through powerful breathing techniques
• Reduces fear, tension and discomfort, thus naturally increasing discomfort threshold
• Learn relaxation techniques that will help your body to work the way it is naturally designed to
• Learn how to put yourself in control of your birth, rather than blindly turning your birthing experience over to your doctor or midwife
• Less medication and chemical anaesthesia is needed as muscles thin and open easily
• Learn visualisation techniques that can help your body to do what is designed to do
• Allow your mind and body to work together in harmony
• Experience the pleasures of birth rather than the negative experiences you may have heard from others
• Release worries and concerns you may have about birth

Benefits of using hypnotherapy techniques after the birth include:

• Enables the mother to go into 'hypnotic relaxation' if she is unable to sleep between feeds
• Raises resistance to fatigue during delivery thus minimising maternal exhaustion
• Encourages the production of milk
• Decreases 'post natal blues' and speeds up recovery

Massage in pregnancy can be a wonderful experience to the mother and also to the baby she is carrying in her womb. During pregnancy the mother's body is going through many changes, which affect her both physiologically and emotionally.

As the baby grows the centre of gravity shifts forward, the spinal curve becomes exaggerated, and women start experiencing lower back pain, sore hips and general aches and pains. Especially in the last trimester, because of the growing belly, mums-to be are getting increasingly uncomfortable, can't stay long in one position, therefore it is often difficult for them to get a good night sleep. This is also the time when they start preparing for the birth, and naturally everybody feels anxious about it.

Massage in pregnancy is beneficial in several ways:

• Releases muscle tension, eases sciatic pain and back aches.
• It helps lowering high blood pressure.
• Massage stimulates the circulation. The better the circulation the more oxygenated blood and nutrition will get to the placenta, which is vitally important to the development of the baby.
• Promotes relaxation; therefore helps to reduce stress and anxiety and creates a general sense of wellbeing

When is it safe to have a massage?

Massage is safe throughout the pregnancy, although many women prefer not being massaged in the first trimester, because this is the time when miscarriage most commonly occurs. In case of abdominal pain, bleeding or heavy vaginal discharge, dizziness, jaundice or itchy skin all over massage is contraindicated, and therapists will advise the mother to seek immediate medical care.

How is the pregnancy massage preformed?

For pregnancy massage there is a comfortable memory foam cushion provided that supports the mother's whole body, especially the growing belly and breasts. The massage is carried out in a side-lying position, which allows the therapist to work on both upper and lower body, and the mother to relax and feel safe and supported while she is massaged.

Massage is the most natural and instinctive form of caring for the baby. The new-born baby experiences the world through senses, such as touch, smell, taste, sound and vision. These senses are developing gradually, and for a long period of time the most important is the touch..

The benefits of baby massage:

• Massage helps to create a unique bond between the parents and the baby.
• Gives confidence for first time parents.
• Helps alleviating colic pain.
• Relaxes both the baby and the mother/father.
• Mothers who suffer from post-natal depression feel more positive when they experience their baby’s response to the massage.
• Massage helps parents to be aware of their baby’s body and the developmental changes they going through.
• Regularly massaged babies develop their motor skills quickly.
• The general benefits of massage, such as improved circulation, healthy skin, strong immune system, applies to the baby massage as well.

What happens in a baby massage class?

The classes are usually held in mid morning or early afternoon. There is a soft padding (usually a yoga mat) provided, but parents can bring their own baby mat, and also a comfortable cushion for the mum to sit on or support her back. Babies can be massaged fully dressed or undressed with a massage medium. The Putney Clinic recommends grape seed oil because it is hypo allergenic or you could use an organic baby balm.

The parents are massaging their own babies under the guidance of the instructor. They learn a massage routine, but they are encouraged to listen to their instinct and pick up on their baby's reaction to certain techniques. Not every baby likes to stay on his/her back, or having their arms stretched. The parents will learn to understand the babies body language and adapt their massage routine to suit their own baby.

Pregnancy is a great personal journey for any woman and is a time of mental and physical change. It can also be a challenging time, as adjustments need to be made as the body starts to change shape.

A pregnancy yoga practice can help address some of these changes in a positive way. Women who practice yoga during pregnancy are able to be really present in their bodies and connect with their unborn child. Yoga has a calming effect on the mother, which is, in turn, transmitted to the baby.

Breathing techniques learnt in prenatal yoga can be used at anytime during pregnancy and many women find them very useful when giving birth. Focusing on the breath can have a profound effect; by learning to control the breath women may feel empowered and more in control of their thoughts and body.

Pregnancy yoga differs from general yoga classes, in that many of the classical poses are adapted to accommodate the changes in the body. Twists are open, poses are fluid and nurturing for the mum to be, creating space in the body and helping to alleviate some of the common ailments often associated with pregnancy such as: backache, heartburn, swollen limbs etc.

By practising yoga the body is strengthened and toned and many women find that they regain their shape and fitness quicker after giving birth. On top of this, spending time in a pregnancy yoga class with other women can be an emotionally bonding experience and many friendships are formed at this time.

Pilates is an excellent way to build core strength, improve posture and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. It is a gentle, low impact method of exercise for both during and after your pregnancy.

Maintaining good core strength and posture during pregnancy helps you to accommodate the growing baby and can help to reduce back pain as your core strengthens.

Postnatal pilates helps to re-strengthen the abdominal muscles as you slowly work towards re-gaining your pre-pregnancy tummy and pelvic floor exercise will help to reduce the likelihood of bladder weakness following the birth.

Our specialist classes here at The Putney Clinic are with experienced pre and postnatal pilates instructors and classes are kept small to ensure you are performing the exercises safely and effectively.

Mum and baby yoga is a great way to spend time with your baby in a relaxed environment. You can gain confidence in handling your baby and learn how to soothe colic, aid sleep etc. Women can come back into their bodies, and start to stretch out areas that may have become tight during pregnancy or when feeding your baby.

Learn how to soothe yourself and your baby by using rhythm and breathing techniques. Mum and baby yoga classes are also a great place to connect with other women who are going through the same experiences as you.