Craniosacral Therapy

[twiglet2]

I'm 24 weeks, and my sister who is into alternative therapies has suggested I go and see a craniosacral therapist a couple of times while pregnant, as she did when pregnant and found it beneficial. Just wondered if anyone else has seen one of these therapists while pregnant and did they feel it was helpful/worth it?

B

I saw a cranial osteopath before, during and after my pregnancy. I was seeing him before so just continued through my pregnancy. I found it very good. He helped to ensure I stayed upright so I had very little back pain and my ankles hardly swelled. It was all very gentle. Really helped with any tension. Was great afterwards too and he saw DD at 3 weeks to check her over as birth can be traumatic, and I had a home water birth so pretty relaxed. This is a good article Midwifery Today. I'd say it is definitely worth a go if you've been recommended a good one. Good luck with it all.

What is that then?

Its a bit hard to describe - Supposed to be good for getting your pelvis in the right alignment for birth, and helping with back/pelvic pain as your body adjusts as you get bigger and your centre of balance changes. Also helping the pelvis to close after birth and its supposed to be good for new borns, especially if its a difficult birth.

I think I'll give it a go and see how I get on... my sister is a big fan, and credits this with the very easy birth she had with her first. I'm a bit more sceptical, but will give it a try.

I personally would go for it! Whilst I haven't had during pregnancy I have had several treatments previously for back pain and sciatica and it worked a treat.

Having now moved away from my therapist, I am looking for some one local as I definitely think it will be beneficial post birth.

Good luck and ENJOY

I have found Yoga extremely good for posture and strength. One of the things I found is that the slouching, swelling is a vicious cycle if you haven't the strength to hold your new body - gentle stretches and held positions in Yoga really helped me with this.

The only reason I'd be sceptical is that if I only had a few sessions, that's weeks/months in between with no muscle memory building up where I'd slip back IYSWIM.

I've had an osteopath before and it was more a course of treatment for an existing issue with close monitoring, rather than speculative and a few sessions. The speculative part (i.e. going when there's no issue then saying there would've been if you didn't go) doesn't convince me simply because many women just don't swell etc'.

I've been going to pregnancy yoga (though there are no sessions in august) going swimming and am continuing to cycle, but I think that Craniosacral therapy is slightly different to craniosacral osteopathy - though obviously there are similarities.