HOW OSTEOPATHY CAN SUPPORT MOTHERHOOD AFTER BIRTH TRAUMA (For Mum and Baby)

A blog post written by West Berkshire Family Life Partner, Laura Fishlock

Becoming a mum can be joyful, overwhelming, and sometimes physically and emotionally intense. If your birth didn’t go to plan, or you’re noticing feeding struggles, reflux, or a generally unsettled baby, you’re not alone.

Osteopathy offers a gentle, whole-body approach that can support recovery after birth trauma for both mother and baby. It’s not about “pushing through” or being told it’s “just normal newborn life”—it’s about understanding what your body (and your baby’s body) has been through, and helping you both feel safer, calmer, and more comfortable.

What do we mean by “birth trauma”?

Birth trauma can mean different things to different people. It might include:

• A long labour or very fast labour

• Induction, forceps or ventouse delivery

• Emergency or planned caesarean

• Shoulder dystocia or baby getting “stuck”

• Perineal tearing or an episiotomy

• Significant blood loss

• Feeling unheard, frightened, or out of control during birth

Trauma isn’t only about what happened medically—it’s also about how it felt in your body and nervous system.

Why a post-birth check can be so valuable

Many mums get a postnatal check focused on healing and mood (which is important), but it’s common for physical symptoms to be brushed off as “normal.” A post-birth osteopathic check is a chance to look at how your body is recovering and what might still be under strain.

A post-birth check can help with:

·       Pelvic and lower back pain

·       Tailbone pain

·       Rib and mid-back tension (often from feeding positions)

·       Neck and shoulder pain (especially from holding/rocking)

·       C-section scar sensitivity, pulling, or restricted movement

·       Abdominal tension and breathing changes

·       Headaches and jaw tension

·       Feeling “stuck” or guarded in your body after a difficult birth

Osteopathy aims to improve mobility, reduce strain patterns, and support the body’s natural healing.

How osteopathy supports the nervous system after a difficult birth

After a stressful or traumatic birth, it’s common to feel on edge—like your body is still in “fight or flight.” This can affect sleep, digestion, pain sensitivity, and even milk let-down.

Gentle osteopathic treatment can help calm the nervous system by:

·       Reducing physical tension that keeps the body in a protective state

·       Supporting breathing mechanics and rib movement

·       Improving comfort so rest becomes more possible

·       Helping you feel more connected to your body again

This is not a replacement for mental health support when needed—but it can be a valuable part of a wider recovery plan.

Supporting baby: why feeding issues can be linked to body strain

Feeding is often described as “natural,” but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. When a baby has had a physically demanding journey—pregnancy, birth, and early feeding—strain patterns can show up quickly.

Some babies experience:

• Difficulty latching or staying latched

• Clicking, slipping off, or shallow latch

• Preference for one side

• Fussiness at the breast or bottle

• Frequent winding, reflux symptoms, or discomfort after feeds

• Difficulty settling, especially when lying flat

• Tension through the neck, jaw, or body

These signs can be linked to a mix of factors, including intra-uterine moulding, birth compression, and fascial strain patterns.

Intra-uterine moulding and “strain patterns”

Babies can spend weeks in one position in the womb (especially if space is limited, baby is breech, or mum has certain pelvic shapes). This can create subtle asymmetries and tension.

Then, birth itself can add more compression—particularly with:

• Long pushing stages

• Assisted deliveries (forceps/ventouse)

• Rapid births

• C-sections after labour (baby may have experienced both compression and surgical delivery)

Fascia (the connective tissue that wraps muscles and organs) can hold onto these strain patterns. In a tiny body, even small restrictions can affect comfort, movement, and feeding mechanics.

Osteopathy + infant feeding support: a joined-up approach

Feeding issues are rarely “just one thing.” They can involve:

• Baby’s latch and oral function

• Baby’s head/neck/jaw comfort and mobility

• Mum’s positioning and comfort

• Milk supply and flow

• Nervous system stress for both mum and baby

Because Laura has infant feeding training, support can include both:

• Gentle osteopathic assessment and treatment for baby’s comfort and mobility

• Practical feeding guidance to support latch, positioning, and a calmer feeding experience

This combined approach can be especially helpful when you feel like you’ve tried everything but something still isn’t clicking.

Reflux, unsettledness, and gut immaturity

Many newborns have immature digestive systems. Reflux symptoms can be common, but that doesn’t mean you have to simply wait it out without support.

Osteopathy may help by:

• Supporting the diaphragm and rib movement (important for digestion and comfort)

• Reducing tension through the abdomen and upper body

• Improving overall ease in the body so baby can feed and settle more comfortably

It’s also important to consider red flags and involve your GP, midwife, health visitor, or paediatric team where needed—especially if there is poor weight gain, projectile vomiting, blood in stools, or persistent distress.

What happens in a postnatal osteopathy appointment?

Every clinic works slightly differently, but typically you can expect:

• A thorough case history (pregnancy, birth, feeding, sleep, symptoms)

• Observation of posture and movement (for mum and/or baby)

• Gentle hands-on assessment

• Treatment tailored to comfort, mobility, and nervous system regulation

• Clear home advice (positioning, movement, feeding tips where appropriate)

For babies, treatment is very gentle—think light touch and subtle techniques, not “clicking” or forceful movements.

When should you consider booking?

You don’t need to “wait until it’s really bad.” Consider a post-birth check if:

• You are in pain or feeling physically restricted

• You are recovering from a difficult, long, or assisted birth

• You had a caesarean and want support with scar and whole-body recovery

• Feeding feels stressful, painful, or inconsistent

• Your baby is unsettled, refluxy, or seems uncomfortable in their body

  
  

A final word: you are not failing—your body is healing

If motherhood feels harder than you expected, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Often, it means your body (and your baby’s body) has been through a lot.

Support is allowed. A post-birth osteopathy check can be a practical, reassuring step, helping you feel more comfortable, more confident, and more supported as you recover.

Ready to book a post-birth check?

If you’d like support for postnatal recovery, birth trauma strain patterns, or feeding challenges, you can book online or get in touch with the clinic to find the right appointment for you.

Laura Fishlock Osteopathy Ltd. Phone:077 33201225 Email:info@laurafishlockosteopathy.co.uk

Website: https://laurafishlockosteopathy.co.uk

Clinics in Newbury (RG14 5QA) and Hungerford (RG17 0NF), supporting families across Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.

West Berkshire Family Life Members receive 10% off all appointments