Heartburn is a common phenomenon in pregnant women. It is the result of the regurgitation of the acidic contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. If chronic, this may cause the esophagus to become inflamed and extremely painful.
The esophagus has a muscle (sphincter) that acts as a stopper preventing regurgitation. The sphincter is surrounded by our main breathing muscle, the diaphragm. During pregnancy the mother's body undergoes major postural changes. The diaphragm, ribcage and spine must accommodate for the increase in size of the uterus - the diaphragm stretches expands, the ribs flare and the spine flattens. If tension exists in any of these structures they find it hard to accommodate the increase in size often resulting in pain. Commonly the diaphragm is affected. It remains tight and contracted and unable to relax and contract as it is supposed to do when we breathe. Furthermore, its function as a sphincter is compromised, it doesn't contract around the esophagus well and this may be one of the reasons for regurgitation.
Osteopaths are trained to diagnose soft-tissue tension in the body. They explore the areas of the body where tension exists such as the diaphragm, the ribs, the spine and the pelvis. Osteopaths use safe, gentle and accurate manual techniques to correct these areas of tension and allow the necessary changes in the body to occur smoothly as the uterus expands thus reducing the chances of heartburn.
The esophagus has a muscle (sphincter) that acts as a stopper preventing regurgitation. The sphincter is surrounded by our main breathing muscle, the diaphragm. During pregnancy the mother's body undergoes major postural changes. The diaphragm, ribcage and spine must accommodate for the increase in size of the uterus - the diaphragm stretches expands, the ribs flare and the spine flattens. If tension exists in any of these structures they find it hard to accommodate the increase in size often resulting in pain. Commonly the diaphragm is affected. It remains tight and contracted and unable to relax and contract as it is supposed to do when we breathe. Furthermore, its function as a sphincter is compromised, it doesn't contract around the esophagus well and this may be one of the reasons for regurgitation.
Osteopaths are trained to diagnose soft-tissue tension in the body. They explore the areas of the body where tension exists such as the diaphragm, the ribs, the spine and the pelvis. Osteopaths use safe, gentle and accurate manual techniques to correct these areas of tension and allow the necessary changes in the body to occur smoothly as the uterus expands thus reducing the chances of heartburn.
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