Birth & Beyond: Because the Right Support Team Makes All the Difference
Written by Mirae Oldmeadow from Cranbourne Osteopathy
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your fourth, each pregnancy brings its own unique challenges and opportunities. At Cranbourne Osteopathy, we work with women at all stages of their pregnancy journey, offering targeted support through both general osteopathy and pelvic health osteopathy to help you feel more comfortable, confident and connected to your body as you approach birth and postpartum recovery.
Birth Preparation Appointments: Support for Labour & Delivery
One of the most empowering things you can do as you approach birth is to understand how your body works and how to work with it. Our birth preparation appointments are designed to give you the tools to support your body and your baby during labour.
Here’s what we focus on:
Pelvic Floor Awareness
We’ll help you learn how to both activate and relax your pelvic floor—a skill that’s vital during labour. While many people are told to “strengthen” their pelvic floor, the ability to let go is just as important for every day life but also when it comes time to birth your baby.
Effective Pushing
We’ll guide you through techniques for bearing down effectively, so when the time comes, you won’t be trying to figure it out mid-contraction or possibly with the limited feeling that comes with having an epidural onboard. Knowing what to expect and how to respond can help reduce stress and give you a sense of control during labour.
Birthing Preferences & Positioning
We’ll chat about your birthing preferences and explore different positions that can support a smoother labour, whether you’re planning a hospital birth, home birth or something in between. Understanding how positioning affects your pelvis and baby’s movement can make a big difference both during labour and during pregnancy.
Bodywork for Comfort & Optimal Function
As your pregnancy progresses, your body works incredibly hard to support your growing baby. Our manual therapy sessions combine techniques to support that process.
Here’s what we focus on in the lead-up to birth:
Releasing the round and broad ligaments to ease belly tension and improve comfort
Gentle work around the uterus to reduce irritability and discomfort, including symptoms like Braxton Hicks contractions
Treatment through the hips, pelvis and lower back to help create space for baby and “unkink the hose” - our way of describing how gentle releases can help everything flow more smoothly as you approach birth
Balancing tension in the diaphragm and ribs, which can become tight as your baby grows and your body adapts
These sessions are not only about comfort—they’re about creating the best possible environment for your baby to navigate their way into the world.
Preparing for Caesarean Birth
Planning a Caesarean birth? You still benefit greatly from birth preparation care.
Even if you’re not birthing vaginally, your body is still carrying a baby, which means your pelvic floor is under load and your abdominal muscles are adapting.
In our C-section preparation sessions, we focus on:
Supporting pelvic floor awareness and function, even in the absence of vaginal delivery
Gentle release work around the abdomen and uterus to reduce tension and support a more comfortable pregnancy
Education around abdominal mechanics—understanding how your muscles and fascia work can help set you up for optimal scar healing and core recovery post-birth
Breathing and gentle core engagement to prepare you for postpartum rehab
Postpartum Care: The Fourth Trimester
Once baby is here, the support doesn’t stop.
Here’s how we can continue to help you:
Feeding Support
Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle-feeding, feeding posture and mechanics matter. We can help address neck, shoulder, and back pain related to those long hours holding and feeding your baby.
6-Week Postpartum Check
We offer a comprehensive postnatal check to assess your recovery, including your pelvic floor, abdominal wall, breathing patterns, and posture. This is also a great time to discuss how you’re feeling emotionally and physically.
Return to Exercise Planning
We’ll help you develop a safe, personalised plan to return to movement or exercise when you’re ready. Whether you want to get back to walking, yoga, Pilates, or strength training, we’ll ensure your body is ready to support you.
A Holistic, Gentle Approach to Birth & Beyond
At Cranbourne Osteopathy, we believe pregnancy, birth, and recovery deserve time, space, and support. Our approach is gentle, individualised and evidence-informed, blending hands-on care with education so you feel truly prepared and cared for.
If you’re pregnant, preparing for birth (vaginal or Caesarean) or newly postpartum - we’d love to support you.
Getting the Right People in Your Corner
We’re big believers in the power of collaboration, especially when it comes to supporting our pregnant and birthing clients. That’s why we love working alongside amazing doulas like Haydie from Del’s Woman’s Wellness. Haydie brings something extra special to her clients, not only offering the emotional and practical support of a doula but also being a qualified myotherapist — meaning she can assist with the hands-on bodywork side of pregnancy care and birth preparation too.
We regularly refer clients to Haydie when we feel her expertise is the right fit, and she does the same for us. So if you’re unsure where to start, know that surrounding yourself with the right team can make all the difference. Get the right people in your corner for your pregnancy and birth journey — and reach out to us at Cranbourne Osteopathy or Del’s Wellness today. Let us support your journey, your way.
Phone Number: 03 8790 0136
Website: cranbourneosteopathy.com.au
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