Hello Pop!

I am a fully qualified, post-grad trained and registered osteopath who uses structural (lots of movement) and cranial (very gentle) techniques which are ideal for the delicate bodies of post-partum and babies. Birth is a hugely traumatic experience and often everyone is concentrating so hard on the new addition to the family that mum gets left out!

Everyone here has already explained what the difference is between the disciplines but I think the thing to add is to go to someone who you trust. Any good practitioner will be happy to speak to you before booking an appointment to answer any questions and reassure you of any concerns you might have.

As mentioned, make sure you are going to see someone with good post-graduate experience as this will really help you decide on who you choose to go to as each will have their own specialty and expert knowledge.

From my point of view I love to treat Mothers and Babies, particularly plagiocephaly and pelvic strain in babies and thoracic (rib cage), diaphragm and pelvic torsion issues in mothers. My experience both in Australia and the UK is good with great results from both groups which I hope is reflective that most of my work is from word of mouth, however, as I say, make sure you speak to whoever you choose to see as you will be able to build a trusting working relationship before you step into the treatment room - I may not be the right osteopath for you and I won't be offended if you find someone more suited! I have a strong emphasis on education and to help my patients truly understand what is going on and the results follow and last a long time. Also, I work with an OCC (osteopathic centre for children) osteopath who has an incredible depth of knowledge when it comes to tricker cases and complications so we work very well as a team to make sure you are supported through your recovery and beyond into the future to stop you from needing us again!

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about anything osteopathy related (or anything else for that matter - I may just not be able to be such an expert on it!) so please don't be shy!

Rosie (Black Swan Osteopathy)
I am based in London Bridge and Kensington Olympia (very close on the ginger line from Clapham Junction...!)

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Thanks all very much for your replies!

Personally, I prefer to see an osteopath as I find it more gentle and relevant to my needs.

I can highly recommend Julia Finlay in Clapham North who does a mixture of cranial-osteopathy and classical osteopathy. She is very intuitive and gentle in her approach. Julia treats adults, children and babies.

The website is www.claphamfamilyosteopath.co.uk

Hope that helps.

From personal experience I can highly recommend Steve Hughes at the octogan clinic. He is a chiropractor who specialises in treating pregnancy problems and babies/children. Take a look at his site www.octoganclinic.co.uk

He is excellent (and lovely too). There are others at the clinic, but he's the one to see. He is over in chiswick/hammersmith, but I regularly drive from earlsfield and it's an easy journey. Due to his brilliance, he is often very booked up - but is worth the wait. If you want to see him ASAP, explain this to the receptionists and they sometimes find some wiggle room and/or can put you on the list to take up any cancellations.

Hope this helps.

I'm a physiotherapist and have been to chiropractors and osteopaths over the years. Only go to a physio if they have had specialist training in what you need.

Chiropractors and osteopaths spend 4 years training specifically on the skeleton and are more skilled in this area. They are trained to take and read X-Rays - most physios are not.

Which to chose? Better to go on recommendation. My family has been to Ian Orr in St John's Hill. He is an osteopath and we have had excellent results. We chose him originally because he was very near and prices weren't too high.

Both are so-called alternative therapies so you'd need to have them done privately. You'd have to try both to make a call which works for you, I think people just prefer one or another. Chiropractors do the bone cracking thing, osteopaths do manipulating of the affected area. My first port of call would be a physiotherapist. You can get referred through your gp. Chelsea & Westminster have an excellent postnatal physio department, I think you can self refer but just ask your doc.

Nothing against alternative therapies but I personally always give the evidence based therapies a go first.

Does anyone please know the difference and which it would be best to see to help get my pelvis etc straightened out after giving birth? I had PGP and it hasn't fully gone away, so want to get things straightened out before getting back to Pilates.
Thanks