Supporting women at each and every stage of life

A woman's body goes through significant physical and hormonal change throughout life, from puberty through to menopause, and many women experience some disruption to their natural rhythms along the way. At OM, we're dedicated to supporting women through each of these stages.

Fertility

Many couples experiencing difficulty conceiving turn to acupuncture and osteopathy as a complementary, low-risk addition to their care, whether alongside ongoing fertility treatment or while trying to conceive naturally. Both aim to support the body's overall balance, helping ensure it's in the best possible condition for pregnancy.

Some research suggests acupuncture may help support ovarian function and menstrual regularity, and it's often used by people either unsuited to IVF or wanting to explore other options before beginning fertility treatment. It can also be a helpful part of managing irregular, painful or absent periods — though where these are linked to conditions like polycystic ovaries or endometriosis, we work alongside your medical care, not instead of it.

Fertility difficulties affect emotional wellbeing as much as the physical, and the stress of miscarriage or fertility struggles can be significant. We take both into account in how we support you.

Acupuncture, women's health osteopathy and massage may all be a helpful part of supporting hormonal balance and general wellbeing during this time, alongside your ongoing medical care.

Pregnancy 

Pregnancy brings significant physical, hormonal and emotional change over a short period of time, and the body has to adapt to real physical demands as it changes.

We support you through these changes and help you prepare for labour with physiotherapy, osteopathy, pregnancy massage and acupuncture — from morning sickness to lower back and pelvic girdle pain, headaches, sleep problems and pre-labour positioning.

Pregnancy Massage at OM Hackney

Pregnancy massage can be a valuable part of prenatal care, alongside the more clinical elements of modern maternity care. It supports circulation, which can help with reducing fatigue and nausea, and can ease some of the aches and pains that come with a changing body. Just as importantly, it offers time and space to connect with your changing body at a pace that often gets lost amid scans and appointments. At OM, we see bodywork like pregnancy massage as a genuinely useful part of preparing for birth.

Pregnancy MOT

Our Pregnancy MOT (also known as a prenatal MOT) is a comprehensive assessment with a specialist women's health physiotherapist, covering pelvic floor and abdominal muscle function, posture and movement, and individual advice on safe exercise, birth preparation and perineal massage. It's suitable at any stage of pregnancy, and particularly helpful for pelvic girdle or lower back pain, hip or sacroiliac discomfort, bladder leakage or heaviness, or concerns about abdominal muscle separation.

Postnatal care

We recommend all mothers have a postnatal osteopathy and physiotherapy check-up following delivery. Recovery after labour and childbirth isn't always straightforward, particularly after a difficult pregnancy or birth, and caring for a new baby brings its own physical demands on a body that's still recovering. Our women's health team can help with musculoskeletal and hormonal changes, breastfeeding difficulties, C-section recovery, pelvic floor weakness or overactivity, urinary incontinence, prolapse and postpartum wellbeing.

We also offer baby and children's osteopathy. An osteopathic assessment after birth can help identify tension that may be linked to a difficult delivery. Cranial osteopathy is a gentle approach that some parents find supportive for babies following a difficult birth, using very light pressure to help ease physical tension.

Post Natal Assessment

Our Post Natal MOT is a thorough, individual assessment of issues related to pregnancy and childbirth, including an exam of your pelvic floor, pelvis, sacroiliac joint, lumbar spine, abdominals and any scar tissue. It's recommended for women following both vaginal and caesarean deliveries, whether it's been 6 weeks or several years since birth.

Pelvic health physiotherapy is commonly used to help with pregnancy and postnatal-related issues such as urinary incontinence, pelvic floor weakness or overactivity, bladder pain syndrome, diastasis recti, prolapse, C-section or episiotomy scarring, pelvic pain, sciatic pain, lower back pain, painful intercourse and coccyx pain.

Scar Work

ScarWork is a gentle form of manual therapy developed by Sharon Wheeler to help with tissue changes associated with scarring. It's practised directly on the skin, without lubricants, working on the scar and surrounding tissue. It can help with scars following trauma or surgery — C-sections, cancer-related surgery, hip and knee replacements, abdominal surgery, laparoscopy or thyroidectomy among others — and may help reduce sensitivity and numbness while supporting recovery over time.

Pelvic Floor Health

Pelvic floor health affects women at every life stage — not only during pregnancy and postnatal recovery, but as women age, particularly around perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal changes can affect pelvic floor strength and function.

Our specialist pelvic health physiotherapists can help with a wide range of pelvic floor concerns, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, bladder pain syndrome and painful intercourse. Treatment combines assessment, muscle retraining and practical guidance, helping you understand what's going on and build lasting improvement.

MENOPAUSE

Perimenopause can begin as early as the mid-to-late thirties, as sex hormones begin to shift — a change that can also affect other hormonal systems, including thyroid and adrenal function. Symptoms vary widely; some women move through this stage with few issues, while others experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms.

Osteopathy, physiotherapy and acupuncture can be a helpful part of managing symptoms during this time, from physical and emotional discomfort to sleep and digestive issues. Our team can also advise on lifestyle factors — nutrition, exercise and stress management — that support you through this transition.

OM Women’s health treatment packages:

• Post Natal Package - Post Natal MOT, Pelvic Health Physio x 2 (3hrs)

• Pre Natal Package - Pelvic Health Physio x 2, Post Natal MOT (3 hrs)

More details on our booking page.