By Laura Tilson BA (Hons) M.Ost DPO Registered and Paediatric Osteopath at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy I have never felt as weak and physically vulnerable as I did after having my baby 5 months ago. It was immediately obvious the minute I tried to stand up after the labour and it was something I feel I was totally unprepared for. It is only in hindsight that I can see how frightened I might have been had I had a minute to think about myself and my body – rather than my baby and where his next feed was coming from. I couldn't sit up or turn in bed without using my arms, I waddled rather than walked for at least a week. My first few trips to the supermarket were a push. My back ached over the site of my epidural. I was shocked at how my muscles, despite exercising throughout my pregnancy, had weakened. I know from my osteopathy training that during pregnancy ligaments stretch, muscles atrophy, fat is deposited and breasts grow. I also know that the occasional afterno