What Can a Chiropractor Do While Pregnant?
The physical changes of pregnancy can cause new aches and pains in joints and muscles. A chiropractor can soothe these symptoms and even help position the baby for labor.
Chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy as long as you choose a chiropractor who has experience working with pregnant women and your OB-GYN approves of the treatment. Regular chiropractic adjustments may also help prevent breech delivery and encourage babies to turn head first.
1. Relieve Pain
The countless changes that happen in the woman’s body during pregnancy often cause pain and discomfort. But, the good news is that a chiropractor can reduce these symptoms to help women enjoy healthier pregnancies and safer deliveries.
Seeing a chiropractor throughout pregnancy can help ensure proper alignment through the spine, hips, and pelvis. This can ease labor and delivery by reducing the risk of complications like breech birth or C-section deliveries.
Many pregnant women seek chiropractic treatment for low back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, and leg issues. These conditions are caused by the shifting weight and posture changes that happen during pregnancy, which can lead to muscle tension and spinal misalignment. Regular chiropractic care relieves this tension, improves posture, and enhances nerve communication to help eliminate pain.
Other common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness, acid reflux, insomnia, and swelling in the feet and hands can also be reduced through regular chiropractic care. A chiropractor can use adjustments to reduce the pressure on the stomach and neck from these symptoms, as well as improve nervous system function to boost the immune system and alleviate nausea.
Pregnancy Chiropractic can also help prevent the risk of a breech or posterior birth by using a technique called the Webster Technique. This approach involves a specific manipulation of the sacrum, a large bone at the base of the spine, to make it easier for a baby to get into a head-down position. This may even be effective for breech babies in the late stages of pregnancy.
Women can safely see a chiropractor for musculoskeletal problems related to pregnancy, as long as they work with a practitioner trained in prenatal techniques and their OB-GYN approves of it. Backwoods Chiropractic points out that chiropractic doesn’t present any risks for the fetus and can improve the mother’s overall comfort during this exciting time. However, the doctor should always be consulted if any unusual symptoms or complications arise.
2. Maintain Posture
Pregnancy is a time of excitement and joy, but it can also throw the body’s posture out of whack. This is due to weight gain, hormonal shifts, and the stretching and loosening of ligaments necessary for baby’s arrival. These changes can put strain on the lower back and pelvis, causing pain and discomfort for many pregnant women. Thankfully, regular chiropractic care can help alleviate the problem.
One of the most important things that a chiropractor can do while a woman is pregnant is to keep the spine in alignment. This helps to prevent the uterus from pressing on the spinal cord and causing sciatic nerve pain. In addition, it can improve the flow of blood to the legs and fetus, which is essential for proper circulation.
A chiropractor is also able to teach a pregnant client proper sleep posture, which can significantly reduce back and hip pain during the night. This will help the woman to get better sleep and feel more rested during the day. Having a well-rested, comfortable pregnancy can go a long way toward having a healthy delivery and a speedy recovery.
Another benefit of chiropractic is that it can maintain pelvic balance throughout the entire pregnancy. This can make it easier for the baby to move into the head-down position for labor, reducing complications during delivery. A chiropractor who is trained in the Webster technique can assist in this process by correcting sacral misalignment and opening up space within the pelvis.
Some people are hesitant to see a chiropractor while they’re pregnant because they believe it might be dangerous for the baby. While it is safe to visit a chiropractor during pregnancy, women should always be sure to work with an ICPA-certified professional. These chiropractors have specific training in working safely with pregnant patients and can provide the highest level of service to expecting mothers.
In addition to maintaining a healthy spine and pelvis, pregnant women can also find relief from other common pregnancy-related issues like uterine cramping and colic. Whether it’s because of poor sleep posture, stress, or hormones, these issues can cause a lot of discomfort and lead to a less enjoyable pregnancy. A regular chiropractic adjustment can help relieve these problems and allow the mother to enjoy her pregnancy to the fullest.
3. Help with Labor
Pregnancy can throw a woman’s body out of alignment. This is a natural process due to weight gain, changing posture, hormonal shifts and more, but it can also affect the baby’s position in the pelvis at the time of delivery. When a baby is in a non-optimal delivery position, it can lead to a longer and more complicated labor. A chiropractor can help ensure a healthy, balanced pelvis by providing regular adjustments throughout the pregnancy to keep the baby in an optimal birthing position.
Chiropractors who are certified in the Webster technique, a method of analysis and adjustment that helps align the sacrum (the bone at the base of the spine) and the pelvis, can help ensure the baby is in the best possible position when labor begins. This can shorten the length of labor and decrease the need for medical intervention, such as pain medications.
For Shawn Kelley, who had a breech baby with her first pregnancy, this meant that she could avoid having to have a C-section or other medical interventions. She credits her chiropractor with helping her get the baby into a head down position.
In fact, the American Chiropractic Association reports that first-time moms who received regular chiropractic care during pregnancy experienced 25 percent shorter labors on average. In addition to this, chiropractic adjustments can help improve immunity so a mother-to-be is better equipped for natural, drug-free delivery.
Although the frequency of visits to a chiropractor will vary based on each woman’s needs, it is important for pregnant women to visit a certified chiropractor for regular checkups and adjustments. As the pregnancy progresses, the expectant mother’s treatment plan may change based on new aches and pains or a lessening of discomfort. But if the discomfort is severe, it is always wise to consult an OB/GYN and/or chiropractor right away.
4. Prepare for Delivery
Throughout the pregnancy, a chiropractor can help the woman’s body prepare for labor and delivery. A healthy pelvic balance provides room for the baby, reducing the likelihood of breech or posterior presentation. Optimal positioning for the baby at the time of birth also helps to prevent the complications associated with prolonged or difficult labor and C-section deliveries. Chiropractors can use methods to relieve back pain and reduce symptoms of discomfort, such as morning sickness and fatigue, which are commonly experienced by pregnant women.
A chiropractor can also correct the misalignment of the low back, pelvis, and ligaments that support the uterus. These changes can be caused by a growing baby, as well as hormonal changes that loosen the muscles and ligaments in the expectant mother’s body. When the muscles and ligaments are loosened, they can place a lot of stress on the spine, leading to back pain. A chiropractor can make adjustments to the spine and hips, which will alleviate the pain and provide more space for the uterus and baby.
If you are looking for a chiropractor to treat you during your pregnancy, be sure to choose one who is certified in prenatal chiropractic. These practitioners will use a technique called the Webster Technique, which works to align key structures and create more room in the pelvis for the fetus. The method is proven to be safe and effective for reducing the risk of breech pregnancy and promoting the best possible birth experience.
In addition to relieving pain and preparing the pelvis for delivery, chiropractic care can also improve immunity by ensuring that the nervous system is properly functioning. The nervous system controls every cell, tissue, and organ in the body. When the spinal column – the center of the nervous system – is out of alignment, the immune system is compromised. This can cause a variety of conditions, including chronic sinusitis and allergies. By ensuring that the immune system is working properly, a chiropractor can help to keep pregnant women healthy and strong both during and after pregnancy. This will ensure a healthier mom and a healthy, happy baby.
The physical changes of pregnancy can cause new aches and pains in joints and muscles. A chiropractor can soothe these symptoms and even help position the baby for labor. Chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy as long as you choose a chiropractor who has experience working with pregnant women and your OB-GYN approves of the…