Chiropractic and Pregnancy

It’s a special and joyous time for many people – however, can also prove to be a time of great stress and uncertainty. The overall wellness of a woman’s mind, body and soul throughout this period in her life is critical. During pregnancy, there are a few physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the perfect environment for the developing baby.

A great majority of chiropractors are trained in investing in the fertility and wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.

Why?

A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, grouped into three trimesters. Absence of menstrual periods, breast changes, tiredness, nausea, mood swings, heartburn, difficulty sleeping, swelling of the ankles and fingers and other symptoms are typical for woman in all stages of the pregnancy.

The tribulations of pregnancy are very real. As a pregnancy develops, stress is increasingly placed on the body, causing for some woman incredible discomfort. A woman’s center of gravity immediately begins to shift forward during pregnancy. Although a woman’s posterior section of the pelvis has the capacity and depth enabling her to carry a baby, the displaced weight still increases stress on her joints. As the baby gets bigger, a woman’s weight continues to project forward, curving more her lower back and placing extra stress on the spinal disks.

Towards the end of the pregnancy, the sciatic nerve may be irritated when the baby’s head begins pressing down on a woman’s back, legs, and buttocks.

How we can help:

Exercise, nutrition and adequate rest and care are essential for a healthy pregnancy. Chiropractic care offers proper assessment in these categories. Chiropractic care can also help prepare the body to be as strong, supple and balanced as possible to carry the pregnancy. Before pregnancy, a visit to the chiropractor can detect any imbalances in the pelvis or elsewhere that may contribute to pregnancy discomfort. During pregnancy, the art of chiropractic care can control symptoms of nausea, relieve back, neck or joint pain and even prevent a potential cesarean delivery. Research has also found that chiropractic adjustments can provide relief from low-back pain, muscle tensions, headaches and shoulder problems in pregnant women.

During birth, chiropractors can help assure optimum biomechanics in the hips and spine- reducing labor complications. Adjusting your body during pregnancy will avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen, overall reduction of undue stress to the uterus and to the supporting ligaments. Establishing pelvic balance has been shown to allow the best positioning for the fetus, therefore easing the delivery process.

Even after childbirth, in the weeks following labor and delivery, the ligaments that loosened during pregnancy can begin to tighten up again with the help of chiropractic care.