Why Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy? So many reasons...
You’ve may have heard of a friend or relative who chose to seek chiropractic care during their pregnancy for their low back pain or sciatica, but chiropractic care during a pregnancy extends so far beyond this. We are sharing our top 4 reasons for the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy!
1. Prepares the pelvis for labor & birth
Through careful evaluation and small precise adjustments to the mother’s pelvis and spine, a Chiropractor can help with pelvic alignment. An aligned pelvis is optimal for labor and birth as it decreases the chances of dystocia (slowed or stalled labor) and eases the transition of the sacrum and coccyx (tailbone) as the baby exits through the pelvic outlet.
2. Decreases pain during pregnancy
It is expected that more than 50% of women will experience some kind of pelvic or low back pain during their pregnancy. While these pains are often labeled ‘normal’, normal as they are, this can be a sign of misalignment or lack of proper motion. Lack of proper motion is what leads to dystocia as described in the paragraph above and/or pain.
Adjustments help to clear those misalignments and ensure proper motion which then eliminates inflammation and pain in the back, pelvis and extremities (mainly legs) in the pregnant mother.
The mother’s body is naturally in a state of growth and compensation during a pregnancy. So, semi-regular adjustments to the mother’s spine and pelvis ensure less compensation, overall better motion, less inflammation and thus less pain as she grows.
Most common areas of pain helped by chiropractic care include, but are not limited to: low back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, numbness and/or tingling in the legs, symphysis pubis disorder/SPD, headaches, rib pain. Read here for a list of additional benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and to learn about our recommendations on how often to get adjusted!
3. Helps baby get into an optimal fetal position
Not only does proper pelvic alignment reduce misalignment in the boney pelvis but it also reduces tension in the surrounding soft tissue of the pelvis and abdomen. By eliminating this tension, the baby has more space to get into the best position for birth, meaning head down.
Chiropractors often see pregnant women with a breech or transverse baby to perform something called The Webster Technique. This is a version of pelvic adjusting to help align the pelvis, in turn optimizing uterine space and then allowing that breech or transverse baby to go head down. Research suggests an 80% success rate with Webster Technique. (Webster Technique is ideally performed in weeks 34-37)
4. A better postpartum experience
By reducing misalignment in the mother’s pelvis, we are hoping to set her up for an optimal birth experience. When we have a smoother labor, we often recover a bit quicker postpartum. There are always variants to this. But, overall an easier birth experience translates to an easier recovery period postpartum allowing mama to focus on her baby.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy offers numerous benefits. It prepares the pelvis for labor and birth by ensuring proper alignment, decreases pregnancy-related pain through targeted adjustments, helps the baby get into an optimal fetal position, and contributes to a better postpartum experience by promoting smoother recovery.
Schedule an Appointment
Experience the advantages of chiropractic care during your pregnancy—schedule an appointment with our expert chiropractors today for a healthier, more comfortable prenatal journey! Schedule an appointment today online or by calling or texting our office at (720) 403-8255.
While all Chiropractors receive some prenatal training in school, there are Chiropractors who choose pregnancy and postpartum care as a specialty. Those with advanced training in this field can be found here: https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/ with Webster Certification or a CACCP or DACCP next to their name.