When you are pregnant, your body does a wonderful job of providing for the needs of the child growing inside you. This brings about countless physical and physiological changes in your body, some obvious, others, not so obvious.
While a burgeoning belly and fluctuating hormones may not come as a surprise , other changes such as a rapid shift in posture, loose limbs, joint discomfort and lower back pain may be unexpected and less welcome.
Luckily, your solution to some of those musculoskeletal problems may be just a chiropractic adjustment away.
In this post, we are going to look at how chiropractic adjustment can help you relieve pain and discomfort and promote a healthy pregnancy. I received chiropractic care during pregnancy and I can’t begin to tell how much it helped!
So let’s get started.
Chiropractic Care: What is it?
Chiropractic care is an art and science that focuses on restoring joint function through hands-on manipulation and other forms of manual therapy.
Chiropractors seek to reduce pain by ensuring proper adjustment and alignment of the body’s joints and muscular skeletal structure, as well as educating patients on exercise, ergonomics and other forms of therapeutic practices to treat pain.
Why is Chiropractic Care Important during Pregnancy?
From the moment you conceive, your body goes through many changes to accommodate the growing baby. One of those changes is the release of the hormone, Relaxin. Relaxin causes ligaments to loosen and stretch in preparation of birth/delivery.
However, this hormone may, sometimes, cause your ligaments to become too loose such that they get structurally unstable. This causes spinal misalignment and joint pain (some of the not so wonderful early pregnancy symptoms).
Other body changes that may cause spine misalignment during pregnancy include:
- Weakening of abdominal muscles
- The fact that you are carrying 25-40 more pounds your normal weight
- Lumbar hyperlordosis (a significant arch in your lumbar spine region)
Visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy can help your body adapt to these changes while maintaining a stable musculoskeletal structure.
Related: 45 Strange Early Pregnancy Symptoms (with Stories from Real Moms)
Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy: is it Safe?
Pregnancy comes with a lot of don’ts : “don’t eat hot dogs or deli meats”, “don’t drink alcohol ”,”don’t drink caffeine”, “don’t use a trampoline” etc…
The good news is, chiropractic treatment during pregnancy isn’t one of those don’ts.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been found to be a safe and drug free approach to treating muscular and skeletal health. As long as you are healthy and there are no health concerns with your pregnancy, chiropractic treatment during pregnancy is safe for you.
For extra safety, consider the following before choosing the right chiropractor for you:
- The chiropractor’s certification
You want a trained and certified prenatal chiropractor for you and your baby. So ensure that your chiropractor doctor is qualified and certified before choosing them.
- The equipment
It is difficult to lay face-down when pregnant on a normal (flat) chiropractic table. So ensure your doctor offers you a special table cushion, wedge or any other enabling to prevent or reduce pressure on your growing belly before any adjustment.
- Approval from your OB-GYN (obstetrician-gynecologist)
Always get permission from your doctor before visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy. This is important if you are experiencing vaginal bleeding, ectopic pregnancy or placenta previa. Seeking chiropractic help while experiencing such symptoms is ill advised.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy
1) Lower Back Pain Relief
According to research, 50% of women experience pregnancy related back pain. This is because the center of gravity moves forward as the belly grows, thereby creating more pressure on the lower back joints and pelvic region.
Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve the pain by keeping the pelvis and spine in alignment naturally and safely.
For the best chances of eliminating back pain, you should actually combine chiropractic care with safe pregnancy exercises, such as yoga or strengthening exercises.
Related: Best Pregnancy & Antenatal Exercises safe for all Trimesters (and for easier labor!)
2) Ease Pregnancy Symptoms
Chiropractic care can help ease symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, and swelling of feet and hands during pregnancy. Adjustments promote optimal communication within your nervous system thus reducing pregnancy symptoms that stem from the spine.
Related: 20+ Remedies for Heartburn during Pregnancy (and Tips on how to prevent it)
3) Better Sleep
If you get uncomfortable when sleeping or feel the need to toss and turn more often, getting chiropractic adjustment can help.
Chiropractic adjustments reduce pain and discomfort from spinal misalignment allowing you to sleep better and wake up refreshed the next day.
4) Short Labor and Easier Birth
Getting chiropractic adjustment can help you shorten labor and experience a much easier birth process. When the mother’s hips and spine are aligned properly, muscles of the uterus and the pelvic floor communicate much free and uninterrupted, thus enabling an easy and probably fast delivery.
Note: if you are looking at ways to have a shorter and easier natural birth, make sure to check out hypnobirthing! I had the most amazing birth experience thanks to the techniques learnt with hypnobirthing.
Related:
- 23 Tips for a Birth without Epidural
- How to Give Birth Naturally without Pain (17 Tips from a Mom who did it!)
5) Birth injury
Pregnancy and delivery isn’t difficult just for the mother, the baby too may experience physical stress and strain during the process. It is estimated that 2% of all normal births in the United States result in birth injuries to the infant. Therefore, it is important to have your baby checked by a chiropractor and adjusted if they had any birth related injuries.
I have taken my second daughter to my chiropractor since she was very little and I have seen the improvements with her sleep and overall mood. I honestly wish I had done the same with my first daughter.
Final Word
Back pain, aches and discomfort don’t have to be part of your pregnancy experience. Getting chiropractic care is the best, holistic and drug free solution to relieving pain and keeping your body functioning at its best.
Are you pregnant and have any question? Or are you a mom that’s gone received chiropractic treatment when pregnant and would like to share your experience? Then please share in the comments below – I would love to hear from you!
If you are pregnant, also don’t forget to check the following articles:
- Pregnancy Survival Kit (30+ Essentials for Mom & Dad)
- Best Pregnancy & Antenatal Exercises safe for all Trimesters (and for easier labor!)
- 100 Cute & Happy Pregnancy Quotes for Expecting Moms
- 20+ Fun Things to do while Pregnant
- 11 Best Pregnancy Planners of 2021 (incl. FREE & Printable!)
To get ready for birth:
- 20 of the Best Online Birthing Classes (to prepare for and overcome your fears of birth)
- 10 of the Quickest Ways to go into Labor Overnight
- 15 Signs that Labor is 24-48 Hours Away
- How to Have a Confident Birth
- 23 Tips for Birth without Epidural
- How to Give Birth Naturally without Pain (17 Tips from a Mom who did it!)
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References
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/chiropractor-while-pregnant#4
https://www.drlaurenlove.com/5-reasons-see-chiropractor-pregnancy/
https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/11/how-chiropractic-care-can-promote-healthy-pregnancy
https://www.drlaurenlove.com/5-reasons-see-chiropractor-pregnancy/
