Chiropractic and Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting phase in a woman’s life. During this time, the body is constantly changing and adapting. For some women, these changes lead to pain and discomfort. Structurally, as the uterus expands, the abdominal muscles are stretched and they lose their ability to help maintain good posture. The curve in the low back increases and the center of gravity is moved forward. This causes increased strain on the muscles and ligaments in the low back leading to pressure and pain. As the pregnancy progresses, your body releases increased quantities of the Relaxin hormone. The ligaments that normally firmly hold the pelvis and hips become looser to expand for the growing baby. This process causes strain on the joints and can affect their alignment leading to discomfort.
It is thought that 50% of all women will experience back pain during their pregnancy. If you do experience pregnancy related pain, Doctor of Chiropractic are trained to evaluate and diagnose to see if the condition is the result of structural imbalances due to pregnancy or other pathology. Restriction or fixation in joint motion can cause swelling and irritation. This leads to pressure on the surrounding nerves. Pregnant women often suffer from sciatica. In fact, the number one reason a woman seeks out chiropractic care during her pregnancy is for relief of sciatic pain. Sciatica is inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve as it exits out of the low back and travels down the leg to the toes. Chiropractic is very effective for most cases of sciatica.
Another popular reason for chiropractic care during pregnancy is to correct spinal or pelvic misalignments that could be contributing to a baby in a breech position. If the reason the fetus is in a breech type position is due to the bony structure or alignment of the mother's pelvis, chiropractic care can be very successful in correcting the mother’s spinal and pelvic alignment which could allow the baby to get itself into the optimal position for delivery. All of our doctors have worked with women throughout their pregnancy including special circumstances like multiples, breech positions and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction).
Chiropractic treatments correct joint fixation / restrictions by applying gentle manual pressure to specific areas to help restore normal joint movement and alignment. A special pregnancy table and comfortable cushions will allow you to safely lie on your belly and relax during the treatment. Women often sigh with relief and do not want to get off the table. After the initial exam your doctor will discuss what is happening and how we can help plus how many visits you will need. We often suggest having care throughout the entire pregnancy and after giving birth to help keep balance and alignment. In addition, you might be given specific exercises to do. Studies show that 84% of women report relief from back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care. We have found that number to be closer to 100%. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation and let us take care of you.