Dr. Jones is now taking appointments for prenatal chiropractic care visits, call our office today!

Body aches and pains are common issues during pregnancy.  In particular, back and shoulder pain is the most prevalent pain experienced by pregnant women. 

A study noted that 76% of pregnant women endure some form of back or pelvic pain during pregnancy.

Even though it’s unwanted and uncomfortable, back pain during pregnancy is a natural occurrence. The pain stems from the biomechanical changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy. After all, when you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is shifting, you’re carrying more weight, and your hormones are affecting your pelvic joints.

The physical and hormonal changes you undergo during pregnancy lead to changes in posture. All these changes increase the chances of a misaligned spine or joints.

What Is Prenatal Chiropractic Care?

There are numerous ways to help alleviate pregnancy-related back pain. Maintaining proper posture, engaging in physical activity, and wearing shoes with good arch support are all effective ways to ease back pain.

Complementary therapies are also gaining popularity as a way to relieve back pain during pregnancy. One such therapy is prenatal chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care is a form of physical therapy involving the maintenance and manual adjustment of the spinal column and misaligned joints. The practice seeks to not only reduce pain but also improve overall patient functionality.

Certified chiropractors typically use their hands to palpate or feel the joints and muscles of the patient. Once they have identified areas needing adjustment, chiropractors use forceful thrusts applied to your vertebra to correct its alignment.

This action often results in a popping or cracking sound. The sound is caused by a release of gas from the joint cavities as the adjustment relieves joint pressure.

A Question of Safety for Mother and Baby

Chiropractic complications are rare. Countless chiropractic adjustments are safely performed around the world each day.

Even during pregnancy, chiropractic care is shown to be safe and effective.

A study review found that out of 17 pregnant patients, 16 showed marked pain improvement within an average of 4.5 days following the first treatment. Most importantly, no adverse effects were seen among the patients.

As an added benefit, chiropractic adjustments are a drug-free option to relieve pregnancy pains.

Chiropractic care is a promising solution for pregnancy discomfort. However, you should consult with your doctor before receiving chiropractic treatments during pregnancy. Make sure to get your OB-GYN’s approval first before setting an appointment with a chiropractor while pregnant.

Additionally, carefully observe your body up to the date of your chiropractic appointment.

Receiving chiropractic care is not advised if you observe any of the following:

• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Placenta abruption or previa
• Moderate or severe toxemia
• Preeclampsia or persistent hypertension 
• Sudden and severe headaches

If you have any of those issues, it’s better to postpone your chiropractor appointment and visit your doctor instead.

Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care

Lower back pain relief is not the only benefit you may gain from visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy. An adjustment may also help relieve sciatica or sciatic nerve pain and sacroiliac or hip pain.

Other benefits of seeing a chiropractor for pregnancy discomforts are:

Reduced Morning Sickness or Nausea

Morning sickness or nausea is one of the most commonly depicted signs of pregnancy in movies and tv shows. It is also one of the most uncomfortable and unpleasant circumstances women experience during pregnancy.

Morning sickness is a misleading name since it doesn’t only happen in the morning. It can happen any time of the day or night. 

A chiropractic adjustment may help relieve pregnancy nausea as the procedure involves the spinal cord and spinal nerves, which are part of the nervous system.

By fixing your spine’s alignment and boosting your overall nervous system function, you can have better hormonal balance. This may help stop or reduce the severity of your morning sickness.

Improving baby positioning

A misaligned pelvis may pose risks when you deliver your baby. If your pelvis is out of alignment, your baby may not have enough room to turn and move into position for the birth.

Babies need to be in a head-down, rear-facing position for a safe delivery. Babies in a breech or feet-first position when born often leads to a very difficult vaginal delivery and other complications. In worst case scenarios, you may need to undergo a C-section to safely deliver your baby.

Working on pelvic alignment and adjusting the tissues in your pelvic region can help improve pelvic balance. Doing so helps ensure your baby has the space necessary to get into the head-first position.

Some experts recommend undergoing regular chiropractic adjustments on your eighth month of pregnancy to avoid the likelihood of a breech birth.

Shortening labor and delivery time

There are women who were observed to have shorter labor times and easier birthing processes after receiving regular chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Properly aligned hips, pelvis, and spine ensures that your nerves are in optimal working order. This benefits you during the labor process as your nerves control your contractions and cervix dilations.

Enhancing your nerve health helps to reduce pain and discomfort during the delivery, too. Especially if you are opposed to using medications during the delivery, chiropractic care during your pregnancy can help improve your experience.

Maintaining a more comfortable pregnancy

Less instances of morning sickness, relief from lower back pain, and improving delivery times all contribute to a more comfortable pregnancy.

Additionally, re-establishing your balance and posture through a chiropractic adjustment eases the tension in aching and fatigued muscles. This can help you feel lighter and improve your mood and mobility as you go about day-to-day tasks.

Easing postpartum pain

Continuing your chiropractic sessions after delivering your baby helps alleviate postpartum pain and aches. It gives you the opportunity to treat and correct the effects of your pregnancy on the posture of your neck and back.

Additionally, chiropractic adjustments while you are nursing your baby helps ease the pain that results from your breastfeeding posture.

What To Expect From a Pregnancy Chiropractor Visit

Prior to setting an appointment with a chiropractor during pregnancy, first make sure that the chiropractor you’ll be seeing has a state license.

Next, if possible, it’s best to visit a chiropractor that has received specific training in chiropractic adjustment for pregnant women.

Such a chiropractor is trained to ensure none of the adjustments place pressure on your stomach. Peach Creek Chiropractic has excellent staff trained to perform such services, but if we’re too far away from you, ask your OB-GYN if he/she knows of a chiropractor specializing in prenatal care near you.

Your pregnancy chiropractic visit at Peach Creek Chiropractic will start off similarly to a regular chiropractic visit. As a new patient, we’ll ask you to complete forms indicating your medical history, pregnancy due date, and health concerns that you want addressed.

Here is what else you can expect during your visit to a pregnancy chiropractor such as the ones at Peach Cheek Chiropractic:

• A physical assessment from your chiropractor to evaluate your overall mobility and areas of concern or misalignment.
• An individualized treatment plan based on your medical history and physical assessment.
• An opportunity to check and discuss the proposed treatment plan.
• An adjustment session, which involves purposeful thrusts and gentle nudges to ensure your safety, comfort, and improved health.

After your chiropractic adjustment session, you will be asked to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water aids in improving blood flow and decreasing lymphatic swelling. Optimal levels of hydration also provide your body with fuel necessary to heal, recover, and support the realignment work.

Conclusion

Visiting a chiropractor for pregnancy discomfort and pain is a safe and often effective way to improve your pregnancy experience. A chiropractic adjustment can not only boost your spine alignment and overall nerve health, it can also aid your baby’s physical development in your womb.

If you’d like more information about pregnancy chiropractic, reach out to us today. We’d love the opportunity to help ease your pain and improve your wellness as you wait for your bundle of joy to arrive.