It is no secret that pregnancy is the prequel to the most important and life changing stage in a woman’s life. It is no longer just about you. It is about you and the new life developing within the confines of your body. Chiropractic care is essential for both the mother and unborn child. It is for this reason that more and more mothers are discovering chiropractic. They appreciate the many benefits chiropractic care provides as well as the respect it shows for the body’s natural design and function. Above all, chiropractic will ensure a healthy experience for mother and child; making pregnancy what it was meant to be—a beautiful and joyous experience.
Aside from the important role chiropractic care can play throughout the course of a woman’s pregnancy, it also holds significant standing in the pre-pregnancy period as well. One primary reason chiropractic care is so sought after is because of its aid in the treatment of infertility. Through strengthening the physical body and improving neuronal connections, chiropractic care offers women a natural option for increased fertility and optimal function of the body and all its systems.
Physically and hormonally, chiropractic serves as a vital resource for every mother-to-be. A woman’s body experiences many physical changes throughout the course of pregnancy; protruding abdomen, increased back curve, pelvic changes, and postural adaptations. In addition, during pregnancy, many hormones are released which can result in weakened ligaments and joints. Chiropractic can work to counteract these changes and strengthen the body as a whole.
We specialize in maternity care and have special adjusting tables for the pregnant mother so that she can lie comfortably on her stomach without any pressure (they love these tables!) so that her spine can be examined.
The need for chiropractic care does not stop with the birth of your newborn baby. For the mother, whose body has experienced turbulent changes from the birth process, bringing the body back to balance is vital. It is also important to note the wear and tear that will be put on the body due to carrying the baby around post birth.
Finally, scientific studies prove chiropractic works! Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy restores balance to the pelvis and the muscles and ligaments that attach to it and, therefore, leads to better deliveries for you and your baby. Studies show that expectant mothers who receive chiropractic care are less likely to suffer from “back labor” and have reduced labor time.
Low Back Discomfort and Sciatica
If you are pregnant and suffering from low back pain you are not alone! Roughly one half of all mothers-to-be suffer from low back pain and doctors now agree that pregnancy related low back pain is associated with a condition called sacroiliac joint dysfunction (often referred to by chiropractors as SI subluxation). A subluxation is a misalignment of a joint that creates irritation to the nerves and tissues in the surrounding area. Many hormones increase rapidly during pregnancy and some of these hormones relax the muscles, ligaments, and joints in the body. This allows the pelvis to open during delivery so that the baby’s head and shoulders can pass through the birth canal. Yet, it is this relaxation combined with weight gain, postural changes and stretching of the stomach muscles that also disturbs the proper alignment of the spine and pelvis producing subluxations during pregnancy.
Sciatica, a common symptom that occurs during pregnancy, causes pain, tingling or numbness from the low back to the back of the leg and foot. Sciatica often occurs because of subluxations in the low back or pelvis along with muscle spasms in this area. Most cases of sciatica will improve or resolve with chiropractic care.
Headaches
Due to the changes in a pregnant woman’s posture, extra stress often occurs in the neck and the midback. Subluxations (misalignments of the spinal vertebrae causing nerve interference and muscle spasm) of the neck are often the cause of neck pain and headaches during pregnancy. Most headaches of pregnancy are muscle-tension type headaches where the pain feels like a tight band across the forehead and it is accompanied by muscle spasms in the neck or shoulders.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes painful tingling, burning and numbness into the wrist and hand and it occurs in approximately 20% of all pregnancies. Subluxation of the wrist bones often occurs during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and swelling of the wrist and hands and chiropractic adjustments can help.
Mid-back and Rib Discomfort
Pain in the midback that radiates into the ribcage is often due to subluxations that cause the nerves between the ribs to get irritated. It may be uncomfortable to take a deep breath when this occurs. Chiropractic adjustments remove the subluxations to decrease the pain and return normal function.
Heartburn, Constipation and other Digestive Issues
Due to the biomechanical changes to a woman’s pelvis during pregnancy and changes to her center of gravity, constipation and heartburn are a commonly a result. By working to restore balance in the pelvis and proper motion in the midback, many pregnant women notice a decrease or resolution in these symptoms.
A Breech Baby
The Webster Technique is a non-invasive and gentle chiropractic technique that is highly successful in helping mothers with a breech baby. The technique has been featured on The Learning Channel’s, “A Baby Story”, Mothering Magazine, and Midwifery Today. The way it works is the following: The uterus is attached to the bones of the pelvis by ligaments. As long as the bones are in the right position and are moving properly, the ligaments should provide equal and balanced support for the uterus. If the pelvis is misaligned or subluxated, the ligaments become torqued and can cause a condition known as “in-utero constraint”. If the uterus is constrained as birth approaches, the baby is prevented from getting into the best possible position for birth and may end up breech. Chiropractors correct the subluxations of the pelvis and decrease spasms in specific muscles and ligaments that attach the uterus to the pelvic bones to help the baby turn. Dr. Stacey Cantrell is certified in the Webster Technique by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.
