Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy and Post-Partum

How Can Chiropractic Care Help Throughout The Transition To Motherhood?

From conception through pregnancy to postpartum, chiropractic care helps to ensure the nerves and joints of the spine are communicating freely and appropriately, without any interference! When a joint is not moving properly it creates inflammation and muscle tension. Over time, those occurrences create an inference in how the spinal nerves communicate with muscles, organs, tissues and cells of our body.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a specialized form of care that focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to support the overall well-being of pregnant women. While every individual’s response to chiropractic care may vary, some potential benefits and ways chiropractic care can help during pregnancy include:

• Pain Relief: Many pregnant women experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort, particularly in the lower back, pelvis, and hips. Chiropractic adjustments may help alleviate pain and improve mobility by addressing misalignments and tension in the spine and pelvis.
• Pelvic Alignment: Chiropractors can provide adjustments to the pelvic region, which may help maintain proper alignment. Proper pelvic alignment is important for the comfort of the mother and may also facilitate an optimal fetal position for childbirth.
• Reduced Nausea: Some pregnant women experience nausea, and chiropractic care may help alleviate this symptom by addressing spinal misalignments that could contribute to nerve interference.
• Improved Posture: As the body undergoes changes during pregnancy, maintaining good posture becomes challenging. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve posture, reducing strain on the spine and supporting overall comfort.
• Optimized Nervous System Function: Chiropractors focus on maintaining a healthy nervous system. Ensuring that the nervous system is functioning optimally may contribute to better communication between the brain and the rest of the body, supporting overall health.
• Easier Labor and Delivery: Some proponents of chiropractic care suggest that maintaining proper pelvic alignment and reducing tension in the pelvis may contribute to a smoother labor and delivery process. However, more research is needed to establish a clear connection.
• Sciatica Relief: Pregnant women may experience sciatic nerve pain due to pressure on the sciatic nerve. Chiropractic adjustments may help alleviate this pain by addressing spinal misalignments contributing to nerve compression.
• Enhanced Comfort for Breathing: As the uterus expands during pregnancy, it can impact diaphragm movement and breathing. Chiropractic care may help ensure optimal spinal and ribcage alignment, potentially enhancing respiratory function.

As well, estrogen levels during pregnancy are up to 100 times higher than what they typically are during your cycle. After giving birth, estrogen levels decrease dramatically (especially within the first 24 hours!). Knowing how our system operates under typical circumstances, imagine how our body responds to that estrogen drop while also recovering from birth, breastfeeding and having a newborn? These hormone changes, paired with the wonderful experiences of birth, can really put stress on a woman’s body.

Chiropractic care in the postpartum phase supports the healing and repair from pregnancy and delivery from the inside out

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, with an emphasis on the spine. Chiropractors, who are licensed healthcare professionals, use various manual manipulation techniques, particularly spinal adjustments, to address musculoskeletal issues and promote overall health.

Prenatal Chiropractic

Can you go to a chiropractor while pregnant? Yes! In fact, it is recommended. Studies show that regular chiropractic care during pregnancy:

• reduces labor times by 25-31%
• reduces pain during pregnancy
• helps the baby assume a healthy position in-utero

The Webster Technique is a specific method of evaluating and correcting a mother’s pelvis to restore proper movement and alignment so the baby can move freely and position themselves in the best position for birth. When the mother’s pelvis is out of alignment, the ligaments that connect from the pelvis to the uterus increase their tension (tone) resulting in a distortion to the uterine space. When this happens it can become difficult for the baby to move freely and comfortably within the pelvis.

This particular technique requires additional training. Check to make sure your chiropractor has this training and is Webster Certified.

At West End Women’s Health, Dr. Dalbir Bal, DC is trained in the Webster technique offering expectant mothers a thorough evaluation and treatment for their musculoskeletal issues during pregnancy. For more information on how chiropractic care can help you during pregnancy and beyond, reach out today for a free meet and greet.