Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy

Pregnant Mom


I know lots of pregnant moms right now;  some as patients, some as friends.  Did you know that the spine must accommodate for pregnancy throughout its length?  It has got me thinking how many women don’t know that chiropractic care can reduce labor time, ease the symptoms associated with pregnancy, and reduce the stress of having a child when it comes time for that HUGE change in your life!

Now, I don’t have any children of my own, but I do have a lot of experience in treating pregnant moms with chiropractic care!  My conclusion:   Chiropractic is a safe and effective means to treat pain in muscles and joints during pregnancy!

How Does the Spine Change During Pregnancy?

Pregnant Mom Spine

The illustration above certainly demonstrates the kind of stress that is put on the lower back when the center of gravity changes with a pregnant moms growth during pregnancy. The angle of the pelvis changes, forcing it more forward than before, say the first trimester ends.  When that angle changes in the pelvis, the spine must compromise by using the lumbar spine to compensate for the changes in movement.

What do you think happens next?

Right, the lower back compensates, and pretty soon the upper back and neck must compensate as well!

Some of the conditions associated with pregnancy can include:

  • Sciatica
  • Numbness in the arms or legs
  • Tension headaches
  • Muscle fatigue

The conditions listed above are structurally caused conditions.  This means that without proper posture, exercise, etc., the body has trouble dealing with the changes that it is making as far as the spine is concerned.

With all of the changes that the spine is making, you can imagine that when labor happens, the spine is already in a compromised state!

How Can Chiropractic Reduce Labor Times?

A chiropractic adjustment is how chiropractors replace a bone to it’s natural position if it is pushing and placing pressure on a nerve.  When a bone is pushing on a nerve and causing pain and irritating the nerve, it is called a subluxation.

If you have a nerve that isn’t working correctly because of pressure on it from a bone, what do you think happens with that nerve and all of the things that that nerve goes to?  It suffers in function;  it stops working as it should because the nerve controls it.  Pain in the lower back while pregnant (as well as any other area) is due to pressure on the nerve, causing pressure and pain wherever it goes!

When the nerves are working properly, they can send and receive messages to and from the brain conducting what the body should do.  When in labor, you want it to be over fast, with a healthy baby boy or girl as the end result, without complications!  Should the body have optimal nerve function during that time?  Of course!  Even more so than any other time.

Research shows that there is a direct correlation between the amount of untreated back pain a woman endures during pregnancy and labor and delivery times and difficulty!

How Does Chiropractic Relieve Pain in Pregnancy?

Very much the same as it reduces labor times, chiropractic is the science of moving the bone off of the nerve so it can function correctly.  Our nerves are made up of pain, sensory, temperature and pressure.  They coordinate all movements, thoughts and perception of touch.  They are all different fibers that run together to make up the nerve.  When the bone pushes on nerves containing pain fibers, it can greatly reduce the amount of pain one feels.

How Does Chiropractic Relieve Stress?

We all have stress, but stress becomes a health issue when there is too much of it, and we can’t deal with it in a healthy way.  Chiropractic can relieve stress by taking pressure off of the nerves, and getting a chiropractic adjustment also releases endorphins and other FEEL-GOOD neurotransmitters which help our body be stress-free!

Chiropractic is great for everyone, but when it comes to you and your baby’s health, it is a great way to feel good throughout your pregnancy!

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