Is Chiropractic Care Safe When Pregnant?
During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes to create a comfortable place for a new baby to grow and develop. One of the most significant changes is the release of the hormone relaxin, which relaxes your ligaments and allows them to become more flexible. With this newfound flexibility, your pelvis can change positions to accommodate your pregnancy. Pregnant individuals may experience discomfort or spinal misalignments (subluxations with their new center of gravity, leading to several pain syndromes and may lead to back-labor and longer delivery times.
If you’ve experienced pain or discomfort, find out how chiropractic care for pregnant mothers and individuals may be able to help.
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Safe Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Individuals
For many soon-to-be parents, chiropractic care during pregnancy has been beneficial. Chiropractic care involves giving attention to the spinal column and related nerves without drugs or surgery. Chiropractors perorm gentle adjustments to spinal, sacral and pelvic misalignments (subluxations) to reduce spinal nerve stress and promote the health of the body as a whole. When you visit a chiropractor during your pregnancy, they will adjust their table to support your belly and use gentle techniques to support your body and your baby.
Factors that may influence an individual’s desire to seek chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
- Back pain from carrying an extra 25-30 pounds.
- Weakened abdominal muscles.
- An accentuated curve in your lower back that causes abdominal muscles to protrude.
Safe, noninvasive and low-force care can help pregnant individuals enjoy a smoother pregnancy, labor and delivery. Our care does not require any twisting, turning or popping of the spine. Pregnant mothers have always found it comfortable and a means of natural relief.
When Not to Receive Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is safe for most pregnancies, but not all. If you’ve experienced vaginal bleeding for unknown reasons during your pregnancy or are at risk of premature labor, receiving chiropractic care may not be in your or your baby’s best interest. It’s always a good idea to check with your obstetrician before scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor, especially if you experience one of these symptoms.
6 Benefits of Chiropractic Care When Pregnant
Prenatal chiropractic care can have many benefits for individuals expecting children. Consider these six benefits of receiving chiropractic care while pregnant:
1. Learn Pregnancy-Specific Stretches
Chiropractors are uniquely suited to providing you with stretches you can do at home to relieve pregnancy-related pain or soreness. Between appointments, you’ll be able to practice stretches that make you more comfortable in your changing body.
2. Establish Pelvic Balance and Alignment
When your pelvis is misaligned during pregnancy, there may be less room for the baby to develop in the womb. One of the techniques a chiropractor may use with a pregnant patient is called the Webster Technique, which is supposed to ensure the baby has enough room to move around in the womb. When the baby has enough room to grow, they will be more likely to end up in the head-down position for labor and delivery.
3. Reduce the Chance of Needing a Cesarean Section
When your baby does not have the room to develop and grow, they may not be able to get into the ideal position for labor and delivery. A misaligned pelvis makes getting into this position difficult, impacting how a parent is able to give birth. Unideal positions — breech and posterior positions — can interfere with a natural birth and lead the parent to need a cesarean section (C-section).
Though safe, C-sections come with risks like any other major surgery, and many women prefer to have a natural birth if they can. Optimal positioning encouraged by chiropractic care can result in safer delivery for both parent and baby.
4. Control Symptoms of Nausea
Experts do not completely understand what causes nausea during pregnancy, other than it seems connected to the production of the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone produced in the placenta.
It’s possible receiving chiropractic care may ease your symptoms of nausea since strengthening your nervous system may be one way to curb the nausea associated with pregnancy. When the nervous system is working effectively, the whole body can perform better.
5. Shorten Labor Time
When your baby is in the optimal position in the womb, you can possibly shorten your time in labor. This is because chiropractic care leads to better alignment in the pelvic region, which allows the baby to move through with more ease. A nonoptimal birthing position can lead to a longer and more complicated labor and delivery process.
6. Relieve Back and Neck Pain
Even if you do not have any concerns about your pregnancy, receiving chiropractic care may just make you feel better. Your body changes rapidly during pregnancy, and the shifts and extra weight around your abdomen can lead to back and neck pain. Upper cervical chiropractic care can provide relief for your pregnancy-related aches and pains.
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, we consider your spinal function and central nervous system (CNS) and focus on how they affect the endocrine or hormone system. Our adjustments are customized to you and always gentle. We use the QSM3 approach, which focuses on how the first vertebra in the neck influences the entire spine and body. The QSM3 approach is based on precise mathematical equations, biomechanics and physics, ensuring comfort and results.
We will look at what is causing your pain rather than focusing on simply controlling the pain to make the duration of your pregnancy as comfortable as possible. Relieve some of the pain that comes with pregnancy at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth.
Choosing a Chiropractor During Pregnancy
Chiropractors are required to be able to provide care to pregnant clients. However, some may be more equipped to do so. When committing to a new chiropractic care center during your pregnancy, consider the following factors:
- Equipment: As mentioned, chiropractors offering care to pregnant women should have special tables that can accommodate growing bellies.
- Methods: A gentle approach to chiropractic care will likely benefit soon-to-be parents more than the traditional chiropractic methods.
- Your OB-GYN’s opinion: As with any other treatment, you should consult with your doctor before receiving chiropractic care. Your OB-GYN may be able to advise you of the best chiropractors near you.
- Chiropractor’s qualifications: You’ll also want to review your chiropractor’s credentials to ensure they are qualified to provide care for you and your baby.
Contact Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC for Chiropractic Care
The changes in your body during pregnancy signify big and wonderful changes in your life, but that doesn’t mean it’s always comfortable. If you want to receive chiropractic care during your pregnancy, contact the professionals at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC. We have delivered over 230,000 adjustments in-office and can provide the gentle, effective care you want. Schedule a complimentary consultation online or call 732-617-9355 today!
