To all our pregnant readers out there, Congratulations! Pregnancy is an experience that at least half the population will never go through, and for good reason. Imagine if men, who are famously terrible at dealing with pain, had children? The whining and complaining would be unbearable. Think of the paternity leave they’d demand!
Pregnancy can be a magical time, I say that genuinely. It’s probably the closest thing to magic a human being can experience, other than seeing a performance by the Blue Man Group. They’re something else, huh? While it’s a time filled with magic, it’s not without its challenges. As a chiropractor in Springfield, Illinois I know that our expecting patients can be a bit apprehensive about continuing chiropractic treatments while pregnant. They worry if their chiropractic adjustments will be safe for the baby in addition to the myriad of changes their body is going through.
To that I say, there couldn’t be a better, and more critical, time to receive chiropractic care. One of the biggest challenges during pregnancy is the onslaught of pain and discomfort as the body rapidly changes to house another life. That pain shouldn’t distract from preparing for the arrival of a child and from enjoying the experience of being pregnant. This is when the connection between mother and child begins and we don’t want to be distracted by pain and a growing sense that this baby is destroying our life.
Is Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Safe?
To quell any fears upfront, there are no known risks of chiropractic care during pregnancy. All licensed chiropractors receive pregnancy-related training and some chiropractors specialize in prenatal care. Many chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women and have special adjustment tables and tools that take into account a pregnant body. The exercises and stretches that they recommend are also suited for bodies that are doing God’s work.
Even so, always consult a doctor before making any major decisions while pregnant, just to be safe.
We don’t typically recommend chiropractic care to someone experiencing:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Placenta previa or placental abruption
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Moderate to severe toxemia
The best news is that, pregnant or not, chiropractic care is non-invasive and all-natural. That means no surgery and no drugs with their nasty side effects. Chiropractic care is designed to optimize the body’s ability to function and heal itself.
Why should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?
The body goes through dramatic hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy. The hormones to loosen joints and ligaments to allow for the baby’s on-time arrival, alter the body’s center of gravity and can lead to joint and muscle instability. These changes also affect posture and even where pain is felt on a day-to-day basis.
This is not the best news for the spine. These physical changes, compounded with added weight, upon a weak, unstable spine can lead to misalignments that interfere with proper nerve function. The very same nerves that provide a baby with the nutrients it needs for proper growth and development.
Establishing balance and alignment, especially in the pelvis, is another reason chiropractic care during pregnancy is so important. A misaligned pelvis causes intrauterine constraint which reduces the amount of room available and puts the baby at risk for birth defects.
This makes it difficult for the baby to get into position for delivery, jeopardizing a mother’s attempts at a natural, non-invasive birth, and increasing the likelihood of a breech or posterior position requiring a c-section. Rumor has it that c-section babies are better looking. While I can personally confirm that IS true, any type of surgery increases risks, even in something as seemingly routine as birth.
?definitely not a c-section baby
What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
The nervous system controls everything in the body from the babiest lil’ cell to the reproductive system. Maintaining spinal alignment is critical to the reproductive system working efficiently and effectively, which is never more important than during pregnancy. Pregnancy is like a hurricane to the normal functions of the body. Chiropractic care is stocking up on bags of rice and bottled water, boarding up the windows, and making sure the generators are fully charged so that you can watch Mystic Pizza even if the power goes out.
Our nerves are housed and protected by the spine. If the spine is thrown out of alignment it will disrupt our nerve’s ability to properly regulate and control our body. Chiropractic care corrects those misalignments and makes it possible to:
- Maintain a healthier pregnancy
- Control nausea symptoms
- Reduce labor and delivery time
- Relieve back, neck, and joint pain
- Prevent cesarean delivery
- Increase energy levels
- Increase circulation
- Improve the likelihood of fast recovery after birth
Typically we think chiropractic care is for relieving lower back pain, of which there is much during pregnancy. The new challenge of sciatica, caused by sciatic nerve compression due to the increased weight, is a sure-fire way to curse the baby before you even meet them. In addition to managing the pain and discomfort of pregnancy though, a chiropractor can ensure that the body’s healthy functioning is not disrupted by physical and hormonal changes.
Is chiropractic care good for a growing baby?
No one will thank you more for taking care of your body than your womb and its occupants.
Fetuses are desperate for nutrients and space to grow. Misalignments in the pelvis restrict space and can put a baby in jeopardy of birth defects. Misalignments in the spine can restrict the flow of nutrients that the baby requires to grow. Chiropractors correct those misalignments. This will allow them an easy exit as opposed to a breech birth, which is basically like flying Spirit when you have an abundance of unused miles on Delta.
A lot goes into being a parent, but don’t let painful pregnancy conditions stand in the way of getting the support needed during the journey. Prenatal chiropractic care ensures that everyone is healthy and thriving, and that mommy isn’t burdened by aches or pains. Call us or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing chiropractors to see how chiropractic can make pregnancy as magical as its result.
