Chiropractic and Pregnancy
Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints associated with pregnancy. Fortunately, chiropractic is a natural and effective way to alleviate or reduce back pain, no matter how far long the pregnancy. Many times, women might experience occasional aches and pains or a general discomfort. Chiropractic is helpful in improving range of motion and posture to help the patient walk and perform everyday activities better.
Pregnant women are likely to experience lower back or pelvic pains for the following reasons:
1. Weight Gain- Adding extra stresses to the lower back and other structures
2. Center of gravity changes during pregnancy resulting in postural and muscular imbalances
3. Hormonal changes causing ligament laxity in the pelvis and leading to frequent misalignments of the pelvis and sacraliliac joint
Not only is chiropractic a safe and effective way to align the pelvis and alleviate muscular tension, but chiropractic may also aid in a smoother childbirth. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery. This can affect the mother's ability to have a natural, non-invasive birth. There are techniques that can be performed that can assist in helping the baby in the breech position rotate appropriately.
For many pregnant women, there may be questions and concerns about the safeness of chiropractic and pregnancy. Chiropractic is advocated by the American Pregnancy Association, among others, as an effective and natural treatment for pregnancy related conditions because there are no known contraindications. All chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant and our office has specially designed tables that adjust for a pregnant woman's body. Additionally, we use low-force techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen. Feel free to call our office and speak with one of the doctors if you have any further questions or concerns.
