Is prenatal chiropractic care a good idea?
Pregnancy is an exciting time for moms but it also places a lot of stress on the spine and pelvis often resulting in pain and discomfort. This is why many women seek chiropractic care as a non-invasive option to reduce pain.
Chiropractors certified in the Webster technique help establish balance and alignment in the pelvis, this allows for a safer environment to the baby and can even aid in turning breech babies to the vertex position prior to labor.
Many women struggle with lower back pain, round ligament pain and other issues as their body prepares for labor and delivery. Regular visits to a pregnancy chiropractor can help alleviate these problems and keep the spine and pelvic area in alignment. This reduces nervous system interference, improving function of the pelvic muscles and ligaments. As mentioned it can also help turn breech babies to a head-down position, reducing the need for interventions like C-sections.
There are no contraindications to chiropractic treatment during pregnancy as long as a patient sees a chiropractor with specific pregnancy training, such as the Webster technique. However, patients should always check with their OB-GYN before beginning treatment.
What can I expect in my prenatal chiropractic session?
A pregnancy chiropractor will have you lie down comfortably on a table with a maternity cushion or pillow. The chiropractor will make calculated, gentle adjustments to your spine and body.
Pregnancy hormones can loosen muscles and ligaments causing spinal misalignment. This can lead to back pain, pelvic pain and instability, sciatic nerve irritation, sacroiliac joint discomfort and more.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help achieve pelvic balance and alignment which will allow for a healthier pregnancy, more ideal space for the baby and a safer, natural, non-invasive labor and delivery.
How soon after birth should I see a chiropractor?
Seeing a chiropractor immediately after giving birth can help alleviate many common newborn issues like colic, difficulty latching/breastfeeding, acid reflux and sleeping problems. Oftentimes these infant issues occur due to an undeveloped digestive system and misaligned spine which, if left untreated can lead to long-term problems.
Chiropractors are trained to perform gentle manipulations and adjustments on the spine, discs and surrounding joints. During pregnancy, the additional hormones in a woman’s body that prepares for childbirth can cause these joints to become misaligned.
During prenatal chiropractic, chiropractors use specialized techniques including Webster’s to align the pelvis creating a more comfortable pregnancy and ideal environment for the baby. This reduces the chances of a breech or posterior delivery and increases the odds of a natural vaginal delivery.
Does my newborn need to be adjusted?
The birth process can be quite traumatic for tiny babies, regardless of whether it progresses naturally or requires intervention such as a cesarean or forceps. Because this trauma can cause spinal misalignment, newborns will benefit from chiropractic adjustments to correct it.
The adjustment is very gentle and does not involve any “popping” or cracking. A chiropractor will use less pressure than it takes to check the ripeness of a tomato!
Babies that receive regular chiropractic care are less fussy, have fewer problems with acid reflux and pooping, they sleep better, and develop a stronger immune system than babies who don’t get adjusted regularly. We recommend bringing your baby in for their first assessment soon after birth and at least two weeks later, as well as each month thereafter.
Overall benefits
Throughout pregnancy, the hormonal shifts and physical strains a woman goes through, can cause spinal and pelvic misalignment. This, combined with loosening ligaments and a lowered center of gravity, can put excessive pressure on the spine and joints. Regular chiropractic care balances these stresses and allows for a more comfortable pregnancy.
Back pain, nausea, heartburn, constipation, and other common discomforts can all be reduced by prenatal chiropractic treatment. Also, spinal manipulations stretch restricted spinal joints and improve nervous system function to encourage a stronger and healthier immune system.
Chiropractors are able to treat a wide variety of conditions and can even help a breech baby turn vertex during the third trimester. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed an 82% success rate for helping babies with breech presentation.
In conclusion, prenatal chiropractic care has been proven to promote healthier and safer pregnancies while relieving symptoms that are common during gestation.
Allow us to help you be comfortable during those special months, don’t delay, book a session with your best chiropractic care in St Petersburg.