Whether you’ve ever been pregnant, or if you’ve known someone that was, you are well aware that there seem to be a ton of restrictions on what someone carrying a baby can do.
The further you get along in your pregnancy, the stronger those limitations become. The primary goal is, of course, to protect the unborn baby from any harm.
When it comes to health care and treatment, more often than not, you aren’t going to want to take any potentially harmful medications. One of the biggest complaints of women that are pregnant is lower back pain. In fact, 50-80% of pregnant women report back pain at some point during their pregnancy.
Many individuals would reach for over-the-counter or even prescription medication when they have pain. That’s not always the best option for pregnant women. That’s when chiropractic care turns into an excellent choice. It’s completely all-natural, non-invasive, and there is no risk to the child. That’s just one reason why chiropractic care helps during pregnancy though. Find out how else pregnant women can benefit from seeing a chiropractor.
Chiropractic Care for a Healthy Immune System During Pregnancy
The last thing that a person wants to deal with during pregnancy is getting some sort of viral or bacterial infection causing them to get sick. You’re already uncomfortable enough as it is. Coping with an illness would just make everything utterly miserable. Did you know that chiropractic adjustments boost the immune system? There are several factors to a healthy immune system including:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Posture
- Healthy Spine
Those last two points a chiropractor is well-versed in helping with, even during pregnancy. An experienced professional knows that the spinal cord is the main brain of all of the body’s functions. When there is something not functioning properly due to misalignment, the nervous system is affected.
The nervous system is what controls how well your immune system is working. That’s why you want to get regular chiropractic care during pregnancy. You can boost your immune system and lower your risk of getting sick.
When you are sick, there is always that chance that you could pass the disease or illness onto your fetus. If you could avoid getting sick in the first place by visiting a chiropractic office, doesn’t that seem like it’s the best option?
Back Pain Relief From Seeing A Chiropractor While Pregnant
The most obvious way that chiropractic care helps during pregnancy is with back pain relief. A prenatal chiropractor near you will have the proper training to keep your spine aligned. That misalignment is the number one reason that you feel back pain, to begin with. When you have a baby growing inside of your body, muscles and bones are being pushed and pulled in different directions than they weren’t before. Those changes are even greater as the baby gains more weight.
With the added weight on the front of your body, your posture suffers. Your spine will curve in unnatural ways, and your pelvis may even move out of position. Chiropractors can move the spine and pelvis back into place with safe alignment techniques that have proven to be useful not just for pregnant women, but for all kinds of patients. It’s a practice that has been used for over a century.
Relief from Morning Sickness Through Chiropractic Care
If a woman is going to suffer from morning sickness during her pregnancy, it is usually within the first month or two after conception that the symptoms kick in. According to the American Pregnancy Association, over half of all pregnant women have some level of morning sickness at some point. For the most part, it’s not harmful to the mother or the baby. It can be extremely uncomfortable however with symptoms including varying levels of nausea along with vomiting for some.
For some people, the reason for morning sickness during pregnancy is because there is a vertebra out of place in the spinal cord. With the vertebra out of place, a nerve can get pinched, and that leads to the symptoms. It’s not necessarily the case for all women. When you are suffering from the nasty side effects though, chiropractic care is a good first choice to try and get some relief.
Seeing a Chiropractor While Pregnant in 3rd Trimester
The most nerve-wracking part about being pregnant happens when you get into your third trimester. That’s when you start worrying about labor and delivery. You hear all the dangers that could cause issues when the time finally arrives. One problem your doctor warns you about is your baby being in the wrong position or “breech” when it comes time to deliver. That’s when the babies feet or bottom are near the birth canal instead of the head.
If everything happens naturally, the way mother nature intended, your baby is going to move into position for delivery by the 34-week point at the latest. Most of the time it happens between weeks 30 and 32. There is about a 1 in 25 chance that a baby will be breech at full term according to the American Pregnancy Association.
One common reason for babies being in a breech, sideways, or posterior position could be because the spine or vertebra isn’t in the right place. With the skills a chiropractor has, those alignments can be made to get everything lined back up correctly. When the baby has the opportunity to move with your body properly positioned, there’s a higher probability he or she will get their head down where it needs to be for safe and healthy delivery.
With the mom’s body in alignment, the actual process of labor and birth can be shortened as well. The hips and spine being set where they are supposed to be is the natural position you want to be in when it comes time to start pushing. Besides, a healthy and aligned spine means better overall well-being. With a mom that’s in an excellent state of health, labor and birth will take less time and be a lot easier to get through.
Getting a Chiropractor for Pregnancy Sciatica
Did you know that sciatica is a common problem during pregnancy? It can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. If it’s really severe, it can even affect a women’s daily activities of living because of the desire for limited mobility. For some, it makes the thought of sitting or standing unbearable.
Sciatica is a pain that shoots down the legs. The most common reason for it happening is because of a slipped or herniated disc. However, it can be a result of the shifting and twisting inside of the body that occurs with a growing baby inside. Other symptoms include:
- Numbness
- Burning
- Tingling
- Weakness
- Pins and Needles Sensation
Most people will treat sciatica with a combination of prescription medication, maybe seeing a chiropractor, or going to physical therapy. Pregnant women are going to want to choose the least invasive route to get some relief. The recommendations for feeling less pain and getting back to normal include:
- Seeing a chiropractor for adjustments to keep the pelvis in place
- Warm showers
- Yoga
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
You may be surprised how much just staying active and moving around can help in relieving pains from sciatica. Even by doing that though, there is always a chance that your body is going to move around and your pelvis could slip out of place. That’s why seeing a chiropractor even when you aren’t in pain is important. Prevention is always the best kind of treatment.
Chiropractic Pregnancy Risks
According to the American Pregnancy Association and other researchers on the topic, chiropractic care is entirely safe during pregnancy. There are small risks associated with getting chiropractic care period, but the percentages are extremely low of any of them happening. Those are:
- Pain or tenderness in the area being treated
- Further complications or an issue that gets worse
- Stroke following neck manipulation
Again, these are extremely rare, and not something that pregnant women should have to worry about. There are specialized chiropractors out there that get further education in treating prenatal and postnatal to ensure their patients get the best care possible.
If you are concerned about whether or not your chiropractor has the education and experience necessary for treatment during pregnancy, ask him or her about their credentials during your consultation. You should always tell your chiropractor that you are pregnant to get the specific treatment that will be the most beneficial.
The Webster Technique and Certification
The Webster Technique is something that a lot of chiropractors will learn and even get certified in to give their pregnant patients the care they require for a safe and healthy birth. It is a technique used to keep the uterus properly functioning, the pelvis prepared for correct contracting, and for putting the baby in the proper position for delivery.
When there is an improper position, a problem with the pelvis, or a uterus that isn’t functioning as it should, all of those can lead to issues during labor and delivery. Nobody wants to have a more difficult birth than necessary. Seeking a chiropractor that is certified in the Webster Technique gives you a better chance of not having any surprises come your way when you’re supposed to be delivering a healthy baby boy or girl.
This article was written by Dr. Brent Wells, D.C.
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. founded betterhealthalaska.com in Anchorage, Alaska in 1998 and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients with different health problems using various services designed to help give you long-lasting relief.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.
