The Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care
Are you feeling a little uncomfortable now that you're pregnant? Pregnancy-related changes can trigger aches and pains and even affect your balance. Prenatal chiropractic care offers effective, natural relief for pain and other pregnancy symptoms.
How Chiropractic Care Could Help You During Your Pregnancy
Prenatal chiropractic treatments are designed to safely treat the most challenging pregnancy symptoms. Whether you're newly pregnant or quickly approaching your due date, prenatal chiropractic care offers these important benefits:
- Less Pain. Low back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy, but it's certainly not the only type of pain you may experience. Aches and pains can also affect your hips, pelvis, and legs. As your baby grows, pressure increases on the muscles and tissues in your back, pelvis, and hips. Your expanding belly can even disrupt the normal alignment of the vertebrae in your spine, triggering pain. Your chiropractor uses gentle adjustment techniques to improve spinal alignment and ease pressure on nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues. A 2014 research study published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies noted that 52% of pregnant women with low back pain improved after one week of chiropractic treatment, while 85% felt better after three months of treatment.
- Better Posture and Balance. Your center of gravity shifts as the months pass and your baby grows larger. At the same time, your joints may become a little unstable as ligaments loosen in preparation for birth. Although loose ligaments make it easier for your baby to travel from your uterus to the birth canal, they also contribute to balance and posture problems. You may feel a little unsteady at times or fall more easily due to these changes. Prenatal chiropractic care improves the alignment of your spine and pelvis, improving posture and balance. Your chiropractor may also suggest orthotics, prescription shoe inserts that support your feet and enhance spinal and pelvic alignment.
- A Natural Remedy for Motion Sickness. Higher levels of the hormone GDF15 increase the risk of morning sickness, according to a research study published in Nature in 2023. Chiropractic treatments reduce pressure on nerves, ensuring the free flow of crucial nervous system signals needed for hormone balance. Treatments offer a natural way to manage morning sickness symptoms.
- Reduced Stress. Pregnancy is rarely a stress-free experience. Although it's only natural to worry about your baby's health and your adjustment to parenthood, stress can lead to headaches, digestive complaints, and sleep issues. Chiropractic treatments relieve stress by increasing the production of serotonin and endorphins. These important hormones relieve pain and produce a natural calming effect. If you've been struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, you may notice that you sleep better after a visit to the chiropractor.
- Better Pelvic Alignment. Keeping your pelvis properly aligned gives your baby more room in your uterus and may even reduce the risk of a breech birth or Caesarean section. Chiropractors improve pelvic alignment with the Webster technique, a chiropractic treatment that gently realigns the spine and eases pressure and tension on soft tissues.
- Decreased Stiffness. Your joints may feel stiff and achy as your pregnancy progresses. Joint stiffness can cause reduced range of motion in your limbs and make it harder to move your arms and legs easily. Prenatal chiropractic treatments improve flexibility and mobility by loosening tight muscles, decreasing inflammation, and aligning your spine and pelvis.
Improve your comfort with prenatal chiropractic care! Contact our office to schedule a convenient appointment.
Sources:
Nature: GDF15 Linked to Maternal Risk of Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy, 12/13/2023
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06921-9
PMC: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies: Outcomes of Pregnant Patients with Low Back Pain Undergoing Chiropractic Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study with Short-Term, Medium-Term and 1-Year Follow-up, 4/1/2014
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3994225/
Chiropractic Economics: Chiropractic for Pregnancy: The Benefits of Balance, Alignment and Custom Orthotics, 5/19/2022
https://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic-for-pregnancy-2/
American Chiropractic Association: 5 Conditions Chiropractic Care Can Improve During Pregnancy, 10/19/18
American Pregnancy Association: Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/chiropractic-care-during-pregnancy/