Is Seeing a Chiropractor Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not only safe, but it is highly beneficial to both parent and baby by reducing stress and increasing the flow of blood and essential nutrients. Pregnant people often have aches and pains during pregnancy but may worry about going to the chiropractor. However, according to a chiropractic literature review by Cara L. Borggren, up to 50% of pregnant people experience back pain before delivery.
Ask Your Doctor Before Chiropractic Care If You Have Any of the Following Conditions
In some cases, it may not be appropriate to seek chiropractic care in the interest of both the parent’s and baby’s health. Some of these cases include people experiencing the following during pregnancy:
- vaginal bleeding
- placenta previa or placenta abruption
- ectopic pregnancy
- moderate to severe toxemia
When chiropractors go through their training, they learn about chiropractic care during pregnancy. Still, some chiropractors, such as the Yoder Chiropractic Center in Vancouver, Washington, are particularly well-suited for the job.
To adjust pregnant people, we here at Yoder Chiropractic Center use adjusting tables to accommodate our patients’ bellies. Keep in mind that no chiropractor should use techniques that put pressure on a pregnant person’s abdomen. A chiropractor can also show pregnant people how to stretch to relieve tension and ease any discomfort effectively.
Causes of Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy
There are many causes and risk factors of and for lower back pain during pregnancy, including:
- Structural adaptation during gestation
- Spinal dysfunction due to changing load distributions
- Traction, pressure, or stretching of the adnexa, parietal peritoneum, bladder, urethra, rectum, and pelvic structures.
- Increased stress on the sacroiliac joints
- Increased pressure on the intervertebral disks and facet joints
- Increase in hormones resulting in pelvic hypermobility and a decrease in spinal stabilization
- Physically strenuous work
- Previous low back pain
Four Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care
If you’re suffering from lower back pain during pregnancy, you should ask your doctor if chiropractic care is recommended to help alleviate some of that pain. Benefits of prenatal chiropractic care include:
1. An Aligned Pelvis
If the stress of pregnancy results in a pelvis out of alignment, the amount of space available to the developing baby may be restricted. In severe cases, external forces obstructing a growing baby’s regular movements (known as an intrauterine constraint) can lead to congenital disabilities. Misaligned pelvises also pose issues during labor and delivery, making it difficult for the baby to move into the best position: rear-facing, head down. An aligned pelvis makes it less likely for the baby to move into a breech or posterior position. Ensuring that the pregnant person has an aligned pelvis can go a long way toward making both labor and delivery easier on both parent and baby.
2. Reduced Time in Labor
A 2003 study reported that there might be a relationship between back pain throughout pregnancy and longer durations of both labor and delivery: people who seek chiropractic care throughout gestation have, on average, a 25% shorter labor time than those who do not seek chiropractic care during pregnancy.
3. A More Comfortable Pregnancy and Reduced Back Pain
Skip the pain and call Yoder Chiropractic Center for prenatal chiropractic care. We can answer all of your questions. Call today to get started!
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can lead to a more comfortable pregnancy. One study reports that up to 75% of pregnant patients “who received chiropractic care during their pregnancies stated that they found relief from pain.” An additional retrospective review of 400 pregnancies and deliveries supports the hypothesis that back pain, pregnancy, and labor are related to each other, indicating chiropractic care during pregnancy resulted in reduced back pain in 84% of cases.
4. Helps Nausea
Many pregnant people experience nausea and morning sickness during their pregnancies. In some cases, the misalignment of a spine may be part of why patients experience nausea and morning sickness. In others, the physical act of vomiting can cause back pain. In either case, chiropractic care may help alleviate some of the nausea and its related symptoms. When the spine is aligned, the nervous system is allowed to work correctly, resulting in less nausea for some folks.
How Can Yoder Chiropractic Center Help You?
If you are experiencing back, hip, or joint pain during pregnancy, and you’re considering chiropractic care, talk to your doctor. If your doctor recommends chiropractic care, your next step is to call Yoder Chiropractic Center in Vancouver, Washington. In most cases, chiropractic care is safe and effective for pregnant people. Don’t live in discomfort; call today to get started!
