Expectant mothers go through many physical changes during pregnancy. You might be focusing on the growth of your belly, but you should also know how the process may impact your spine and increase the risk of pain. Although these changes can’t be prevented, visiting a maternity chiropractor can protect your body and baby while reducing symptoms. If you’re currently or plan on expecting, here are a few important details to know about pregnancy and spinal health.

How Does Pregnancy Affect the Spine?

Weight Changes

You’ll gain several pounds during pregnancy. Most of the additional weight will be in the stomach region. This extra weight can affect posture and strain the spine, which in turn, can lead to painful joint inflammation. In some cases, adjusting your posture may also trigger sciatica—a back pain symptom that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed in muscles or joints.  

Abdominal Muscle Separation

As the uterus grows throughout your second and third trimester, extra stress will be placed on the abdominal muscles. Depending on the extent of growth, the center of this muscle group can separate. When these muscles are temporarily weakened, they may not be able to provide core strength. Lack of core strength can place more tension on the spinal region.

Hormone Production

During pregnancy, your body will produce more relaxin and progesterone—hormones that help loosen pelvic joints to allow for childbirth. But while these hormones ease the birthing process, they can also relax spinal joints to a point where you will experience back pain.

How Can a Maternity Chiropractor Help Relieve Pain During Pregnancy?

If you’re suffering from back pain during pregnancy, visit a maternity chiropractor. With a deep understanding of how the body changes during pregnancy, these specialists will evaluate your pain and pinpoint the exact cause of the symptoms—such as joint inflammation or pinched nerves.

In many cases, these issues can be alleviated through a chiropractic adjustment. During this treatment, the prenatal chiropractor will gently apply force to affected areas to realign joints, release nerves, and ease muscle tension. Adjustments can also be provided to help simplify childbirth.

Your provider can also teach you safe stretching exercises that you can do at home to improve flexibility and keep pain at bay.  

Don’t let your pregnancy be burdened by back pain. Instead, look to Pure Balance in New York, NY, for non-invasive and non-medicated relief. Over the past two decades, this maternity chiropractor has customized care to address the needs of many different patients—including those that are expecting. Well-versed in this area of chiropractic care, this provider also offers postpartum chiropractic care to help your body get back to its pre-pregnancy condition. To learn more about these capabilities, visit this clinic online. For more information, call the Pure Balance centers at (212)661-5656 in the Murray Hill neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan or (973)773-8244 in Clifton, New Jersey.