Pregnant women contend with a whole range of challenges and nasty experiences. They might experience back pain, hip pain, pelvic pain, and headaches. Back pain and general discomfort are pretty common. While not everyone wrestles with these aches and pains, 50 percent of pregnant women will experience back pain at some point before they deliver. But is there a way to relieve the pain? You can visit Forest Park Chiropractic & Acupuncture for professional advice on how to manage the pain.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?

 
Yes. The American Pregnancy Organization says chiropractic care is safe. At no point is chiropractic care during pregnancy contraindication. All doctors of chiropractic receive adequate training so they can advise and treat pregnant women safely and professionally. Investing in the fertility and pregnancy wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is routine care for most chiropractors. Not only can routine chiropractic care help manage pain in your back, hips, and joints, it can provide your baby with as much space as possible over the course of your pregnancy.

There are many hormonal and physical changes you’ll experience during your pregnancy. Your body ramps up production of certain ligament- and joint-loosening hormones that help pave the way for baby to make an exit. (Without them, your baby's head would never be able to fit through your pelvis)Some of these will have an impact on your posture and comfort. As your baby becomes heavier, your center of gravity shifts, and your posture adjusts accordingly. These physical changes during your pregnancy can lead to a misaligned spine or joints.

Other uncomfortable changes during pregnancy might include:

• a protruding abdomen resulting in an increased curve of your back
• changes to your pelvis as your body begins to prepare for labor
• adaptations to your posture

All of this can do quite a number on your spine. Enter, chiropractic care, or the process of adjusting or realigning your spinal cord (and the ligaments and muscles that surround it) to lessen the pain and promote health throughout the body.  Chiropractic care may be able to undo some of this damage and realign your lower body for an easier birth. These adjustments can also reduce the likelihood of miscarriage, control morning sickness and even lower your risk of pre-term delivery. The chiropractor's ability to realign and, in many cases, relax the ligaments and muscles in your pelvis has led to the Webster Technique, a method that helps breech babies to turn themselves, naturally.

One collaborative chiropractic and medical study revealed that 75 percent of pregnant chiropractic care patients reported pain relief. Plus, adjustments designed to re-establish balance and alignment to your pelvis and spine will do more than just make you feel better. Chiropractic care can be beneficial for your baby, too.

Is Chiropractic Care Beneficial for Your Baby-to-Be?

A pelvis that’s out of alignment can restrict the amount of space available to your developing baby. When an external force obstructs your growing baby’s normal movements, it’s known as intrauterine constraint. This can lead to birth defects.

Another complication that a misaligned pelvis may pose relates to delivery. When the pelvis is out of alignment, it can make it hard for your baby to move into the best position to be born, which is rear-facing, head down.

In some cases, this could affect a woman’s ability to have a natural and noninvasive birth. A balanced pelvis also means your baby has a lower chance of moving into a breech or posterior position. When your baby is in a nonoptimal birthing position, it can lead to a longer, more complicated delivery.

Other evidence points to improved outcomes in labor and delivery for women who’ve received chiropractic care during their pregnancy. In fact, it may help reduce the length of time you’re in labor.

In addition, regular chiropractic care while you’re pregnant can offer the following benefits:

• help you maintain a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy
• relieving pain in the back, neck, hips, and joints
• help to control symptoms of nausea

As more women are seeking the benefits of chiropractic care throughout pregnancy, more health care providers are seeking trained doctors of chiropractic in their communities to refer their pregnant patients to.

You certainly want to enjoy the full benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, so contact Forest Park Chiropractic & Acupuncture as early as possible. Dr. Moeller is always striving to make the pregnant mom’s world feel better and less stressful.