Chiropractic During Pregnancy

There are many times that I speak with a soon to be mom who has never been to a chiropractor and she seems a little frightened or scared at the prospect of getting adjusted while pregnant.... which in all honestly is COMPLETELY understandable!

Those of us who have been to a chiropractor before, during or after pregnancy may not understand... but think about it- you are embarking on a completely new experience and you have this precious little person growing inside of you, and you are COMPLETELY responsible for their well-being to insure that they are born as healthy as possible. On top of that, there are so many things that we hear about every day of possible pregnancy or birth complications- it can be scary! So the prospect of laying on your tummy (which you are told NOT to do while pregnant) and having someone push around on you after telling them that they are going to move bones... sounds  a little scary if you have never been educated on chiropractic or never been adjusted before.

So, the whole point of this scenario, and this blog today is to put some moms-to-be at ease! Because it IS understandable to be wary or scared. So let's cover a few chiropractic during pregnancy basics.

The first concern most women have is how they will lay to get adjusted. Yes, you lay on your stomach, but any chiropractor that you see during pregnancy should either have a table where a section will drop to accommodate your growing baby or special pregnancy pillows that create a suspended sling or hammock for your belly. I personally use the latter, as it is soft and very comfortable for mom. In fact, most pregnant women LOVE to lay on them, as they have the opportunity to actually be comfortable on their stomach for the first time in months!

The second concern that most women have is the adjustment itself. Regular chiropractic adjustments can be done in several ways, but the most common is a hands on adjustment where a quick force is applied. During pregnancy, this force is not needed due to the hormone relaxin. Relaxin does exactly what its name implies- it relaxes the muscles and ligaments allowing the pelvis to spread as it prepares for birth. So, thanks to this hormone, the force needed to adjust is very minimal. In the pelvic and sacral area I use a gentle and repetitive force. In the low back and mid-back area I use and instrument called an Activator, which delivers a quick low force impact to move the vertebra. Then in the upper back and neck areas I use regular adjustments.

Chiropractic during pregnancy is completely safe as well as comfortable. Most women, especially those who have never been adjusted before, complete their first adjustment and have instant relief and wish they had started adjustments sooner!

Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in a woman's body. So many in fact that a woman's entire center of gravity shifts. This shift can cause structural changes in the pelvis, sacrum, coccyx and pubic bones- not to mention the spine itself. All of this shifting is a strain to muscles and ligaments and can actually effect the uterus itself. For more information on the changes during pregnancy, please visit my website at http://www.mywholelifehealth.net/pregnancy-chiropractic/ .

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in every woman's life. And this exciting time should be pain free, relaxing and joyous- not filled with aches and pains! I have had several patients who have come to me and said that they have round ligament pain, and that they asked their OB or PCP about it and were told that there was nothing that could be done.... that is NOT true! There is something that can be done!! Chiropractic adjustment will allow you to have the pregnancy that you have always dreamed of...plus, it is NATURAL and DRUG-FREE so it is safe for you and baby.

I would recommend speaking to others who have had chiropractic care and get their take on it if you still have concerns, or you can always contact me with more questions at pregnancy@mywlh.net . Also, I always offer a free consultation at my office.

Bottom line is that CHIROPRACTIC=SAFE and on top of that CHIROPRACTIC=Happy Momma and Baby!