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Prenatal Pain: 7 Ways Chiropractic Care Can Help During Pregnancy
February 15, 2020
If you have ever been pregnant — or if you have ever lived with a pregnant woman — you know all too well that it can cause a whole host of aches, pains, complaints, and cravings. Particularly in the last trimester, a pregnant woman may find it difficult to move around or find a comfortable position, whether sitting or lying down. Her bones, joints, and muscles are taking a beating thanks to the increased pressure of the growing fetus.
There are many ways to combat this discomfort and pain. Having their partner provide a massage, or having a professional massage therapist tend to them, is very beneficial to pregnant women. So is floating in the water; the weightlessness eases the pressure on her body and allows her to relax. There's also chiropractic care during pregnancy. You might be surprised to hear of the benefits that a chiropractic adjustment can provide during this exciting time. Let's take a closer look!
Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?
Yes! According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are no contraindications for chiropractic treatment during any of a woman's trimesters. In fact, it's often recommended as an alternative to pain-relief medications that could potentially harm the unborn baby.
It's a good idea to seek out a chiropractor who specializes in pre- and post-natal care. They will have special equipment designed for the treatment of pregnant women. Of course, they'll have plenty of valuable experience, as well. A good chiropractor also understands that this type of care is a partnership. Therefore, they'll recommend exercises and stretches for the pregnant patient to do at home, between adjustments.
1. Relief from Back Pain
Those who have experienced pregnancy first- or second-hand know how badly a woman's back can ache during this time. In fact, back pain is so commonplace that all forms of media routinely portray moms-to-be as holding their lower back as they walk -- or waddle, as the case may be.
Back pain in pregnant women is due to increased pressure on the lumbar spine. This is exactly the type of issue that chiropractic can successfully treat. By helping the body achieve proper spinal and skeletal alignment, chiropractic can be a godsend when it comes to relieving pregnancy pain.
2. Easing Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatica is a specific type of back pain, caused by irritation of the nerves in the lower back. This can cause a sharp pain, a constant ache, or some combination of the two. Since the affected nerves run all the way down to the feet, the pain often extended into the leg. Chiropractic treatment
for sciatica is similar to that for general back pain, but may also address the bones of the leg in addition to the spinal subluxation.
3. Strengthening the Immune System
People who aren't familiar with chiropractic care are often surprised to hear that it has such wide-ranging benefits to the entire body, not just the spine and bones. Misalignments in the skeletal system contribute directly to issues in the nervous system. This, in turn, prevents the nerves and the body to communicate with one another.
By addressing the misaligned spine and joints, chiropractic care can give patients a boost in their immune system. It's all part of the holistic healing from the inside out that can happen with this treatment.
4. Nausea Is Kept in Check
Similarly, having regular chiropractic adjustments can help reduce nausea and so-called "morning sickness" (which pregnant women are well aware can occur at any time of the day). A healthy, strong nervous system is one that will be less susceptible to nausea and vomiting.
5. Reposition a Breech Baby
The optimal position for a baby in the womb is head-down. This makes for a much easier birth for everyone involved. However, some babies don't get into the position, while others may be head-down as birth nears but then move so that they are bottom-down. This is called a breech presentation.
How can chiropractic care help with breech babies? It's all about the pelvis. Over the course of the pregnancy, the bones in that part of the body move and shift in response to the growing fetus. The result can be a narrow or constricting pelvic region that isn't spacious enough for the baby to turn itself. A chiropractic adjustment will gently re-align the bones that have shifted out of place. This creates more space in the pelvis that allows the baby to move into a head-down position before birth.
6. Help with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
"Symphysis pubis dysfunction" refers to a group of symptoms in the pelvis that occur as a result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. A hormone called "relaxin" causes the ligaments attached to the pelvic joint to, well, relax. The joints are therefore looser and more mobile. This a boon during childbirth, but painful beforehand.
Chiropractic adjustments can help by temporarily realigning the pelvic joints. The ligaments will remain more malleable than normal. It won't affect your ability to give birth, but it will ease your pain in the meantime.
7. Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Is Relaxing!
Last but certainly not least, many women find chiropractic care very relaxing. Carrying around a growing fetus inside your body is hard work! Although some of the discomforts of pregnancy are simply unavoidable, others can be alleviated by bodywork.
Some pregnant women like to schedule a massage either directly before or after their chiropractic treatment for a double dose of pampering and relief!
Interested in Trying Chiropractic Care for Yourself?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can be a real lifesaver. But of course, the benefits of chiropractic adjustments are not limited to women who are with child. Almost everyone can benefit from the gentle manipulation that chiropractors employ, including babies. Whether you have back pain, a stiff or sore neck, a pinched nerve in your shoulders, a chronic condition such as arthritis, or issues with your immune system, give chiropractic a try.
Have any questions? Want to schedule an appointment? We'd love to hear from you, so get in touch today!
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