Dear expectant and new mothers,
There’s more than one approach to taking care of yourself and your baby. We’d love to tell you a little bit more about our approach, so you can decide if you’d like to give it a try. Many pregnant women are taking advantage of chiropractic care to help them have healthy and comfortable pregnancies; others are a little nervous to try it. It is perfectly understandable to feel cautious, particularly if chiropractic is new to you. There’s only so much information we can fit into this article, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions.
Chiropractic treatment is an excellent addition to your regular prenatal care (with a qualified midwife or obstetrician). Chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant or who have a new addition to their families. We have had great success in treating women during these stages of their lives.
If you are pregnant, you are almost certainly aware that there are many rapidly evolving structural and physiological changes occurring in your body to help the baby develop. For example, the increased weight in your abdomen can cause an exaggerated curve in the low back, and your gait may change as a result. Hormonal changes make ligaments more lax and less able to support the joints. Many women experience joint pain or discomfort during pregnancy as a result. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help you to feel more comfortable and functional throughout each trimester. There is also some indication that proper alignment may help to control nausea.
The benefits of prenatal chiropractic care are for your baby too. Chiropractic helps a mother’s nervous system function optimally; this will help provide better circulation and nutrition to the baby. When a mother’s pelvis is properly aligned, the baby will have the most available space to grow, and is the least likely to experience intrauterine constraint. The baby is also more likely to be able to maneuver into an ideal position for delivery, potentially reducing complications and interventions for both mother and child.
It should ease your mind to know that there are no known contraindications to chiropractic care during pregnancy. Your treatment will always be modified to suit your needs and stage, and there are many “light force” techniques available. Our office has special tables that can be adjusted to accommodate a large belly, and we have special pillows designed to keep you comfortable. Many women are ecstatic to be able to lie safely and comfortably, facedown, for the first time in weeks or months!
Postpartum is an excellent time for chiropractic care as well. Labor and delivery can be strenuous on the body. As your ligaments strengthen after childbirth, it is extremely important that the spine and pelvis are balanced for optimal recovery. You may also experience back pain from holding and nursing your baby. Holding an infant for hours is physically demanding and puts additional stress on your body. Chiropractic can help alleviate some of the aches and pains you experience. We can also recommend techniques to improve your mechanics when holding and nursing.
As you can see, chiropractic offers many benefits both during and after pregnancy. If you would like to learn more about how chiropractic can help you, feel free to contact us!
Sincerely,
Dr. Yori and Dr. Kara
