Many women have questions about the safety of chiropractic during pregnancy. If your obstetrician approves it, it is safe to receive chiropractic adjustments while pregnant. Regular Chiropractor Frisco TX care during pregnancy helps to ensure healthy pelvic balance, optimizing the space for the baby. It also relieves back pain and improves posture and nerve communication to reduce the need for pain-relieving medication.
Breech Positioning
Breech positioning, when a baby presents buttocks or feet first rather than head first (called cephalic presentation), affects about 4 percent of full-term pregnancies. Most of these babies turn from breech to head down on the weeks before delivery, but some don’t. If a breech pregnancy is discovered during an exam in late pregnancy, your healthcare provider may try to manually reposition the fetus with a procedure called external cephalic version. This involves an ob/gyn placing his or her hands on your abdomen and manually manipulating the fetus to flip into a head-down position. This is usually done in the hospital around 37 weeks.
Fortunately, some women who are diagnosed with breech positioning during late pregnancy have found that chiropractic treatment can help the fetus to flip. A chiropractor with specialized training in the Webster technique can perform an adjustment on your pelvis and sacrum that frees up space for the baby, making it more likely to flip into a head-down position.
Your practitioner may also recommend other pregnancy wellness techniques, such as acupuncture and moxibustion, to encourage the fetal position. Moxibustion is the burning of an herb called mugwort at an acupuncture point, and one study showed that 75 percent of women whose babies were breech when treated with moxibustion experienced a successful reversal to head-down by 35 weeks.
While some obstetricians recommend attempting to reposition the fetus using external cephalic version only when it’s 37 weeks or less, other health care providers, including midwives, have reported high success rates for turning a breech baby with chiropractic methods that are safe for you and your baby. A 2002 study on the Webster method showed a success rate of 82 percent for resolving breech in month 8.
Your ob/gyn or midwife may know of practitioners who are certified in the Webster technique or be able to refer you to a practitioner in your area. You can also use the ICPA’s find a chiropractor tool to locate Webster certified practitioners in your area. Some practitioners are specially trained to treat pregnant women and may have a special pillow for pregnant patients, which allows them to lie down with their stomachs supported and their legs out in front of them.
Pain Relief
Seeing a chiropractor when pregnant can reduce the need for pain medications. Back pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy. This is because the body produces a hormone that loosens the ligaments in preparation for delivery. This can result in instability and discomfort. A chiropractor who is experienced in prenatal care will use gentle stretches and exercises to stabilize the pelvic area and ease pain.
Chiropractors will also perform Webster adjustments, which is a specific type of chiropractic analysis and adjustment that aims to correct sacral misalignment and create more room for the baby in the pelvis. This can help prevent breech presentation and ensure that the baby is head down for delivery. In fact, research shows that women who receive regular chiropractic treatments during their pregnancy have shorter labors and less need for medical intervention during childbirth.
The balancing effect of prenatal chiropractic can help to ease nausea and vomiting for some expectant mothers. This is because the adjustments will improve nervous system function for hormonal balance, which can also alleviate digestive issues that cause morning sickness.
Some women who are considering a natural birth find that their labor is longer and more difficult when they don’t receive chiropractic treatment during pregnancy. The hope for most expecting mothers is to have a short labor and smooth delivery. With chiropractic treatment, this is more likely to happen.
Even if you’ve had a good pregnancy and didn’t see a chiropractor for the majority of it, it’s never too late to get checked out by a professional. Many people don’t realize that they have spinal misalignments or nerve issues that can affect their pregnancy and delivery. It’s important to seek help in preventing problems from arising during the most significant event of your life. This will allow you to recover quicker and be ready for the challenges that await you after your baby is born. The postpartum recovery process can be challenging, and chiropractic will help you restore your normal functions and alignment after childbirth. This will make breastfeeding and caring for your newborn much easier.
Preventing Complications
The changing demands of pregnancy can throw a woman’s body out of alignment. The additional weight of the baby and altered posture can lead to back pain, hip strain, and other problems. Fortunately, chiropractic can help reduce these problems. Regular spinal adjustments can ensure that the vertebrae and joints are aligned, reducing spinal nerve stress and improving the function of the entire body.
Women who seek regular chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies often have shorter labors and healthier babies than those who don’t visit a chiropractor. The reason is that a chiropractor can balance the pelvis, giving babies a better chance of moving into an optimal birthing position. This can eliminate the crisis of a breech or posterior delivery and may even reduce the need for a cesarean delivery.
When a pregnant woman has a regular appointment, she can also be sure that her chiropractor is comfortable working with pregnant patients and knows how to adjust her in the proper way. This can make all the difference in a successful vaginal delivery, especially for women with special circumstances such as malpositioned babies or who have had previous cesarean sections.
In addition to the physical stresses of pregnancy, a woman is often emotionally and psychologically stressed during her journey to childbirth. Acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic can reduce the emotional and psychological stress by easing back pain and promoting relaxation.
Chiropractic is a drug-free, holistic approach to health that does not cause harm to the fetus or mother. It has been shown to be effective in relieving many of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, including back and hip pain. It is important to see a chiropractor who is familiar with pregnancy and has been certified in the Webster Technique, which is a specific method of adjusting the pelvis that promotes a healthy pregnancy and birth.
The best time to see a chiropractor during pregnancy is in the first trimester, but as the end of the pregnancy nears, the frequency of visits may increase. Your chiropractor will monitor your progress and recommend treatment as needed.
Postpartum Care
Chiropractic is a form of whole-body care that focuses on the maintenance and adjustment of joints in the spine. It’s been proven to reduce stress on the spinal nerve (which increases during pregnancy), allowing the body to maintain greater overall health. While many doctors may be concerned about the potential risks of a chiropractor working on a pregnant woman, the fact is that this type of treatment has been proven safe for all women.
However, it’s essential to find a practitioner who is trained in prenatal care to ensure proper technique and safety. Pregnancy hormones can wreak havoc on the spine and pelvis, loosening ligaments and shifting posture to create room for the growing baby. A properly aligned spine will allow for less stress on the mother and a more comfortable pregnancy.
Seeing a chiropractor regularly can also help alleviate back pain and increase the chance of an easier labor. This is because the proper pelvic alignment allows for a baby to move into the right position for delivery. This reduces labor time, reduces the need for medical intervention like a cesarean, and can prevent complications such as breech or posterior delivery.
Back pain is one of the most common physical issues that pregnant women experience. Hormones loosen the muscles and joints in preparation for delivery, but this can often lead to back pain. Regular treatments can reduce back pain, alleviate other issues such as edema (water retention), and promote a healthier pregnancy.
Women who seek regular chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy can have a 25 percent shorter labor on average than those who don’t visit a chiropractor. The reason is that proper pelvic alignment and a healthy nervous system allow the body to function at its best.
Everyone has heard horror stories about 18-hour labors and marathon deliveries, but with routine chiropractic care, the chances of a short labor and a smooth delivery are greatly increased. As a result, women who choose to see a chiropractor during their pregnancy will likely have an easier pregnancy and delivery. This will ultimately help to reduce the need for pain medication and lower the risk of postpartum depression.
