Prenatal Chiropractic Care
At Custom Chiropractor, we view pregnancy and your postpartum period as extremely important times in your life where you should feel your best and experience as little pain as possible. While pregnancy pain is common, we have found through targeted examination and specialized treatment that pain can be reduced during pregnancy as well as shorter, less painful labor times. Our equipment is designed to the needs of the pregnant mom and will accommodate for her growing belly.
Whether it is your first pregnancy or you are a veteran, being comfortable during your pregnancy and lessened pain and strain during labor is something all moms need!
While your body adjusts to carrying a new baby, your spine experiences extra strain at various regions that can be predictably identified and successfully treated by specialized prenatal chiropractors. These include the neck, upper back, wrists, ribcage, low back and pelvis. These areas are commonly affected due to large amounts of a circulating hormone, relaxin, that increases during pregnancy and creates extra laxity in your joints.
Our approach
We use a combination of specific chiropractic adjustments, hydraulic tables, myofascial release therapy, therapeutic pillows, stretches, and rehabilitative exercise advice to ensure you have the best pregnancy experience. We also work closely with all of our professionals in our clinics who specialize in prenatal fitness training and massage therapy should we see fit for you to have a multidisciplinary approach to your care. Relax and take a deep breath because you have found the right place to support and nurture your pregnancy and new baby.
How Can A Prenatal Chiropractic Specialist Help During My Pregnancy and Labor?
Do you suffer from back pain, headaches, nausea, sciatica or carpal tunnel syndrome? Are you nervous about your labor? Prenatal chiropractic care is effective in creating a more comfortable pregnancy and is proven to treat things such as back pain, headaches, nausea and carpal tunnel. Chiropractic care during pregnancy has also been shown to reduce overall labor times.
Is Chiropractic Care safe during pregnancy?
Yes, chiropractic adjustments are safe during pregnancy. Doctors of chiropractic make alterations in techniques and patient positioning to accommodate for the increase in belly and breast size. During pregnancy, spinal adjustments are more gentle and the chiropractor applies lower force and pressure.
4 Issues Chiropractic Care address during pregnancy
- HEADACHES: Due to the tilt in the neck as a result of posture and the misalignments common with forward shoulders and loose ligaments, nerve receptors in the neck can be irritated and map out a headache as a response.
- PELVIC ALIGNMENT: Proper pelvic alignment allows the baby enough room to grow properly at each stage. As you get closer to labor, a properly aligned pelvis allows the baby to move to the proper head down position, allowing easier labor and delivery. If a pregnant mom does not have proper alignment of the pelvic joints, tightening and spasm of the uterine ligaments and uterine muscle can occur which is termed in-utero constraint. This condition can block the baby’s ability to turn properly and is the main cause of breech presentations. Read more about the Webster Technique here.
- NAUSEA: When the upper neck misaligns, it can rotate and choke the nerve tissue, which can create nausea. While nausea is a normal part of pregnancy, a chiropractic examination can determine if in fact this symptom is actually a result of nerve interference in the neck.
- BACK PAIN: 76% of women experience back pain during some portion of their pregnancy. This is due to the shifts in posture and the hormonal changes which occur as the weight gain continues.
I’m so happy I found SCCC. I started going here when I was 10 weeks pregnant as I was dealing with migraines and other pregnancy related ills. Dr. Crystal saw me through most of my pregnancy and she’s amazing. She was so helpful and made me headaches go away. Dr. Sarah is great as well and saw me through the end of my pregnancy, up to the day before my due date, which I think helped with my labor and delivery of my daughter.
Sarah C.
Sciatica Pain Relief During Pregnancy
Most women suffer from sciatic nerve pain throughout their pregnancies. Sciatica refers to irritation, and subsequent pain, of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is normally triggered in the lower spine by a strained nerve. The pain starts in the lower back, shooting down the back of the leg. The baby’s weight and location during pregnancy can cause sciatic nerve irritation. Sciatica discomfort commonly occurs in the second or third trimester, for some expectant moms it is highly uncomfortable and sometimes even prohibits movement. Luckily, recovery options are available that do not require medication. For both mom and the new baby, chiropractic adjustments and treatments can help ease sciatica symptoms.
How does Prenatal Chiropractic Care help during labor?
Pregnant women who have routine adjustments go through an easier and less stressful labor. A study revealed that first time mothers who received chiropractic care had 24% shorter labor times versus women who did not. Without chiropractic care, the first time mom labored approximately 14 hours and with chiropractic care labor was averaged at 8-9 hours. Prenatal chiropractic patients who have had previous children enjoyed 39% shorter labor times.
For moms having their second baby, they labored approximately 9-10 hours and with chiropractic care during pregnancy, this was reduced to approximately 4-5 hours of labor. Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can also reduce the likelihood of experiencing back pain. This is usually caused by the position of the fetus with the baby’s back of their skull pressed against the sacrum instead of against the front of the pelvis.
If you would like to learn more about chiropractic and massage therapy treatments during your pregnancy or postpartum please contact us or book online with one of our practitioners.
