As I write this today, both of our employees are awaiting the arrival of new additions to their families. It is great to listen to their growing excitement, but even more thrilling is being able to be part of their health care as they progress toward delivery.We believe that everyone deserves to be healthy from their first breath to their last. That said, chiropractic during pregnancy helps to create an optimal environment for a growing, developing baby. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy is very safe and truly essential. The potential benefits of chiropractic care include the following:
- Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
- Controlling symptoms of nausea and indigestion
- Reducing the time of labor and delivery
- Relieving back, neck or joint pain and sciatica symptoms
- Preventing a potential cesarean section
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends women receive chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to establish pelvic balance and optimize the room a baby has for development and growth. With a balanced pelvis, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth; and the crisis and worry associated with breech and posterior births may be avoided altogether. Optimal baby positioning at the time of birth also eliminates the potential for a difficult labor; and, therefore, results in easier and safer deliveries for both the mother and baby.A healthier pregnancy means an easier labor and delivery, which can make for an easier transition for the baby. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to result in easier, more comfortable pregnancies and significantly decrease labor times.Biomechanical changes are obvious as a pregnancy progresses. An expectant mom with abnormal spinal motion may experience changes in the shape of her uterus. This means there may be less room available for the developing baby. A woman’s center of gravity changes and the baby places increased pressure on the spine and pelvis, resulting in pain or discomfort. Many women report relief of back pain during pregnancy when under chiropractic care.A misaligned pelvis may also make delivery more difficult because the baby may have trouble moving into the best position. This can affect the mother’s ability to have a natural, non-invasive birth. Breech and posterior positions can interfere with the natural ease of labor and lead to interventions such as c-sections. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively.There is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment called the Webster Technique, which enables chiropractors trained in it to establish balance to a pregnant woman’s pelvis; thereby, reducing undue stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. This balanced state of the pelvis has been clinically shown to allow for optimal fetal positioning. Most birth practitioners are not concerned with breech presentations until the 37th week. However, if chiropractic care can in any way help to reduce pelvic stress, then it may be possible to make changes in the presentation before the last few weeks of pregnancy or prevent the presentation from being a concern at all.Also affected during pregnancy are hormonal changes and chemical reactions that occur every second of every day and are controlled and coordinated by the nervous system. The nervous system controls how everything in your body functions, including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps remove interference to the nervous system to allow the entire body to work as effectively and efficiently as possible. Chiropractic care keeps your spine and nervous system aligned, balanced, healthy and free from interference. This ensures that the vital messages between the brain and the body are optimized.Everyone experiences a pregnancy differently, and each pregnancy you experience can be different than the others. Chiropractic can help every step of the way so that your pregnancy is an amazing experience.If you are not familiar with chiropractic care and pregnancy, seek out information for you or your loved one. The ICPA is a great source of information (http://icpa4kids.org) or call our office at 719-494-1395.
Francine J. Palmer, DChttp://palmer-chiropractic.comDr. Palmer is certified in the Webster Technique and sees expectant moms and their babies and children on a regular basis.
