Pregnancy Chiropractic – Dynamic Spine Center

Chiropactic and Pregnancy

At first glance, most people don’t see the connection between chiropractic and pregnancy. However, there are four stages in which having an optimally working nervous system can help both mother and child.

Pre-Conception

Chiropractic care prior to conception promotes a more regular menstrual cycle, and optimal uterine function. It prepares the body to be as strong, supple and balanced as possible to carry the pregnancy.

Pregnancy

Regular chiropractic care helps maintain uterine ligament flexibility and balance.

When the growing baby is comfortable it can assume the optimal birthing position.

Labor and Birth

Mothers who get adjusted during the birth process seem to require less intervention.

When the mother remains supple, the baby can move more easily through the birth canal.

After Birth

Even natural births can stress a baby’s spine. Breastfeeding problems can arise if the baby has a subluxation and is unable to comfortably turn its head to one side.

Relax. We use special approaches to make our adjustments safe and comfortable for you and your child. Having a more normally working nervous system, especially when you’re pregnant, creates the optimal environment for your baby to realize his or her fullest potential.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will adjustments hurt my baby? Of course not. This is a common concern among parents who mistakenly think their child will receive adjustments like the ones they receive. Not only are adjusting techniques modified for each person’s size and unique spinal problem, an infant’s spine rarely has the long-standing muscle tightness seen in adults. This makes the energy needed to adjust a child’s spine considerably less than an adult’s does.

Will adjustments make my spine too loose? No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” (subluxated) receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.

Pregnancy is natural. Why would I need chiropractic? Being born is a natural phenomenon. It’s what we’ve done to the birth process that has become increasingly suspect. In hospitals, birth is often treated like a disease. A newborn’s introduction to the world is often accompanied by a severe drop in temperature, loud noises and other insensitivities. The administration of drugs and anesthesia can have a profound effect on a newborn.

Will my medical doctor approve? First, you don’t need anyone’s approval to seek a chiropractic opinion about health issues affecting your child! The judgment of another health care expert is always helpful in the decision-making process. Medical practitioners keeping up with the latest pediatric chiropractic research are starting to understand the value of this natural, drug-free approach to better health.

What does my spine have to do with my baby? Pregnancy may be one of the best times to receive chiropractic care! While it’s always good to have an optimally functioning nervous system, it’s especially helpful now. Both mother and baby can benefit. Adjusting methods are adapted to a mother’s size, weight and condition. During this period of weight gain and hormonal changes, many mothers seek chiropractic care. Some report shorter and easier births.

Chiropractic care can help the spine and pelvis cope with the effects of pregnancy by restoring a state of balance.

During pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis. This additional weight in front, causes stress to the joints of the pelvis and low back. As the baby grows in size, the added weight causes the curvature of her lower back to increase, placing extra stress on the fragile facet joints on the back side of the spine. Any pre-existing problems in a woman’s spine tend to be exacerbated as the spine and pelvis become overtaxed, often leading to pain and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during the third trimester when the baby’s body gains the most weight. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment for an easier, safer delivery. It is one safe and effective way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid increase in physical stress by restoring a state of balance. In fact, most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time in labor. Your chiropractor should be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. They can provide adjustments, as well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice to help address your special needs.

Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:

Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth. Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women. Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements. Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness. Wear flat shoes with arch supports. Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments that support the feet become more lax. When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury during pregnancy. When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length “body pillows” or “pregnancy wedges” are very popular and can be helpful. Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours, rather than three large meals per day. This will help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods that you eat. Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better. Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it’s safe for you and the baby. Consider the following aspects of pregnancy that lead to subluxation;

Rapid increase/decrease in weight
Postural changes
Changes in sleep patterns & positions
Altered appetite and eating habits
Loosening of body ligaments to allow for growth/labor
Flat feet/pronation due to weight gain/loose ligaments
Emotional changes (hormonal shifts/new family stress)

***** (Many of these affect Dad-to-be too!!!!) – All of the above and more can cause subluxation, and this doesn’t even include any of the numerous changes Mom & Dad will both experience after the arrival of the “Little Miracle.” – Remember, the subluxations you have during pregnancy don’t just affect you! They affect your unborn baby too!! Your baby needs your nerve system to be fully functioning in order to develop correctly. – Studies have shown that women who have consistent chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies have shorter and less painful labors with fewer complications and fewer interventions. -Of course, techniques are very different for pregnant women, and we are specially trained in this office to insure you the safest and best possible care throughout your pregnancy. Minimizing your subluxations before, during and after your pregnancy will allow you, your husband and your new babies every possible advantage!