Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
I came across this blog post by Dr. Risa M. Sloves DC. Enjoy!
Dr. Zach
Top Five Reasons Pregnant Moms Need Chiropractic Care
1. Low Back Pain and Sciatica
If you are pregnant and suffering from lower back pain you are not alone! Roughly one half of all mothers-to-be suffer from low back pain and doctors now agree that pregnancy related low back pain is associated with a condition called sacroiliac joint dysfunction (often referred to by chiropractors as SI subluxation). A subluxation is a misalignment of a joint and it creates irritation to the nerves and tissues in the surrounding area. Many hormones increase rapidly during pregnancy and some of these hormones relax the muscles, ligaments, and joints in the body. This allows the pelvis to open during delivery so that the baby’s head and shoulders can pass through the birth canal. Yet, it is this relaxation combined with weight gain, postural changes and stretching of the stomach muscles that also disturbs the proper alignment of the spine and pelvis producing subluxations during pregnancy. It is these factors that increase the stress on the joints, nerves, and discs of the low back and pelvis and create pain.
Sciatica, a common symptom that occurs during pregnancy, causes pain, tingling or numbness from the low back to the back of the leg and foot. Sciatica often occurs because of subluxations in the low back or pelvis along with muscle spasms in this area. Most cases of sciatica will quickly disappear with chiropractic care.
2. Headaches
Due to the changes in a pregnant woman’s posture, extra stress often occurs in the neck and the midback. Subluxations of the neck are often the cause of neck pain and headaches during pregnancy, and again chiropractic care will help.
3.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes painful tingling, burning and numbness into the wrist and hand and it occurs in approximately 20% of all pregnancies. Subluxation of the wrist bones often occurs during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and swelling of the wrist and hands,and guess what, chiropractic adjustments can help.
4. Mid-back and Rib Pain
Pain in the midback that radiates into the ribcage is often due to subluxations that cause the nerves between the ribs to get irritated. Chiropractic adjustments remove the subluxations to decrease the pain.
5. A Breech Baby
The “Webster Breech Turning Technique” is a non-invasive and gentle chiropractic technique that is highly successful in helping mothers with breech babies. The technique has been featured on the The Learning Channel’s “A Baby Story”, Mothering Magazine, and Midwifery Today. The way it works is the following: The uterus is attached to the bones of the pelvis by ligaments. As long as the bones are in the right position and are moving properly, the ligaments should provide equal and balanced support for the uterus. If the pelvis is misaligned or subluxated, the ligaments become torqued and can cause a condition known as “in-utero constraint”. If the uterus is constrained as birth approaches, the baby is prevented from getting into the best possible position for birth and may end up breech. Chiropractors correct the subluxations of the pelvis and decrease spasms in specific stomach muscles to help the baby turn.
By this time you are probably wondering “ How do Chiropractors correct these subluxations ?” Chiropractors correct subluxations by performing chiropractic adjustments. The adjustment is a gentle procedure where the Chiropractor applies light pressure to the joints of the spine to restore normal motion and alignment, decrease stress on the nervous system, and decrease pain and muscle spasm. Chiropractors who specialize in maternity care will often have special adjusting tables for the pregnant mother so that she can lie on her stomach without any pressure (they love these tables!) so that her spine can be examined.
So, while a pregnant woman adjusts to her new body during her pregnancy, it is important for her to learn and understand the benefits that chiropractic adjustments may offer in terms of improving her overall health as an expectant mother. First of all, Chiropractors are the only doctors who are licensed to diagnose and correct subluxations. Second, chiropractic offers a drug-free approach to pain reduction. Obviously, it is not ideal for pregnant women to take unnecessary medication. Chiropractic provides relief without the worry that comes from taking medication.
And finally, scientific studies prove chiropractic works! Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy restores balance to the pelvis and the muscles and ligaments that attach to it and therefore leads to better deliveries for you and your baby. Studies show that expectant mothers who receive chiropractic care are less likely to suffer from the dreaded “backlabor” and they have reduced labor time.
Remember, pregnancy should be a time full of health and happiness! Don’t waste another minute suffering from pain or discomfort during your pregnancy. Work with your local chiropractor so that you can experience the quality of life you and your unborn child deserve!
