It’s said to be one of the most joyful experiences in a woman’s life! It’s a time where a miracle is literally happening within. You guessed it, we’re talking about pregnancy.
We know that along with all the wonderful things happening, there also comes a lot of questions and preparations. Having a baby requires you to make a lot of decisions; everything from choosing a provider and where to give birth, to picking names and nursery decor.
We understand that so much of this can feel stressful and overwhelming, especially at a time when your body is already going through a ton of change as you grow a tiny human inside. That’s where Chiropractic comes in!
Many women have felt this way and chose to add a chiropractor to their birth team. A prenatal trained Chiropractor can help to navigate the physical changes happening to their body, as well as manage and adapt to the emotional ones.
There are a variety of reasons that make a prenatal Chiropractor a great addition to a birth team, but there are three benefits that keep the expecting mamas coming through our doors:
1. Reduced pregnancy symptoms
Throughout pregnancy, women will often experience a wide range of pregnancy related symptoms. Morning sickness, nausea, heartburn, constipation and lack of sleep are all some of the not so enjoyable side effects of pregnancy we hear about often. Every pregnancy is different, as is the symptoms that accompany it, but we know it can make for a long nine months. Research supports that women under regular chiropractic care while pregnant report less symptoms in many cases. This can largely be related to properly functioning nervous systems and increased adaptability to stress. 1,2
2. Preparing your body while continuing to be comfortable
As the baby grows, our bodies have to grow, change and adapt quickly as well. Hormonal changes that allow our tissues to relax in order to accommodate for a growing baby can also create shifts in our alignment and center of gravity, which can lead to discomfort and oftentimes pain.
Regular chiropractic adjustments can help balance the pelvis, improving alignment in order to accommodate for these changes that our bodies must go through. In our office, all three of our doctors are trained and certified in the Webster technique, which is a pregnancy specific technique focusing on balancing the pelvis and the surrounding ligaments and muscles.
Having a balanced pelvis not only helps decrease discomfort in the hips and lower back 3, but also allows the pelvis to be in the best position or alignment for giving birth. Pelvic misalignments (or subluxations as you’ll hear us call them) can alter the birth canal and decrease pelvic outlet size (which can have a huge impact on the birthing process!).
3. Less usage of pain medication along with decreased labor and delivery time
As more women look to have more natural births, establishing yourself with a prenatal trained chiropractor can be a game changer.
A hospital study done showed that women who were adjusted during pregnancy showed a 50% decreased need for pain medications during delivery (50%!!). Proper alignment and positioning of the pelvis will hopefully allow for an easier labor and delivery.4
And what if we said that chiropractic care can contribute to less labor and delivery time, who wouldn’t want to sign up for that?!
Another study showed that first time moms under chiropractic care experienced a 24% decrease in labor time, while experienced moms showed a 39% reduction in labor and delivery time.5
All of this comes back to adequately preparing your body and mind during this amazing time! A properly aligned pelvis and a nervous system functioning at its maximum potential, can be a huge asset during your pregnancy and delivery.
There are so many benefits to chiropractic care during your pregnancy, and the few listed above are just the start. What better time than now than to take the best care of yourself and your new bundle of joy! Our goal is to help you feel your best and express your best health while your body is creating a miracle.
When in her last trimester, searching for some support, check out what one of our pregnant moms had to say about her experience:
River Shores Chiropractic was recommended to me by many other moms in a “mom group” that I am a part of. I was in my last trimester of pregnancy with my daughter and I was in extreme discomfort. I was four weeks away from my due date and I was desperate for some relief. I wasn’t sleeping and was having a hard time getting comfortable. After hearing all of the other moms in the group rave about River Shores Chiropractic, I decided I needed to give it a try. I remember, immediately after my first adjustment feeling instant relief. I went home and slept amazing that night and I told my husband that I wish I would have discovered River Shores sooner.
For the remainder of my pregnancy with my daughter, I was feeling great with the help of chiropractic care. When I was in the beginning stages of labor, the doctors were an amazing support system and resource for me! Now my kiddos and I all come to River Shores Chiropractic. The benefits of chiropractic care have been amazing. It has helped me cope with the stress of being a mom, build my family’s immune systems and improve our overall health in general. We are incredibly grateful that we discovered River Shores Chiropractic.
We can’t wait to be a part of your prenatal team at River Shores Chiropractic!
Sources:
- Fallon J DC. Chiropractic and Pregnancy, a partnership of the future. ICA Review Nov/Dec 1990.
- Fallon J DC. Chiropractic and Pregnancy. New York: New Rochelle; 1998.
- Henderson I MD. American Medical Association records released in 1987 during trial in U.S. District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777. May, 1987.
- Frietag P. Expert testimony of P Frietag MD PhD., comparing the results of two neighboring hospitals, US District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777. May 1987
- Fallon J DC. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and Labour: A Comprehensive Study. Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic, 1991: 24-31
