Prenatal Chiropractic

Prenatal chiropractic is a safe, comfortable option for women who are struggling with pain or who just want a healthier, happier pregnancy. 

A majority of patients report having low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, which results in sleep disturbances and impaired daily living. Many women assume that because they are pregnant and can’t take medication, they must just endure this pain untreated. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

Chiropractic during pregnancy can help alleviate many ailments that otherwise would go untreated during this sensitive time. These include:

• Aiding in reducing low back pain
• Aiding in reducing pelvic pain
• Aiding in reducing upper back and neck pain
• Helping to reduce morning sickness, heart burn and swollen feet/ankles
• Reducing labour time and reducing the need for pain medication
• Allowing for easier delivery
• Reducing intrauterine constraint for optimal baby positioning

 

A woman’s body undergoes many physical changes during the nine months of pregnancy and these can lead to subtle, yet dramatic, changes in the musculoskeletal system. Due to the shift in the woman’s centre of gravity, often low back and pelvic pain can occur. These stresses and strains can be relieved with chiropractic care. Also, many pregnant patients also report faster and more comfortable deliveries after chiropractic care.

Prenatal chiropractic uses safe, gentle techniques that can help make a pregnancy more comfortable. There is special equipment, including a modified table, that accommodates the growing tummy. The treatment is specialized specifically for the woman so that she feels comfortable and supported. 

(To the left is a photo of the table in my clinic, with the drop away piece shown. This special table allows the belly to fit in the space, so that the patient can lay on her stomach comfortably right through to the end of pregnancy.)

 In a recent review of published research evaluating chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, for pregnancy-related low back pain, researchers found that all studies reported positive results for chiropractic care of low back pain during pregnancy. While more elaborate studies are needed, those currently conducted have shown chiropractic care to be beneficial and safe for pregnancy-related low back pain.

In the Diakow et al. study in JMPT, 84% of patients receiving spinal manipulative therapy reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy. Getting treated during pregnancy will help restore normal biomechanical function to the pelvis throughout pregnancy and facilitate a safer, easier birth in the future.

Proper maternal nutrition, exercise and regular chiropractic care help create the best opportunity for healthy prenatal growth. Chiropractic helps women get well and stay well: before, during, and after their pregnancies.