Chiropractic & Decreased Labor Time
How Can Adjustments Help?
Many expectant mothers are already seeing the benefit of regular chiropractic care for reducing discomforts throughout their pregnancy. But can it actually help shorten your labor? There is evidence getting adjusted regularly while pregnant (including while in early labor) may help you deliver your baby more efficiently and in less time! “Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to significantly reduce the length of time a woman labors. First-time moms averaged a 24% shorter labor, while mothers who have already given birth, experienced a 39% reduction in the average labor length compared to controls” (Fallon, 1991).
The average labor time for a woman giving birth for the first time is 15–17 hours. There are many factors involved in this equation, some of which may slow labor down. Dystocia is a term used to describe a labor that is progressing too slowly or difficultly. Some of the causes of dystocia can be prevented or improved through natural means and will not require medical interventions. One such cause is the mother having a reduced pelvic outlet. This can be due to misaligned pelvic bones. It is possible to determine this and correct it ahead of time. Evaluation by a chiropractor can determine if your sacrum and pelvis are in alignment and whether proper biomechanics of the pelvis are taking place. When misalignments known as subluxations are found, the correction can be made with a chiropractic adjustment to bring balance to the pelvis and restore proper biomechanics. This can allow for a greater pelvic opening and an easier birth. Another cause of a reduced pelvic outlet is the positioning of the mother. Pressure on the sacrum from the mother lying on her back can reduce the opening of the pelvis by 30%. Simply shifting to a more upright position such as squatting or kneeling will open up the diameter of the pelvis by allowing the sacrum to move freely. This alone will help many laboring women progress more quickly.
The number one cause of labor stalling is due to improper fetal positioning. Optimally, the fetus will present in an anterior vertex position (head down with baby facing mother’s spine) This is the best possible position for the baby to be born in as it fits most easily through the mother’s pelvis this way. However, some babies are unable to get into this position because of a condition known as intrauterine constraint. Attached to the mother’s pelvic bones are ligaments which support the uterus. Again, it is the alignment of the pelvis that keeps these ligaments balanced. When the sacrum is not in its proper position, those ligaments will tense up on one side causing asymmetrical pulling on the uterus. This is a common cause of improper fetal positioning. When present, the baby will assume a less than optimal position for birth such as occiput posterior (baby is sunny side up) or breech (baby presents with feet or buttocks first).
When given throughout pregnancy, prior to the onset of labor, chiropractic adjustments aid in reducing and eliminating intrauterine constraint, thus allowing the baby to assume a more optimal position for birth. If improper fetal position is discovered after a woman is already in labor, having a midwife or doula that is able to suggest different positions for the mother can help get the baby in a more optimal position for birth, thus helping labor to progress faster and more efficiently.
In any situation, a mother will be more ready for natural childbirth by preparing ahead of time. By taking time to become educated about the birth process, and finding a midwife, doula, and chiropractor to work with, you can be more prepared for anything that might come your way on your baby’s birth day.