Prenatal Chiropractic Care
Regular chiropractic care is an integral part of prenatal and postpartum care. It helps keep you feeling good and assists you in coping with the physical stresses of your ever-changing body. All of the conditions can be easily eliminated or controlled by use of regular chiropractic care.
During pregnancy, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the enviroment for the developing baby. The following changes can result in a misaligned spine or joint:
- Protruding abdomen and increased spine curve
- Pelvic changes
- Postural adaptations, including ligament relaxation due to increased production of relaxin (a hormone produced during pregnancy which causes the body to increase its elasticity preparatory for birth)
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 backside 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.
Pregnancy is a natural condition, so there is no need to believe that backaches, headaches, leg pain/sciatica, swelling, or morning sickness are normal inconveniences that you must bear during this great time of beautiful change in your body. Chiropractic care — along with therapeutic massage, acupuncture, and personalized strength training — can help your body adjust to these and other changes your body goes through during pregnancy. 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. 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.