Prenatal Chiropractic Care
Less Labor, Less Pain – Naturally!
Making the decision to have your child in a natural environment is a special one. The mother-to-be has many questions about the process and other logistics. Will I be able to have the birth I want? Can my family be present? What will the pain be like? Will the labor be easy? How long will it last? Advice comes from all directions, warranted and unwarranted! While some of your questions are best answered by your nurses, midwives, doulas, and obstetricians, I can inform you about the choices you can make that have been proven to decrease your labor time as well as you labor pains (i.e. back pain).
Let’s face it; once you are pregnant, you are all of a sudden very cautious about what you consume and what your environment is like. Your views of alcohol, tobacco, medication, nutrition, and exercise all change. During your pregnancy, weight gain, hormonal changes, and muscular imbalance will occur, which can lead to spinal misalignments called subluxations. These misalignments can lead to pain. And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t just have to “live with it.” But what can you do if medication isn’t an option for you? Neck and back pain does not need to be a concern for the expectant mother if chiropractic care is a part of her prenatal regimen.
Chiropractic care is essential for the pregnant mom for many reasons. Her body systems are now working for two. She needs to be at 100% optimal functioning potential! As mentioned, mom’s spine and pelvis will shift and change to accommodate the baby’s growth. This greatly increases the chances of misalignment. Thus correction through chiropractic could enhance the mother’s nervous system function and increase her baby’s potential (Ohm, 2001). Research shows the following: “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). “Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can reduce the likelihood of experiencing back labor as well” (Diakow, 1991).
Moreover, by choosing natural childbirth in conjunction with alternative healthcare, you are including professions (specifically midwifery and chiropractic) that profoundly support non-invasive birthing procedures and share a “genuine respect for the process of natural birth and encourage the mother to respect her inner wisdom throughout the process. Managing labor from within rather than the use of external drugs ad obstetrical procedures allows for a safer and easier delivery for both mother and baby” (Ohm, J., 2001).
It is never too late in your pregnancy to get started! Besides being a safe and effective means of decreasing labor time and pain, post-partum depression has been noted as a “rarity in patients . . . receiving manipulative therapy” (sic). There are even techniques to assist in turning breeches! You don’t have to have a problem to be checked!