Chiropractic Care
Pain Relief During Pregnancy
When most women are asked what is the most difficult part of pregnancy, the most common answer you will find is: PAIN. Pregnancy is one of life’s greatest experiences, so why must there be pain? Chiropractic care is a great natural answer to this problem. Women that visit a chiropractor during their pregnancy not only feel better as a result, but they report everything as going much “smoother”.
What makes this experience so painful? The process of gaining weight, stretching of the skin and altered biomechanics of how you move are all factors.
The first reason that women experience back pain during pregnancy is because of a stressed core. One of the main aspects of your core muscles is the abdominal region. As the fetus grows, these muscles are stretched beyond what is normal and customary and they lose the ability to balance and bear weight. Your lower back ends up taking on the extra load, and this is where the pain comes in.
By design, the disc spaces within your spine allow the body to move and bear weight. When constant pressure is put on these discs they begin to leak a jelly-like fluid. When too much pressure is applied, this fluid begins to affect nerve roots. This is a classic example of what’s wrong with someone who is in constant pain with numbness or tingling in his or her leg.
There are many chiropractic techniques that can help relieve this pressure along with some basic exercises that help stabilize the spine. This process strengthens muscles that are contributing to the problem.
The other main reason for pain is due to a special hormone called Relaxin. The purpose of this hormone is to “relax” you. Not only does it help you sleep like a hibernating bear, it also helps relax your tendons, joints, and ligaments to stretch and move properly. The problem with this is that if you’ve ever had an uncorrected spinal injury, abnormal curvature of the spine, or you’re not in the best shape, this hormone can make things relax that’ll actually make you feel uncomfortable and will cause pain. Again, this is a great reason to visit a chiropractor.
Chiropractors care for your spine and nervous system and know how to assist the body so that it can achieve more optimal health and wellness. Chiropractic care is truly the safest and most natural way to deal with the aches and pains of the pregnancy process.
When I started my practice, I was surprised by how many pregnant women found their way to my office at the suggestion of their OB. It was explained to these patients that, “They would most likely be in pain through this entire process — unless they find a good chiropractor”. I even know an OB who will not accept a new patient unless she sees a chiropractor through her pregnancy. From his experience, he’s found that women under chiropractic care have little to no complications during the birthing process.
