Are you Pregnant? Why Chiropractic Care Can Help Result in a Shorter, Less Painful Delivery

People sometimes look at me funny when I talk about chiropractic during pregnancy. They think that a pregnant woman shouldn’t be adjusted, but that is far from the truth. In reality, all pregnant woman should consider being under chiropractic care. Approximately 75% of pregnant women experience one or more episodes of low back pain due to added strain. Research has also shown that regular chiropractic check-ups and adjustments improve the labor and delivery process along with producing faster births and decreased need for drugs and other interventions. Here’s a couple of reasons why this makes sense:

1. Chiropractic is not just about neck pain, back pain and headaches; it is about the nervous system. If this is new to you, see our blog about chiropractic myths. The nervous system controls and coordinates everything in the body, including the muscles of the uterus. Chiropractic seeks to maintain the communication between the brain and the rest of the body so that there is no interference in the communication to organs like the uterus. Proper nerve control of organs vital to pregnancy can help ensure a healthier pregnancy and delivery.
2. If you think about it biomechanically, there is a lot more stress and strain being put on the lower back and pelvic regions. This can cause some misalignment of these structures and lead to some of the aches and pains commonly experienced during pregnancy. However, an even more important effect of a misaligned pelvis is a less-than-optimal structure for delivery. Chiropractic can help maximize the structure so there is space for a natural birth.
3. Finally, the position of the baby is important to the delivery process too. Special ligaments attach the uterus to the bones of the pelvis. When there is misalignment of these bones (i.e. the sacrum), this can cause the ligaments to pull and put tension on the uterus. Developing babies innately know the best position for delivery and will try to move into that position unless inhibited in some way. If there is a lot of tension on the uterus, the baby may be limited in his/her motion. By gently adjusting the sacrum, proper realignment can be restored, thus, limiting stress on the uterus.

After previously working in a practice in Georgia predominantly focused on pregnancy and pediatrics, I have seen many pregnant women have positive experiences with chiropractic. Not only with pain and other symptoms, but also with shorter, less painful deliveries. One woman, who was under care throughout her pregnancy, even came in to get adjusted at the beginning of labor and had her baby naturally two hours later!

At Radiant Life Chiropractic, we are certified in the Webster Technique and utilize other gentle techniques to allow you to have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Our goal is to improve the health of our community, and healthy pregnancies lead to healthier kids. Healthy kids tend to grow up to be healthy adults, and healthy adults make up healthy communities. If you know someone who is pregnant, please share this with them, and if you are pregnant and want to schedule your complimentary consultation, call 215-259-5100 today!