Throughout your pregnancy, have you ever found yourself worrying about all the problems that could arise in those nine months? If so, you’re not alone. Many women worry about things like pain and discomfort, baby’s positioning, pre-eclampsia, swelling, etc.
Although there is no shortage of advice, opinions or articles on “Dr. Google”, there’s one thing that can be a real game changer during your pregnancy that is often overlooked…prenatal chiropractic care.
Now I know what you’re probably thinking…isn’t chiropractic what people use to help with neck pain and low back pain?
Yes it is…but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Women who receive chiropractic during pregnancy report benefits such as; an increase in overall comfort during their pregnancy, less headaches, less swelling, normalizing of blood pressure, decreased labor time, less need for intervention during labor and delivery, and an optimal head down position for baby.
How Chiropractic Care Helps in Pregnancy
Chiropractic care during pregnancy offers many benefits, including:
- Reduced pain and discomfort: Chiropractic adjustments can alleviate common pregnancy pains, like back, hip, and rib pain.
- Reduced swelling: Improved spinal alignment enhances body fluid circulation, reducing swelling in your feet, hands, and legs.
- Better baby positioning: Chiropractic care helps create space in the pelvis for the baby, improving the chances of an optimal head-down position for delivery.
Reduced risk of interventions: Pregnant women who receive chiropractic care report less need for interventions, such as pitocin or cesareans, and shorter labor times.
The Importance of Spinal Alignment for Pregnancy Health
The brain controls all the functions in your body. It sends signals to organs and muscles, including your uterus, to support a healthy pregnancy. For the brain to work properly, the spine needs to be in alignment and moving freely. Chiropractic adjustments to the spine help the body’s joints move better, which improves communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
When the body is properly aligned, it allows for better circulation, proper function, and improved coordination between the brain and the organs. This is why chiropractic care can reduce issues like back pain, rib discomfort, and even help with breech positioning.
Webster’s Technique for Optimal Baby Positioning
One of the key tools prenatal chiropractors use is the Webster Technique. This technique is especially helpful for breech pregnancies. It involves gentle adjustments to the pelvis and soft tissue work to balance the pelvis. When the pelvis is balanced, it allows the baby to turn naturally into the correct head-down position for birth.
Women who receive chiropractic care, including Webster’s technique, often experience fewer issues with breech babies and better overall birth outcomes.
Things you can do at home to support a healthy pregnancy
I often have women asking me if there are things they can do at home to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. Exercise and making sure your joints are getting proper movement is vital to your health, whether you’re pregnant or not.
With that being said, there are specific joints and muscles groups that you want to make sure are functioning properly during pregnancy.
Stretch Your Hamstrings
There are a variety of ways to stretch the hamstrings; I recommend using whichever stretch is most comfortable.
The simplest way this can be done is sitting on the ground with your legs straight in front while leaning forward.
Although the hamstrings are located on the back part of your leg, there is a very crucial connection between this large muscle group and the pelvis. Allowing the hamstrings to be loose and supple will lead to better overall alignment of the pelvis.
Get Upside Down
Ok, well maybe not completely upside down! This second exercise is called the forward leaning inversion.
For this exercise, you can simply kneel on the edge of a couch about 2 ft high. Carefully, lower your hands to the ground while keeping your knees on the couch. I recommend taking 2-3 deep breaths while inverted and then come back to the upright position. (Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before doing this exercise.)
It’s a good idea to have someone help lower you down and bring you back upright.
Incorporating this exercise into your daily routine can help keep baby in the optimal head down position. It can also be helpful to get baby head down if he/she is currently presenting breech. The forward leaning inversion allows certain muscles and ligaments to release creating more room in the lower part of the uterus for baby to move into a great position for birth.
Sources
Spear, David, & Alcantara, Joel. “The Chiropractic Care of a Pregnant Patient Presenting with a Breech Pregnancy.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health. 2016.1 (2016): 32-34.
Spear, David, & Alcantara, Joel. “Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) in a Pregnant Woman with Placenta Previa, Migraines, Neck & Back Pain Undergoing Subluxation Centered Chiropractic.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health. 2016.1 (2016): 18-21.
Resources
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association
Dr. Heidi Haavik
Spinning Babies
This guest post was written by Dr. Lauren Pennetti. Dr. Lauren is deeply passionate about helping people live a well-balanced, healthy life. Her and her husband, Matt, created Prime Chiropractic because they wanted to give their Denver community hope without having to rely on drugs and medication. When she’s not at the office, Dr. Lauren is the “Olivia Pope” of the household and is constantly chasing around her 8-month-old son, Braxton, who she is absolutely obsessed with. Reach out to Dr. Lauren Pennetti at drlauren@primechiropracticdenver.com
Final Thoughts: Empower Your Pregnancy with Chiropractic Care
Prenatal chiropractic care can be a powerful tool to support your health during pregnancy and ensure the best outcomes for your birth. With benefits such as improved comfort, reduced swelling, better baby positioning, and fewer interventions, chiropractic care is worth considering for any pregnant mama.
By incorporating chiropractic care into your pregnancy routine and performing simple exercises at home, you can empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to support a healthy, happy pregnancy. Always consult your care provider to make informed choices about what’s best for you and your baby.
I wonder, as someone who pursued very expensive and ultimately unsuccessful chiropractic adjustments in a vain effort to get my breech daughter to turn, how evidence-based these claims are. This post was written by a chiropractor and refers to two studies that seem to support the claims made. I’d like to see a more complete review of the literature.
I’ve had great results with my chiropractor! This article makes perfect sense when you think about the relationship between the nervous system and all the growth happening inside a pregnant woman’s body. From what I read and understand, the special technique simply helps the soft tissue relax and allows the baby turn under its own power. Obviously, there are many other variables involved, like the baby’s choice of whether to turn or stay put. The power chiropractic has had on my life has been undeniable.
My experience both personally and professionally with chiropractic care has been extraordinary for my pregnancy as well as my patients pregnancies. Giving the body every opportunity for a natural birth both structurally and neurologically is a no-brainer. Granted there are other factors that come into play for each mom and her birth. Chiropractic care can only help for a more effective and positive labor and delivery.