Pregnancy & Chiropractic

 

International Chiropractic Pediatrics Assoctiation (ICPA) Website

 

Why Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Mothers?

Pregnancy

 
 
Pregnancy is a wonderful time, which is filled with many different emotions, feelings, and body changes. However, for many pregnant women, their bodies do not always cooperate. With the added weight and shifted center of gravity, normal everyday tasks can become increasingly difficult.  Luckily, chiropractic has been proven to help with a wide range of common ailments moms-to-be face.  Typical lower back pain, hip pain, and trouble breathing are just a few of the things chiropractic eases.  The best part of using chiropractic during your pregnancy is it is absolutely drug free. There are no harmful chemicals being transferred to your baby while you seek relief. Also, chiropractic has a high percentage of turning breech babies with the Webster Technique.  (The Webster Technique is a non-invasive, non-obstetric chiropractic adjustment of a key musculoskeletal condition.) 
 
 
Common ailments typically relieved with chiropractic care:
 
  •         Back aches
  •         Headaches
  •         Digestive ailments
  •         Hip/Leg pain
  •         Sleeplessness
  •         Trouble breathing
  
 
Key times during pregnancy to get a chiropractic adjustment:
 
  •         Car accidents
  •         Falls
  •         If experiencing pains not felt before pregnancy
  •         If experiencing hip or low back problems
  •         If experiencing restless sleep
  •         Breech presentation
  •         Poor posture

 

Post Pregnancy
 
 
The first few months after delivery can be especially hard on a new mom. Healing after delivery can be both emotionally and physically draining. Emotionally, immense joy can sometimes turn to desperation with fatigue compounded by the continuous needs of your new baby. Physically, trying to heal can be slowed by carrying car seats, strollers, and sometimes even your baby.  Receiving regular chiropractic care during this important time can help alleviate fatigue, joint pain, and improve your sleeping. Also, during this time, constantly holding a child, feeding a child, and looking down can start to strain your neck and lower back muscles. Chiropractic care has also been proven to alleviate back pain.
 
 
Common post-pregnancy ailments typically relieved with chiropractic care:
 
  •         Cramping
  •         Fatigue
  •         Joint pain
  •         Shoulder pain
  •         Lower back pain
  •         Tingling in arms and legs
 
 
Key post-pregnancy times to get a chiropractic adjustment:
 
  •         If experiencing shoulder pains
  •         If experiencing tingling in arms and legs
  •         When holding a child becomes painful or uncomfortable
  •         If experiencing restless sleep
  •         Neck strains from constantly looking down
  •         When the baby starts to weigh more than 15 lbs.
  •         Poor posture

Webster Technique

Sacral misalignment causes the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus which prevents the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. The Webster Technique is defined as a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates biomechanical balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. This has been shown to reduce the effects of intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.

Dr. Larry Webster, Founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association discovered this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers. In expectant mothers presenting breech, there has been a high reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal vertex position. (70-80%) This technique has been successfully used in women whose babies present transverse and posterior as well. It has also successfully used with twins. Any position of the baby other than ROA may indicate the presence of sacral subluxation and therefore intrauterine constraint. At no time should this technique be interpreted as an obstetric, "breech turning" technique.

 

(More pregnancy articles please visit the ICPA link above)