Pregnancy brings about it many trips to the clinic with regular checks to ensuring everything is on track for your due date. However, taking the time to visit a chiropractor can also be beneficial during your pregnancy.
Part of chiropractors’ training involves learning how to comfortably work with patients that are pregnant. Chiropractors at Williams Integracare understand the care and gentle actions necessary to ensure comfort for our patients (just like our child patients).
Issues that can arise during pregnancy
As the body changes during pregnancy, the protruding abdomen increases the curve in your back and also creates changes in the pelvic area. If the pelvis becomes too greatly misaligned, the American Pregnancy Association warns this can restrict the space for the baby. This can also impact the baby’s position potentially making a natural birth more difficult. For this reason, chiropractic care during your pregnancy can potentially lower the probability that you need to have a C-section.
Why does low back pain occur during pregnancy?
The American Chiropractic Association states “Low back pain during pregnancy is caused by increased stress on the lumbar spine by an anterior shift in the center of gravity. Compensatory muscle tightness and altered gait patterns also contribute, and this pain ranges from mild to severe depending on the patient’s activity level, daily activities and work duties.”
As with non-pregnancy related back pain, a chiropractor can help you deal with the back pain that you may suffer from your changing body.
Potential benefits of chiropractic care during your pregnancy (according to the American Pregnancy Association)
- Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
- Controlling symptoms of nausea
- Reducing the time of labor and delivery
- Relieving back, neck or joint pain
- Preventing a potential cesarean delivery
If you or someone you know is currently pregnant, consider consulting your doctor as well as a chiropractor to see if chiropractic care is right for you during your pregnancy. If this is not your first pregnancy, you may find that with chiropractic care you are able to lessen your pain and delivery time by having chiropractic care during your pregnancy.