Chiropractic Care For Pregnant Women: Is It Beneficial and Effective?
If you’ve been seeking regular chiropractic care services for back pain treatment, you’re probably familiar with the process. Chiropractic care involves maintaining the health of the spinal column, discs, and nerves without medication or resorting to surgical procedures. This includes techniques for adjusting joints that are not properly aligned (particularly in the spine), which helps alleviate spinal nerve stress, reduce pain and promote overall health.
If you’re seeking chiropractic care during pregnancy, you might be wondering if it’s safe. Pregnancy often leads to changes in a woman’s body that can cause back pain, and 50% of all pregnant women experience it. Here are some of the common reasons why:
- Weight Gain: As pregnancy progresses, a woman’s weight increases, putting additional pressure on her lower back.
- Hormonal Changes: When you’re pregnant, the body releases hormones that relax the ligaments and make them softer to allow them to stretch and prepare for labor. This can make it easier to carry the extra weight, but it can also cause instability in the back and strain your joints, leading to pain.
- Postural Corrections: As the baby grows, there’s a forward shift in a woman’s center of gravity, which she might try to correct by leaning back to stabilize herself. This can strain the muscles, aggravating pain.
- Stress During Pregnancy: Mentally and physically preparing for childbirth is stressful, and this can add to muscle tension, causing pain
You can alleviate this pain by practicing good posture, avoiding lifting heavy objects (or following proper lifting form), not twisting your spine (moving your feet to adjust positioning instead), and wearing flat shoes to ensure even weight distribution.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
There are certain benefits to seeking chiropractic care services when pregnant: they can provide pregnant women with various benefits such as a healthier pregnancy, relief from nausea, reduction in labor and delivery time, alleviation of the back, neck, or joint pain, and prevention of cesarean delivery.
Of course, with that said, there are definitely some concerns and precautions to be mindful of.
As mentioned earlier, the ligaments are softer during pregnancy which can cause some concern regarding the safety of vigorous pressure application in spinal alignment and manipulation.
A chiropractor who has received training to work with pregnant women will typically use specialized tables that are designed to accommodate a pregnant woman’s body, and they will also use techniques that minimize any unnecessary pressure on the abdomen.
Additionally, a chiropractor knowledgeable about pregnant women’s unique needs might suggest safe, gentle stretches and exercises. Many pregnant women have reported improved quality of life after seeking regular safe chiropractic treatments.
Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women in Shelbyville Township
If you’re looking for effective, affordable, and safe chiropractic therapies in Kentucky, consult the professionals at Shelby County Chiropractic. We offer a range of advanced Chiropractic Care Services in Kentucky ranging from decompression therapy to aqua massage therapy. What’s more, Dr. James Stapleton D.C. and Dr. William Yadon provide mindful and gentle chiropractic care to accommodate the needs of pregnant women, so you can contact us today to have a healthy, pain-free pregnancy.
