Pregnancy and Chiropractic
A bad back and pregnancy are a bad combination. Then you add in work, laundry, maybe even a toddler and things can go from bad to worse very quickly. Especially as your belly just continues to grow and your due date seems to be getting further away rather than closer. After your baby is born, your body will be required to do a lot of bending. Whether it be changing nappies, feeding, nurturing, laundry, bathing... it seems to keep going on and on. There is just so much pressure on your spine, especially your low back and pelvis.
Over the years we have found that a back problem typically isn’t caused by the pregnancy. Usually pregnancy illuminates a problem that was already there. The extra stress and pressure a growing baby and a changing body places on your joints and spinal elements tends to amplify any smaller problems that may have been lurking in the background when you weren’t pregnant.
How can we help?
A question we get asked regularly is “Can Chiropractic help someone who is pregnant?” The simple answer is, yes. We have helped many women throughout their entire pregnancies with regular chiropractic care and they are so thankful for the help. Most could never imagine being pregnant without the relief that can come from having their spine, pelvis, pubic bone and hips aligned.
Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy can help with symptoms such as pubic pain, pelvic pain and instability, headaches, back pain, sciatica and neck pain to name a few. Chiropractic care has also been shown to relieve stress and tension on the pelvis and ligaments that support the uterus too.
You may be wondering how you would lay on the table as your belly grows bigger. We have that sorted. There are a number of solutions we have. We have sophisticated tables that allow room for growing bellies, plus we have a range of other tricks too.
How will I be adjusted (aligned) when I'm pregnant?
The techniques we use with our pregnant patients are varied. They are usually quite gentle, especially in the third trimester. A very popular and effective technique we use is The Webster Technique. It focuses on the bone (and nerves), muscles and ligaments involved in nurturing and birthing. Another common technique we use with our pregnant patients and our new babies is called SOT (An acronym for Sacro Occipital Technique). It uses the blocks and gentle reflex techniques to align and restore balance. Obviously, we still have all the other cool Chiropractic tools in our kit bag too. Every patient is different. Once we have determined what your problem is and if we can help you, then we can work out the best way forward to help you enjoy your pregnancy and beyond.
When can I receive care? We regularly see patients the entire way through their nine months of pregnancy, post-partum and continue care by checking their newborns too. We see patients all the way up to their due date and as soon as they feel up to it post-birth too. Many women see the aches and pains in their lower back and hips as simply part of the pregnancy experience. However it doesn't need to be that way. Regular chiropractic adjustments can address this issue and assist with relieving the pain and discomfort associated with pregnancy. The adjustments are designed to re-establish balance and alignment to your pelvis and spine and improve the health of your nervous system. This can assist with allowing your baby as much space as possible over the pregnancy and may lead to a better delivery and recovery. Can Chiropractic help my newborn baby too? Once we have Mum's body aligned, we'd love to make sure your infant's spine is nice and healthy too. Did you know babies can become subluxated, out of alignment, from the birthing process itself? Whether it be a natural birth or external intervention was required (such as caesarean, vacuum or forceps extraction), any of these forces can put extra stress on an newborn's fragile spine. The labour process can cause a range of different issues including:
Stress on the head and neck
Potential brachial plexus rpoblems
Pelvic and hip issues
We help many families every year by ensuring their babies are properly aligned and in the process, relieving a range of associated problems like:
Colic, incessant crying, irritability and fussiness
Sleeping difficulties
Breast feeding & attachment problems, to name a few
Innate Intelligence
Innate intelligence is the uniques inborn intelligence which resides within the body of every living thing. It helps guide our body's natural ability to heal. Our bodies are pretty amazing in that every single chemical reaction, every tissue formation, and every bacterial invasion that is fought off is controlled and coordinated by this process. At House of Chiropractic, our goal is to maintain the integrity of the nervous system of pregnant mothers, babies, teens and beyond which releases our innate intelligence to do what it was desgined to do. Our bodies are smart, we just help them see it along the way.
Next Steps
Our Chiropractor has over 28 years' experience helping Mum's and Babies, and we love seeing happy, healthy families in our office. Feel free make an appointment via the website or give our team a call on (02) 6009 0999
We look forward to seeing you soon.
This article provides a well-rounded perspective on the potential benefits of chiropractors during pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of a patient-centered approach to ensure the safety and well-being of expectant mothers.