5 Ways Chiropractic Can Help Reduce Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most significant physical changes that a woman will ever experience. Practically every element of the body is impacted by pregnancy, including a significant burden on the musculoskeletal system.

Research shows that more than 75% of pregnant women experience pain in their lower back, pelvis, or a combination of both and that this pain only increases the further along a woman is in her pregnancy. As the body changes, new stressors like weight gain, a shift in the center of gravity, posture shifts, arching of the back, and joint hypermobility can impact the way your body feels and moves. While most pain during pregnancy simply indicates that your body is changing to create the best possible environment for the baby, there are options for treating and managing the pain to make mom-to-be more comfortable.

Chiropractic care can provide effective treatment for managing pregnancy-related pain and musculoskeletal stress. Chiropractic is safe for pregnant women and a drug-free alternative to traditional pain management strategies. Further, chiropractic care can help ensure a healthy pregnancy and improved birth outcomes.

NOTE: Be sure to talk to your doctor before embarking on a chiropractic regime during pregnancy.

Here are 5 ways chiropractic can help manage pregnancy pain: 

  1. Help ease stress on the spinal column. As the body gets closer to labor, it produces relaxin, a hormone that loosens joints and ligaments to ensure the body can deliver a baby. This phenomenon can impact stability and balance and may cause lower back pain. Women further along in their pregnancy may also adapt their posture to compensate for the weight of the baby on their front body, throwing their spine out of alignment. Chiropractic adjustments can help ease back pain associated both with relaxed joints and ligaments and with adapted posture, easing pain and improving stability all the way through delivery.
  2. Ensure proper alignment for an easier labor and delivery. The biggest source of pain for most pregnant women comes with labor and delivery. But there are steps pregnant women can take before this process begins to reduce pain, complications, and their chances for a long delivery process. Regular chiropractic adjustments throughout pregnancy will ensure proper alignment through the spine, hips, and pelvis, optimally positioning both mom and baby. Because the alignment of the spinal column impacts nerve response, adjustments can also help ease labor pains due to contractions and make the cervical dilation process more efficient. Chiropractic care is particularly beneficial for women who plan on delivering naturally, as the body will be ready for a smooth and efficient birthing experience.
  3. Maintain pelvic balance to avoid breech delivery. The optimal position for a baby to be delivered is head first. However, a situation in which the baby is not in the head first position and will deliver feet first is known as a “breech” delivery. This type of delivery can lead to complications that may result in an emergency c-section being performed. Regular chiropractic adjustments and care can help mom maintain pelvic balance, meaning the baby has enough room to move into that ideal head-first delivery position. This type of treatment is particularly important the closer one gets to delivery.
  4. Improve immunity to ensure a healthy mom and baby. You may be surprised to learn that the health of the nervous system has a big impact on the immune system. When the spinal column – the center of the nervous system – is out of alignment, the body is more susceptible to disease. The goal of chiropractic care is to ensure proper spinal alignment not only to relieve pain but to improve immunity, which is especially important for pregnant women. The stronger and healthier you are while pregnant, the healthier your baby will be. Aside from adjustments, chiropractors can provide diet and lifestyle advice to ensure mom is healthy, active, and strong both during and after pregnancy.

Are you pregnant or planning to start a family in the near future? Dr. Corinne Kennedy is Wauwatosa’s top-rated chiropractor, specializing in pregnancy and pediatric care and more. Give us a call to schedule a consultation today.