Benefits of Postpartum Chiropractic Care
For many mothers, the bodily changes, pain, and discomfort that come with pregnancy do not magically disappear after giving birth. During pregnancy, both the body and mind experience profound changes. Just when a pregnant woman has begun to get used to one change, something new pops up. Delivery brings with it a whole new set of physical and mental challenges. It may take months, even a year or more, for most women to fully recover.
While postpartum recovery can be long and frustrating, chiropractic can help ease many facets of the healing process. By focusing on holistic healing, with an emphasis on correcting imbalances in the musculoskeletal and nervous system through spinal adjustment, chiropractic care can help women in the postpartum period ease pain, regain mobility, and start feeling like themselves again.
Here are four ways chiropractic supports postpartum recovery:
Correcting posture and addressing posture-related imbalances. Many aspects of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum life contribute to poor posture. These include, but certainly aren’t limited to:
- Pregnancy weight gain.
- Loosened ligaments.
- Carrying the weight of a growing baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid.
- Labor and pushing.
- C-section surgery recovery.
- Cradling and carrying a baby postpartum.
- Hunching over while breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
- Leaning over a crib.
- …and more.
Many months of poor posture can contribute to significant pain and reduced mobility. A chiropractor will carefully look at a postpartum patient’s posture, perform spinal adjustments to address the areas most impacted, and make recommendations for exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back and shoulders. When combined, these tactics should lessen postural-related pain and allow a new mother to move and feel significantly better.
Relieving and preventing neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. Hand in hand with poor posture comes neck, shoulder, and upper back pain. Poor posture puts pressure on the nerves of the spine, which contribute to inflammation of joints and muscles, particularly in the neck and shoulders. The activities involved in caring for a newborn, including breastfeeding, leaning over to change and put to sleep, and getting on the floor to play can all cause pain in the upper back and neck. Regular chiropractic adjustments can hone in on the areas of the spine impacted by poor posture to correct imbalances. The chiropractor can also give advice for exercises and posture changes to keep this type of pain at bay.
Reducing and preventing pelvic and hip pain. During pregnancy, the body makes many adjustments to prepare for birth, most of which impact the hip and pelvic area. The hormone relaxin is released by the ovaries and placenta to loosen ligaments in preparation for birth. While the intent of this process is to make delivery easier, loosened ligaments — particularly in the pelvic area — can contribute to significant pain, both during pregnancy and postpartum.
Pelvic pain immediately postpartum, particularly for those who delivered vaginally, is normal. What is not normal is hip and pelvic pain that persists more than two to three months after delivery. A chiropractor can perform adjustments to the lower spine that relieve pressure on the nervous system that may contribute to this pain, and guide a patient in exercises that will help relieve additional pain and pressure in the pelvic area.
Treating pregnancy-related sciatica. One very uncomfortable side effect of pregnancy some women experience is sciatica. An inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the leg, sciatica can present as pain in these areas or as a tingling or numbing feeling. Either way, sciatica indicates a serious issue with the spinal column that can be addressed through chiropractic adjustments.
Pregnancy, delivery, and new parenthood can be some of the most beautiful and joyful times in a person’s life. Unfortunately, many women also experience the downsides of these significant experiences — pain, discomfort, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Chiropractic care can help ease these and other symptoms and get new parents feeling like themselves again.
Dr. Corinne Kennedy of Kennedy Chiropractic is the go-to pregnancy and postpartum chiropractor in Wauwatosa. Dr. Kennedy also provides chiropractic for children, teens, athletes, and older adults. If you’re looking for an experienced advocate who can help you feel your best, contact Dr. Kennedy today.
