The majority of women experience some form of discomfort during pregnancy. The body experiences many hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy which can result in symptoms ranging from morning sickness to back pain to pelvic misalignment. Chiropractic care can be helpful during all stages of pregnancy, from easing nausea in early pregnancy to optimizing pelvic alignment before birth. Studies have shown that women who received chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies experienced less general discomfort and had shorter deliveries with fewer complications.
In the first months of pregnancy, many women experience morning sickness or persistent nausea throughout the day. Chiropractic care can lessen the frequency and severity of nausea by realigning the spine and improving the overall function of the nervous system. This helps improve hormonal balance and may reduce or eliminate morning sickness.
In later pregnancy, women have to change how they sit, walk, and sleep to accommodate the growing baby, which puts stress on the spine and joints. As the abdomen expands, it becomes necessary to lean back to counterbalance, which places stress on the back muscles and spine. Chiropractic care can ease the discomfort of this increased stress, keeping the body in alignment and pain-free.
Throughout gestation pelvic balance and alignment is key to a healthy pregnancy. When the pelvis is misalignment it can restrict the amount of room available for the developing baby. This is called intrauterine constraint and it affects not only the baby’s gestational development but can cause incorrect positioning at birth leading to complications. Maintaining pelvic alignment not only guarantees the baby has enough room to grow but also helps ensure the baby is properly positioned for labor, which can reduce the possibility of complications and C-sections.
Chiropractic care and recommended prenatal exercises and stretches throughout pregnancy not only help with a more comfortable pregnancy, but it positively affects the mother’s ability to have a smooth, non-invasive labor. Keeping the body aligned during pregnancy helps the whole body be healthy for both mother and baby.