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Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy: Chiropractic’s Role

Among the many changes an expectant mother experiences during her pregnancy is the change to her body. As the developing baby grows and begins moving around, there are several physiological and hormonal changes that occur. For example, the abdomen begins to protrude and the back increases its curve. There are also pelvic and postural adaptations, both of which are necessary for the growth and development of the child, but which may cause pain. As expectant mothers prepare for a healthy pregnancy, they should consider chiropractic’s role in keeping both the baby and herself healthy and pain-free throughout all three trimesters.

Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy: Chiropractic’s Role

Benefits of Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy

There are many benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, including controlling symptoms of nausea, relieving back, neck or joint pain and maintaining an overall healthier pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, chiropractors can reduce the time of labor and delivery and help prevent a potential cesarean delivery.

Another reason for chiropractic care during pregnancy is to establish pelvic balance and alignment. When the pelvis becomes misaligned, it reduces the amount of room available for the developing baby (called intrauterine constraint). As the time for delivery draws nearer, a misaligned pelvis can make it more difficult for the baby to get into the best position, as well as for the mother to have a natural, non-invasive birth.

Chiropractic Care for Breech and Posterior Positions

Larry Webster, D.C., Founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), developed a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment called the Webster Technique. Webster Technique enables chiropractors to re-establish balance in the expectant mother’s pelvis and reduce stress on the uterus and supporting ligaments. This reestablishment of balance in the pelvis has been clinically shown to allow for optimal fetal positioning, eliminating the potential for a difficult labor and resulting in an easier and safe delivery for mom and child. With a balanced pelvis, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth, and the likelihood that a baby will be breech or posterior can be avoided entirely.

Some medical practitioners consider it normal for a baby to be in a breech position until the third trimester. At 37 weeks, the breech position becomes more of a concern. Approximately 4% of pregnancies result in a breech baby; however, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue that chiropractors who used the Webster Technique had an 82% success rate of babies turning vertex. Though breech and posterior positions can interfere with the natural ease of labor and lead to interventions such as C-sections, Dr. Van Ness and Dr. Parkin can use the Webster Technique to help position the child in a more advantageous position for delivery.

Chiropractic care helps to ensure a properly functioning nervous system, the importance of which is vital for both mother and baby. The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems, including the reproductive system. Keep the spine aligned during pregnancy to help your entire body work more effectively. For more information on prenatal care at Van Ness Chiropractic, click here. Schedule an appointment by calling Van Ness Chiropractic at 847-842-8070.