Why Prenatal Chiropractic Care Is Something All Expectant Moms Should Consider
As a soon-to-be mom, your number one concern is your baby’s health. More than likely, you’re doing all you can to make sure that your pregnancy is healthy and that you’re receiving the best care for your unborn child. After all, you’re taking care of your baby when you’re taking care of yourself, too.
More women than ever before are turning to prenatal chiropractic care during all trimesters of their pregnancies. You may have heard from friends or other moms discussing their prenatal chiropractic visits, or perhaps you heard about prenatal chiropractic care through your OB/GYN. Is all that talk making you consider this kind of care for yourself? Maybe you’re now wondering if prenatal chiropractic care is a safe idea for you and your baby.
Information about prenatal care can be confusing at times, and you may have some common concerns, such as:
- Is prenatal chiropractic care safe for all women?
- Will chiropractic care help during my pregnancy?
- When is the right time during my pregnancy to seek treatment?
- What are the risks involved?
- How often will I need treatment?
- Will it affect my delivery?
Reinhardt Chiropractic can answer these questions and more. But in short, prenatal chiropractic is a safe and effective treatment method with noticeable benefits and little to no risk associated with most pregnant women.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care: A Natural and Holistic Approach
As you read up on the latest studies, you may be seeing more information on how pharmaceutical medications and treatments can, at times, do more harm than good for pregnancy health. As a mom, you put in extraordinary effort to protect your child before birth. Therefore, you’re likely quite cautious of what you put into your body and expose yourself to during your pregnancy.
Chiropractic technique is a natural and drug-free approach to care that will not expose you to potential toxins or chemical compounds. Seeking holistic methods of care, instead of pharmaceuticals, is becoming popular among pregnant women who are dealing with common pregnancy issues, such as:
- Back Pain
- Misaligned hips
- Numbness/Tingling
- Sciatic Pain
- Sore feet
Is Prenatal Chiropractic Care Safe?
Chiropractic care is safe and beneficial for most pregnant women. But to give you some peace of mind before your first visit, know that chiropractors will use methods such as adjusting tables that eliminate unnecessary strain on your belly. Additional equipment for your comfort may also be on hand, such as a nesting pillow.
Your chiropractor will know how you should and shouldn’t be positioned during pregnancy. For example, you shouldn’t expect to lie on your back for the entire appointment. Instead, you’ll probably lie on your side or in another non-stomach straining position. Don’t be afraid to tell your chiropractor what’s comfortable for you.
Many chiropractors receive specialized certification to provide care for pregnant women. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) offers various certification training for chiropractors, including the well-known Webster Technique Certification. The Webster Technique is a specific physical manipulation of the sacral area to promote natural birth.
Though chiropractic treatment is safe and effective overall, it’s not a typically recommended treatment if you’re receiving medical care for certain conditions during your pregnancy, such as:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Moderate or severe toxemia
- Placenta previa
- Placenta abruption
Your obstetrician and chiropractor will have enough knowledge of these conditions to advise against chiropractic treatments if necessary.
Even if you aren’t experiencing any issues during your pregnancy, you should always ask your obstetrician for medical clearance before receiving chiropractic care. If you have further concerns after getting cleared, be sure to talk to your chiropractor about your questions, too.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care Benefits
Prenatal chiropractic care delivers several benefits, providing you with relief from some common physical discomforts and concerns you may be experiencing. Additionally, your chiropractor can show you safe stretches to work on at home to ease your pain — extending your care beyond the in-office appointments.
Relieves Pain
It’s not unusual to experience body pains while you’re pregnant, but back, neck, and pelvic discomfort can be a real nuisance. If your pain gets too intense, it can leave you lying down for much of the day and affect your quality of life. The pain occurs because your joints and ligaments shift and loosen to accommodate your growing belly. These are normal physiological changes that your pregnant body goes through to prepare for birth. But routinely visiting a chiropractor to receive alignments can help reduce these pains.
Reduces Nausea
Suppose you’re experiencing an unfortunate bout of morning sickness that you can’t relieve with diet or medication. In this case, a chiropractic approach may be an effective treatment for you. Chiropractors look at nausea from an entire body standpoint and work on spinal realignment to improve your nervous system’s function, creating a better hormonal balance and improving digestive issues. Furthermore, chiropractic care can treat constipation and heartburn, sometimes associated with nausea.
Helps Pelvic Floor Balance
If you are concerned that your baby may remain breech during labor, prenatal chiropractic care can help by maintaining your pelvic floor balance. Your baby will be more likely to move easily into the pre-birth position when your pelvic floor balance is aligned.
One sign of pelvic floor misalignment while pregnant is urinating a little when sneezing. If you find yourself doing this, seek the care of a chiropractor to help improve this issue.
Lowers Chance of C-Sections
Chiropractor care has a high success rate for turning breech babies, therefore lowering your chance of having a C-section by ensuring your baby can move into the proper birthing position. Additionally, prenatal chiropractic care can help reduce inflammation within your body and support your immune system. Keeping your body healthy and strong allows you to experience the childbirth process with greater ease and prevent planned C-sections.
Promotes Easier Labor and Delivery
A significant benefit of regular adjustments is that your hips, spine, and pelvis will stay correctly aligned, decreasing your labor and delivery time. In addition, when your body is correctly adjusted, your nervous system will function better, giving you more control over contractions. In turn, when you can manage your contractions better, you’re more likely to feel relaxed leading up to your delivery. And when it comes time to deliver, you’ll likely recognize when to push.
Develops Better Sleep Habits
Good sleep doesn’t come easily during pregnancy. You may have difficulty finding a comfortable position, making you feel restless and putting more strain on your body. Chiropractic care can help your sleep habits by teaching you how to improve your sleep posture, and promoting relaxation through spinal adjustments.
Improves Posture
Your pregnancy posture is often compromised while walking, sitting, and resting. A common occurrence during pregnancy is back-arching — your spine overcompensates for your growing belly. A visit to the chiropractor will provide you with better alignment, tips for keeping your back straight, and relief from daily physical discomfort.
Benefits for Your Baby
The benefits of seeing the best chiropractor in Denver are for your baby, too! Parts of your body that are not correctly aligned can impede your baby’s growing space and possibly lead to birth defects. For example, your misaligned pelvis can get in the way of your baby moving around in your uterus — potentially causing intrauterine constraint.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care in Denver, CO
Chiropractic care is a beneficial and effective option that almost all women should consider for their pregnancy health. At Reinhardt Chiropractic, our number one priority is the safety and comfort of our patients. Schedule an appointment with us about your questions and how you can personally benefit from prenatal chiropractic care.
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