Prenatal Chiropractic Care Specialist
Pregnancy is the most beautiful, crucial, and challenging phase of a woman’s life. Many changes occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy to provide a growing fetus with a safe and healthy environment. The hormonal changes, as the baby grows, act to loosen the joints and ligaments. As a result, various problems can occur in pregnant women and produce many uncomfortable symptoms. Find out how to take care of these problems naturally with Chiropractor’s help.
Back Pain Treatment during Pregnancy
The baby’s growth and changing position can lead to pregnancy complications. To minimize these complications, women need to find some additional help. That help can come in the form of chiropractic care. According to an NCBI study, 50% of pregnant women have low back pain during pregnancy. In addition, chiropractic care for pregnancy can naturally decrease any risk of antepartum and postpartum complications without using medications. Therefore, regular chiropractic care is an essential part of prenatal and postpartum care.
Morning sickness
Morning sickness is one of the most common complaints in the early trimester for most pregnant women. And for some, it isn’t easy to endure. Morning sickness rises as the level of beta HCG hormone goes up, which is essential for the survival of the placenta. Chiropractic care for pregnancy helps to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. A chiropractor does this by realigning the spine to release pressure on back muscles and internal organs. As a result, hormone-related discomfort may ease, which may lead to reduced nausea and vomiting.
Spinal events
Throughout pregnancy, your spine deals with a great deal of pressure. At the end of the third trimester, the hormonal effect is maximized. This is the time when the body prepares itself for a safe and healthy delivery. At this point, the hormone called “relaxin” is released. When that happens, the hormone relaxes the pelvis and joints and ligaments of the surrounding area. For some women, the release of relaxin can result in backache, spine instability, and joint discomfort. Blood volume increases during pregnancy. Along with fluid retention, this can add to swelling and pressure in the pelvic, lower back, and hip areas. The growing womb can also affect posture and the spine. You can reduce the pressure by seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractors use safe methods to reduce pain and discomfort and help make your pregnancy as healthy as possible.
Uneventful labor
With regular appointments and a chiropractor’s guidance throughout pregnancy, many expectant mothers feel more comfortable and better prepared for the changes their bodies go through. Routine appointments for chiropractic adjustments exhibit beneficial effects on women’s spine, pelvis, and hip bones. In addition, the adjustments establish pelvic balance, thus reducing complications in delivery. Chiropractic care during pregnancy may also help women feel more comfortable and prepared for a natural childbirth.
Position of the baby within the uterus
The ideal position of the baby for any labor is for the head to come out first. However, sometimes, instead of the head, the butt or back faces the cervix. As a result, complications in vaginal delivery may occur. These include prolonged labor, cord prolapse, or the need for a C-section. Chiropractic care has the potential to help promote optimal baby position for safe delivery. To avoid these problems, pregnant women may often want to see a chiropractor by the time they reach the eighth month of pregnancy. For women whose babies are in breech or transverse lie position, a chiropractor may utilize the Webster technique, a safe and effective technique performed on women at all stages of pregnancy.
Healthy pregnancy outcome
A healthy pregnancy means there is no complications either for the baby or the mother. The baby and mother need to be safe during and after the pregnancy. Chiropractic care helps the spine, which is essential for the immune system’s optimal function and other internal organs. Additionally, chiropractic adjustments help support safer and easier labor and overall a healthier pregnancy. Post-pregnancy chiropractic care helps support the mother when the gestational changes reverse. The clinic helps mothers through and after pregnancy. We use knowledge and experience to offer the best care to our patients.
Prenatal Patient Case Studies
Management Of Low Back Pain and Nausea in Pregnancy
Patient Information
The patient came in at 8 weeks pregnant, in her first trimester. She wanted to get rid of her pain, nausea, and anxiety. She also hoped for a healthy pregnancy, including labor and delivery.
Symptoms
The patient had constant nausea, anxiety, panic attacks, and asthma. She also had a dull, achy low back pain that never went away. Her pain was a 7/10 at its worst and a 5/10 at its best. Nausea usually presented at night, and she could not sleep through. Standing or sitting for long stretches made her back hurt more.
Diagnosis
Dr. Lee found a strain in her lower back, along with tight muscles around it. The tension was affecting her sacrum. The ligaments around her sacrum and pelvis were also sprained. Pregnancy added to the strain, and her back complaint had been building over several years.
Treatments
She had seven months of corrective and pregnancy care using Webster’s technique. She came three times a week for the first 4 weeks, twice a week for the next 12 weeks, then once a week until birth. She had diversified adjustments throughout. We also performed traction technique for the whole spine, which helped lower inflammation. At home, she did specific exercises for her pelvic floor, core, and spine.
Outcome
Over the course of care, her low back pain decreased from 7/10 to 1/10. She started sleeping through the night, and the nausea reduced during the day. Sitting at work got easier. Daily activities no longer gave her any issues.
Recovery From Postpartum Discomforts Through Targeted Chiropractic Care
Patient Information
This patient is a postpartum mother with a young son. She used to run marathons. Her short-term goal was to get rid of her pain and work out again. Her long-term goal was to get back to marathons and prepare for her second pregnancy.
Symptoms
She had sharp pain in her pubic bone, mostly when she ran. At its worst, it hit 9/10. The pain forced her to stop running marathons and exercising regularly. Both knees also hurt at about 7/10 whenever she tried to be active or care for her son.
Diagnosis
Dr. Lee traced her pain to the joints around the pelvis and to the front of the pelvis, where the two pubic bones meet (the symphysis pubis). The cause was a misalignment in the sacrum and ilium (the large upper pelvic bone).
Treatments
Her treatment plan was corrective, outcome-based care. She came three times a week for 4 weeks, then twice a week for 12 weeks. Dr. Lee adjusted her full spine, with extra attention on the pelvis. Supportive therapies included targeted work on the hip flexors on both sides. She also had electrical stimulation with heat on her lower back muscles. We also provided her with a full spine massage to reduce muscle tightness.
She became pregnant in her third month of care. Her plan then changed to include the Webster technique.
Outcome
Her pain went from 7/10 to 1/10 within the first month. She went back to working out with no limits and slowly ran longer distances without pain. She became pregnant during care and reached both her short-term and long-term goals.
Book an Appointment With Your Local Pregnancy Chiropractor
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