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Pregnancy and Chiropractic

Pregnant women benefit greatly from chiropractic care with benefits that can include the baby as well.

Pregnancy can be a time of joy and exciting anticipation, yet for some the experience is colored by pain, discomfort and illness. This is often because pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that affect the spine, nerves, joints, ligaments, connective tissues, center of gravity and stability. The doctor of chiropractic can ensure that the spinal column, pelvis and related structures are balanced, moving easily and free of vertebral subluxations.

When free of vertebral subluxations, the mother-to-be experiences pregnancy at a greater level of comfort, health and vitality and can better handle the rigor of childbirth.

Drugless Approach To Health

Since nearly all drugs and medications can cause fetal damage or malformations it is important for pregnant women to avoid them as much as possible. Chiropractic’s drugless approach is another reason why it is valued during pregnancy.

Pregnant Women Have Special Concerns

There are so many things pregnant women worry about: staying pregnant, carrying the baby to full term, morning sickness, the baby developing normally, backaches, leg pain and if their labor will be safe and (hopefully) easy.

Can chiropractic care help ease their minds? Chiropractic care has been observed to help pregnant and birthing women a number of ways. Chiropractors have been performing spinal adjustments on pregnant women for over one hundred years and have noted that chiropractic spinal corrective care may help maintain pregnancy, control vomiting during pregnancy, deliver full term infants with ease and produce healthier infants

Chiropractic Improves Baby’s Birth Position

Pre-natal chiropractic techniques release stress on the pelvis and uterus, helping the unborn child to turn and position itself properly for a healthy birth presentation. (For more information on this procedure, visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association at: www.icpa4kids.com

Did You Know?

Breast feeding improves intellectual performance and awareness. Three year olds who had been breast-fed as babies outperformed bottle-fed toddlers in tests of general awareness and judgment ability, verbal and quantitative skills and memory.

Questions about Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Is chiropractic safe for a pregnant woman and her unborn child? Absolutely! Chiropractic’s gentle, drug free approach is especially beneficial during pregnancy. Can I see other healthcare providers while under chiropractic care?

Of course. There is no conflict. Many women continue chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy in addition to seeing other healthcare providers.

How late in pregnancy is it possible to get a spinal adjustment?

Anytime. Women have even received chiropractic care during labor.

Can spinal care help postpartum depression?

According to an article in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 1982, “postpartum depression is a rarity in patients receiving manipulative therapy”.

Do I have to have a problem in pregnancy to see a chiropractor?

Not at all. Periodic spinal checkups during pregnancy should be as common as periodic weigh-ins.

What about after pregnancy?

Spinal care can help the postpartum woman return to pre-pregnancy fitness by balancing her spinal column, realigning her pelvic bones and removing vertebral subluxations.

References

  1. Koren T. Chiropractic: Bringing Out The Best in You- An Introduction. Koren Publications, 2005.
  2. Vallone S. The role of chiropractic in pregnancy. Int’l. Chiropractic Assn. Review. Summer 2002;47-51.
  3. What is the role of osteopathic manipulation in obstetric care? Journal of the American Osteopathic Assn. Nov. 1974.
  4. Fallon JM. Chiropractic and pregnancy. ICA Review. Nov/Dec 1990;39-42.
  5. Webster L. Modern day birthing techniques can produce subluxations in both the mother and the baby. Int’l. Chiropractic Pediatric Assn. Newsletter. Jan. 1993.
  6. Burns L. Vertebral lesions and the course of pregnancy in animals. Journal of the American Osteopathic Assn. 1993;33(3):155-157.
  7. Gutman G. Blocked atlantal nerve syndrome in babies and infants. Manuelle Medizin. 1987;25:5-10.
  8. Guthrie RA, Martin RH. Effect of pressure applied to the upper thoracic (placebo) versus lumbar areas (osteopathic manipulative treatment) for inhibition of lumbar myalgia during labor. JAOA. 1982;82(4):247-251.

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