During pregnancy, a woman’s body endures many changes such as their center of gravity shifting forward, affecting the curvature of the back and placing extra stress on the spine. Changes like this can cause pain and postural imbalances, so it is
important to take care of any issues to prevent further damage.
A safe treatment option for lower back pain during pregnancy is chiropractic care. Pain in the lower back can be caused by a number of things including stress, hormones, weight gain and the position of the baby. During pregnancy, the pelvis can be pulled
out of alignment, which can cause stress on the uterus and supporting ligaments. Alignment issues may make it more difficult for the baby to position itself for birth. Chiropractic treatment can be a great pain-relief alternative for women who want
to avoid taking pain medication while pregnant. Some chiropractors even specialize in prenatal chiropractic care to provide you with the best treatment and a greater ease of mind.
The potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
- Improved mood.
- Increased mobility.
- Increased flexibility.
- Increased chances of easier delivery and reduced recovery time.
- Pain relief.
- Improved sleep.
- An overall healthier pregnancy.
Alongside chiropractic care, it may help to adjust daily activities to help ease pain and tension. Some of these adjustments include:
- Swapping out high heels for a low-heeled shoe with support.
- Increase rest and elevate feet while doing so.
- Sleep on left side while using support pillows under belly and between the legs.
- Prenatal yoga.
- Limit amount of weight you carry.
- Apply a cold compress to relieve new pains.
- Apply heat to aches while taking note of time and temperature to avoid burns.
- Go swimming to temporarily take gravity off your stomach.
Pregnancy brings many new and specific changes to a woman’s body and chiropractic care can cater to those changes and improve the experience for women preparing to bring a new life into the world. For the best results, begin chiropractic care
as early into your pregnancy as possible. If you’re still early in the first trimester, be sure to let your chiropractor know you are expecting when scheduling your visit. The sooner the care begins, the easier the transition through pregnancy
and post-pregnancy will be.
Chiropractic care is generally safe for most pregnancies and does not bring high risks but taking precaution by checking with your obstetrician before scheduling an appointment is a good idea – just to make sure everything is going well and
confirm it is safe for you to get care from a chiropractor.
After delivery, chiropractic care can help address joint problems that may have developed during pregnancy, while care during pregnancy can also help prevent problems and help ensure proper alignment before pelvic ligaments tighten to avoid permanent
pain. If you’re interested in chiropractic care during or after pregnancy, talk to your OB provider.