Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of chiropractic care (and recommend it to anyone who will lend me their ear). But that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning I was a bit of a sceptic. I mean, how can popping joints and manipulating your skeletal system really benefit the body? Well let me just tell you, it can— especially when you invest in a knowledgeable and educated business that specializes in the overall health and wellness of your body, not just physical manipulation of it’s structure (this is KEY)!
I began chiropractic care in the fall of 2017 when I was having some issues with my knee (which has been resolved) and have since stuck with it through my pregnancy. In fact, at my first prenatal appointment I mentioned to my doctor how I was having a little bit of hip pain, mainly during sleep or when I’d get up after sitting for an extended period of time. Her first question was, “do you see a chiropractor?” Why, yes, I do actually! She was glad to hear that. She immediately showed me some stretches I could do at home and recommended I continue the chiropractic care through the duration of my pregnancy to alleviate (and possibly prevent) many of the common aches and pains that can occur. I talked to my care team at Achieve Balance Chiropractic and we extended my plan to once a month through my pregnancy and it is by far the best decision I could have made! Aside from “morning” sickness that has extended through the duration of my pregnancy, I have had little to no body pains! Dr. Alex provided me with stretches right from the beginning, and personalized the care and adjustments specific to exactly what my body needed during each stage of pregnancy. Periodically I’ll experience some soreness, but I definitely would not call it pain by any means, and even now at almost 39 weeks pregnant, I don’t waddle (with the exception of the middle of the night “I have to pee” walk to the bathroom) and can get around and move with relative ease (especially when I remember to squat when picking things up vs. attempting to bend over at the waist). I completely credit this to staying active (visit Expecting and Empowered for the exact guides I used), drinking lots of water, prenatal massages (including the almost nightly back-rubs my sweetie gives me), and of course chiropractic care! So what exactly are the benefits to chiropractic care during pregnancy? Here are a few I found when researching online:
IS IT SAFE? - First, know that chiropractic care during pregnancy is safe— when performed by a licensed chiropractor. I would highly encourage you to talk to your doctor first in order to create a care plan that works best for YOU! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. By all means, do your own research and have a legitimate educated conversation with your doctor/care team so you can make informed decisions.
INCREASED SLEEP- Pregnant women who receive less than 6 hours of sleep can spend (on average) up to 29 hours in labor vs. women who receive more than 7 hours of sleep which can reduce the duration of labor down to an average of 18 hours (visit paindoctor.com to read more about this)! Chiropractic care can help to alleviate a variety of sleep problems due to pain.
REDUCTION IN LABOR TIME—Furthermore, according to a study presented at the World Chiropractic Congress, it was noted that first time mothers who receive chiropractic care average 24% shorter labor times than women not under chiropractic care.
LESS LABOR PAIN- It is common for women who experience back pain during pregnancy to also experience this pain during delivery. However, women who use chiropractic care are less likely to combat back pain during pregnancy (J. Manipulative Physical Therapy 1991. 14: 116-8).
REDUCED BACK PAIN- It’s mentioned above (Point #2 and #4), but it’s worth mentioning again. Chiropractic care can reduce overall back pain during pregnancy. Scientific research shows that sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SI dysfunction), is the primary cause of pregnancy-related back pain (thank you relaxin hormone) (Obstet Gynecol 1988. 71: 71-5). In fact, this is the type of pain I had experienced at the beginning of my pregnancy but with the implementation chiropractic care, we were able to completely alleviate this symptom for the duration of my pregnancy (HECK YES)!
BREECH BABY- There are specific techniques that can be used to help a baby get out of a breech position and into an ideal position for birth. Personally, our little one has been head down the majority of my pregnancy so I have not had to utilize this method— but who’s to say that our early intervention (by using chiro care right from the get-go) didn’t help to keep our baby right where she needed to be the whole time?!
REDUCED NAUSEA- This one may be hard to believe after my complaining about all day, every day morning sickness; however, I’d still argue with you on it. I had pretty severe nausea throughout pregnancy, but I also have no doubt it would have been much worse without chiropractic care and without the medicinal interventions I had to take when needed. I can say, with 100% confidence, that they days following an adjustment I was able to eat better, move better, and spend less time vomitting compared to the remaining days of the month. So did it completely eliminate this particular symptom of my pregnancy? No. But everyone is different, and for me it definitely made some days way more tolerable— And trust me, when your’e sick all the time, a little relief does wonders to your emotional sanity! Research shows that chiropractic care can reduce overall nausea during pregnancy.
So there you have it! There are so many benefits to this type of care during pregnancy! I, personally, am so glad I found Achieve Balance Chiropractic and Dr. Arminta Phelps and Dr. Alex Gohring. They are knowledgeable, personable, and truly care about the well-being of their patients. I appreciate their candid personalities, transparency of treatment, and direct approach to treating my whole body and look forward to our continued relationship after the birth of our little girl!