Prenatal  Health

Chiropractic treament and check-ups prior to, during and after pregnancy are extremely beneficial.  Before becoming pregnant it is advisable for women to maximize their general health. Dental and medical check-ups are important as there are many medications that cannot be administered or taken during pregnancy. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment is something that is safe to have throughout the entire period.

Chiropractic can assist you in several ways:

Firstly, if there are any areas of the spine which are subluxated or locked within their range of movement and causing (or could potentially  cause) discomfort as the pregnancy advances, these can be corrected.

Secondly, postural and general health considerations and advice can be provided by your chiropractor.

Finally, a chiropractic plan for managing your pregnancy and postnatal care can be discussed and implemented.

Throughout Pregnancy

Early pregnancy is sometimes a bit of a shock to the body as certain hormones can have physical and psychological (emotional) effects. However, these can be minimized by good general health and adequate rest. Pregnancy can often magnify minor problems. For example, an upper cervical (neck) spinal problem can cause headaches and nausea. Morning sickness may worsen or aggravate these symptoms. Many pregnant women have found that their morning sickness symptoms have been alleviated after having their necks adjusted by a chiropractor. This is possible because despite morning sickness being present there may have already been an underlying spinal problem. Chiropractic treatment is drug-free and safe for both mother and baby. It can  correct and prevent problems.

Later stages of pregnancy do not usually involve morning sickness but more likely problems due to mechanical changes in the body. Extra abdominal weight causes the lower back to curve in more and puts it under more stress. This can be greatly relieved by chiropractic massage and adjustment.

Another source of physical discomfort late in pregnancy is that the same hormone that causes pelvic ligaments to relax during childbirth also causes ligaments in other parts of the body to become much more relaxed and less supportive. In one instance,a woman who was approximately eight months pregnant had pain on the top of the foot due to increased body weight and relaxed (less-supportive) ligaments. Anti-inflammatory drugs were not an option due to pregnancy. A chiropractor confirmed the condition was temporary and would resolve after pregnancy. The patient was advised to wear more supportive footwear and the problem disappeared after the birth. 

Postnatal  Care

Some reasons for postnatal chiropractic check-ups:

Pelvic realignment may be necessary after childbirth. Very often, lower back and leg pain can be put down to tiredness and the demands on a new mother when in reality there's a legitimate physical cause. The pelvic bones separate during childbirth and afterwards may not realign properly. A chiropractor can help with this issue.

Neck and upper back pain related to breastfeeding is very common. Neck pain is caused primarily by the mother continually looking down at the infant during feeding. This habit is unnecessary and can be unlearned. Also the baby should be raised up by placing a pillow on the mother's lap during feeding. This discourages hunched posture which can cause pain in the upper back (thoracic spine). Chiropractic adjustment greatly relieves the pressure caused by this type of posture.

Headaches can be secondary to neck subluxations.  Rather than blaming them on fatigue it would be wise to have the neck examined and adjusted by a chiropractor.  

All of these issues when treated successfully can often allow the exhausted new mother to sleep better.

CHIROPRACTIC IS A DRUG-FREE, SAFE TREATMENT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOTHERS