Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been growing in popularity. Many pregnant women find that it helps with low back pain, pelvic pains, and the general discomforts of the third trimester.
But is it safe? And how often should you go to the chiropractor when pregnant?
Before you seek go to the chiropractor when pregnant, it’s important to talk to your prenatal doctor or midwife. Get the green light from your provider before seeking out a chiropractor. Disclaimer: this site does not give medical advice and you should always talk to your personal healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.
Is it safe to see a chiropractor when pregnant?
There has not been a lot of great research on prenatal chiropractic care, and we rely heavily on anecdotal evidence to support it. That means we don’t have great studies to support it, but pregnant people tell us that it improves their pain and discomfort.
This article reviewed 33 references and found that generally speaking, chiropractic care can improve the comfort of the pregnant woman and is generally safe. Additionally, this article also supports the safety of chiropractic care in a healthy pregnancy.
Whether you are planning for a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth, you may find benefit in regular adjustments during pregnancy. Prenatal chiropractors typically use an adjustable table and gentle pressure to help with spinal alignment.
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How often should you go to the chiropractor when pregnant?
How often you see your chiropractor depends on your specific needs – there is no set schedule that works for everyone. Your treatment plan may depend on your overall health and if you were receiving spinal adjustments before your pregnancy. Some people find the spinal adjustments helpful through their entire pregnancy, though others may only find benefit before birth.
For me, I struggled with a lot of lower back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. I followed my OB visit schedule when scheduling chiropractic appointments. That meant that during the second trimester I went monthly and at the end of pregnancy I was paying the chiropractor a weekly visit. It’s a good idea to talk to your prenatal chiropractor about your personal spinal misalignments, aches and pains to set your schedule.
Seeing a pregnancy chiropractor close to your due date can be a great way to prepare for childbirth.
What to look for in a pregnancy chiropractor
When selecting your pregnancy chiropractor, look for a licensed chiropractor who performs the Webster technique. This is a pregnancy-specific chiropractic technique that helps your pelvic alignment. Webster Certified chiropractors went through a special training designed to help expectant mothers.
Some people say that by fixing a pelvic misalignment, you can encourage a baby in breech position to move to a vertex position. If your baby is in the breech presentation, you may wish to find a chiropractor to give you a pelvic adjustment.
What does pregnancy chiropractic care do?
It can be hard to measure the benefits of chiropractic care since it is not well studied. What we know from moms that have done it is they often report less pain, an overall feeling of pregnancy wellness, and improved comfort and quality of life.
There are many changes your body goes through when pregnant, and these changes can cause some discomfort. With gentle adjustments, prenatal chiropractic treatment may help improve your comfort.
Some of the hormonal changes, like your body’s natural production of relaxin, can cause body changes and spinal misalignment. You may notice lower back pain, neck pain, hip pain, and even pains in your pelvic region.
The weight of your growing baby can also cause some pregnancy pains. You may notice sciatic nerve pain, round ligament pain, and joint pain with your growing belly adding extra pressure and weight on your pelvis. Regular chiropractic adjustments may help you have less pain and proper alignment as your body changes with pregnancy.
Some people claim that they had a faster delivery time and easier pregnancy with regular chiropractic care. Talk to your prenatal healthcare provider about if regular treatment from a chiropractor can help you have a healthier pregnancy.
There are also claims that regular visits to a chiropractor can help your baby find the right position for birth. If you are trying to avoid a breech birth or cesarean delivery, its possible that chiropractic care could help your baby find optimal positioning.
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Chiropractic care during pregnancy may help your baby find the proper position for birth, offer some pain relief, and some claim that it will help you have a better birth outcome. While these claims may not be supported by studies, anecdotal stories of people that benefitted from chiropractic care.
