Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy

Chiropractic care is a gentle and irreplaceable form of health care during and throughout pregnancy. It significantly contributes to a safer and easier delivery for both the mother and the baby. Chiropractic care has been shown to decrease labor time, reduce the need for pain medications and help reduce the incidence of post-partum depression in new mothers. Chiropractic can help with breech babies and issues such as heartburn, morning sickness, low back pain, sciatica, swollen ankles and feet, headaches, and constipation.

Over 50% of pregnant women complain of lower back pain during pregnancy, caused primarily by the weight that must be balanced by an overworked spine and support system. Furthermore, how smooth and uncomplicated your delivery is has a lot to do with the state of your body. A body that is stressed, misaligned and worn out can result in complications during delivery – resulting in anything from a painful delivery to problems with the baby’s positioning.

A study performed by the American Medical Association Board of Trustees concluded that women who received chiropractic care during their third trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver with far more comfort. Also, the need for painkillers was reduced by half in several patients.

Why You Should See a Chiropractor During Pregnancy

The mother’s spine and pelvis undergo many changes and adaptations to compensate for the growing baby and the risk of interference to her nervous system increases as pregnancy continues. Specific chiropractic care throughout pregnancy enhances nervous system function, providing greater a health potential for both the mother and baby.

Another important reason for care throughout pregnancy is to help establish balance in the mother’s pelvis. A lifetime of stress and trauma to the mother’s spine and pelvis results in the pelvis being compromised. Once this happens there is a less than optimum passage for the baby. Chiropractors define this displacement/deformation as spinal misalignment or subluxation.

Additionally, the woman’s pelvis supports her growing uterus with specific ligaments. If the bones of the pelvis are out of alignment or subluxated, this will cause asymmetrical ligament support of the uterus. The resulting torque on the uterus can reduce the room available for the developing baby. This is called intrauterine constraint. These limitations on the baby’s movement during pregnancy may prevent him/her from getting into the best possible position for birth. Anything other than the ideal vertex position of the baby indicates the inhibiting effects of constraint. Such positions lead to longer more painful labors with increased medical interventions (ie drugs, procedures) in birth.

A chiropractor is trained in special techniques that address spinal or pelvic misalignment’s. He or she will work to eliminate them by using gentle, low force and specific chiropractic adjustments. In most cases, correcting these conditions improves function and allows for a breech baby to turn by itself into the vertex position.

What is the Webster Technique?

The Webster Technique is a specific sacral adjustment that helps to facilitate the mother’s pelvic alignment and nerve system function. This in turn balances pelvic muscles or ligaments and reduces torsion to the uterus. Dr. Michael Magwood is ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) certified in the Webster Technique and has helped many moms before, during and after pregnancy.