Pregnancy Can Bring Aches and Pains
During pregnancy, your body naturally shifts to allow room for the increased weight and change in body shape that comes with carrying a child. However, pregnancy can also cause pain and discomfort that decreases quality of life significantly.
Half of all pregnant women develop lower back pain at some point during a pregnancy. The baby’s head creates increased pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing leg and lower back pain called sciatica. Neck pain due to increased body weight another discomfort common among pregnant women.
Additionally, the weight gain associated with pregnancy may cause sore joints and ligaments. While the body releases hormones to encourage these ligaments to stretch and make room for the baby, this soreness is still a major aspect of pregnancy pain. Also, the forward-placed weight of the baby creates extra stress on the spine, sometimes causing increased curvature of the upper and lower spine.
Chiropractic Can Provide Relief for Pregnancy-Related Pain
For expectant mothers who wish to avoid taking pain-relieving drugs, chiropractic care is a safe, natural alternative. Chiropractic treatment can significantly reduce pain and discomfort during pregnancy by realigning the body and relieving pressure that causes lower back pain.
A study by Cynthia K. Peterson and colleagues at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, found that most pregnant women who sought chiropractic treatment for lower back pain experienced improvement in pain as a result of the treatment.
Additionally, chiropractic treatment can help mothers recover after delivery. The forward weight of the baby can cause a change in weight distribution on the pelvis, creating extra pressure on the spine and frontal pelvis. After delivery, ligaments and joints that loosened to allow room for the baby begin to tighten up. Chiropractic care post-delivery can restore pelvic balance and spinal alignment as joint tighten, preventing permanent injury as a result of pregnancy.
Chiropractic Treatment Options During Pregnancy
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to assist with pelvic alignment and fetal positioning.
At Plato Chiropractic Health Clinic, your doctor of chiropractic can recommend gentle stretches and exercises to relieve pregnancy-related soreness and help your body adjust to the changes of pregnancy with less pain. You can also seek advice about the ergonomics of your sleeping and sitting posture to prevent unnecessary pain due to bad positioning.
Is Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Safe?
Safety is the first goal in caring for an expectant mother and her unborn baby. Chiropractors are trained and equipped to treat pregnant women, and many women report significant pain relief as a result of chiropractic treatment.
Current literature suggests chiropractic care is generally very safe for pregnant women and your chiropractor can work with you to devise a treatment plan during your pregnancy. Patients who may be experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or who have any safety concerns should always consult with an obstetrician before seeking chiropractic care.
At Plato Chiropractic Health Clinic, we are committed to providing high quality treatment for you and your growing family. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about chiropractic care during pregnancy.
For more information about chiropractic care during pregnancy, please contact us to make an appointment or stop by any of our clinics in Virginia. Walk-ins are always welcome.
If chiropractic is not the best solution for your symptoms, our doctors will work with you to find the care you need.