Bringing new life into the world is a beautiful and amazing feat for women during pregnancy. Whether you are a new mother or a pro, being pregnant brings a joyous amount of experiences. However, it can be physically demanding on your body. Pregnant women often experience aches and pains as they enter the second and third trimester. So what can you do to relieve the pain when you are restricted from taking medication? Well, we have some great news! Chiropractic care can help during pregnancy!
Chiropractic care is a natural treatment that is drug-free. Chiropractic is carried out y doctors called chiropractors. They are doctors who specialize in the spine using natural methods like spinal adjustments.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?
Chiropractic care is safe for most women during pregnancy. All chiropractors can treat during pregnancy, but there are some who specialize in prenatal care. Some of these specializations include the following:
- Webster Certified– trained to work specifically with pelvic balance in pregnancy
- Member of ICPA reflecting special interest
- CACCP– Certified with the ICPA reflecting advanced training
- DACCP– Diplomate with ICPA reflecting the highest level of advanced training
Complications are extremely rare, however we do not recommend you seek out chiropractic care if you are experiencing the following:
- moderate to severe toxemia
- ectopic pregnancy
- placenta abruption
- vaginal bleeding
Chiropractors use special tables to accommodate women during pregnancy for their spinal adjustments. They use techniques that do not put pressure on the abdomen. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors with physical therapy training may even recommend stretches and exercises to also alleviate pain.
Why You Should Have Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy?
There are several benefits in making regular appointments to the chiropractor during your pregnancy. Regular chiropractic care visits can ease or prevent the following complications:
- Control the feeling of nausea
- Reduce labor and delivery time
- Relieve back, neck, and joint pain
- Prevent the need for Cesarean delivery
Chiropractic Reduces The Chance of Breeched Delivery and C-Section
If you’re becoming a new mother you may have heard about breeched deliveries. A breeched delivery is when the baby is not positioned correctly inside your uterus. Instead of being positioned head first for their grand exit into the new world, a breech results in their feet being in position first. It is too difficult and dangerous to give birth in this manner, so if the baby does not turn then a C-Section may be required.
Though its common for the baby to be in a breech position for a long duration of the preganacy the shift should happen as your due date approaches. In order to prevent the chance of a breeched delivery, we recommend seeing a chiropractor to balance your hips.
If your hips are out of alignment it increases the chance of the breeched delivery. However, many chiropractors are trained in what is know as the Webster Technique. The Webster Technique is specific to pregnant women and adjusting their hips to be balanced. It is reported by The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (2002) that there is an 82% success rate of turning the baby head first with the Webster Technique. It is recommended that the Webster Technique be used as soon as the 8th month of pregnancy.
In addition to avoiding a breeched delivery, your balanced hips may also allow for an easier labor and overall delivery experience.
What are the Benefits of Postpartum Wellness Care at the Chiropractor?
Obviously, giving birth is very physically taxing on your body. It’s not uncommon that your strained or pulled something out of alignment in your back or joints, especially hips. It is safe to see a chiropractor within a few days after giving birth, so as soon as your body is feeling up to it we recommend coming in for a visit! There are two major benefits from postpartum chiropractic care:
1)You may have a faster physical recovery
As previously stated, giving birth is a physical trauma to your body. Nerve tissues may be damaged and ligaments out of place. Seeing a chiropractor can fix those issues within a few treatments!
Your chiropractic treatments will restore function and communication in your nerves and it may even help with breast feeding!
2)Less likely to experience postpartum depression
You may have heard the rumors of women experiencing postpartum depression after giving birth. Unfortunately, they are no rumors. Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition that 1 in 7 women experience. We highly recommend seeking care from your medical doctor to treat this condition.
Postpartum depression is when a new mother after giving birth feels extremely depressed. It can be a long lasting condition. This medical condition can occur for a few different reasons.
- Depression runs in your family
- You experience clinical depression already
- Your hormones drop drastically after giving birth
- You are experiencing negative stress (You didn’t want to have the baby, or your partner/family is not helping you care for the baby
So how does chiropractic care help prevent or lessen the effects of postpartum depression?
Receiving a chiropractic adjustment soon after birth releases endorphins proven to elevate a person’s mood.
Why You Should Choose RxWellness Spine & Health in McLean-Tysons
The chiropractic and wellness team in our McLean-Tysons office are ready to assist you in your pregnancy and postpartum journey. Becoming a new mother is amazing and wonderful, but also physically demanding and emotionally stressful. Dr. Kevin Naples is a family chiropractor trained in the Webster Technique to give expecting mothers an easier delivery and avoid a breeched delivery. He has been working with pregnant women for over 6 years.
Our services in this office include chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physical therapy. Thus, in addition to the highly beneficial chiropractic adjustments, you will also receive some deep tissue massage therapy to help aching muscles.