How Chiropractic Care Can Help Women Have Easier Births
Pregnancy is understood to be a naturally stressful period during a woman’s life. The body goes through drastic hormonal and physical changes in preparation of a new baby. Expecting mothers often find themselves occupied with a million things to do before, and too often receiving chiropractic care is not on that list. Every mother wishes for a healthy baby and a smooth delivery, and at RxWellness Rockville our doctors can help. When you come in for a consultation, the doctor will listen to your concerns and explain how chiropractic care can help women have easier births.
What Happens to a Woman’s Body During Pregnancy
A woman’s body goes through many obvious changes during pregnancy; weight gain, an enlarged uterus, morning sickness, and back pain are some of the more commonly known ones. The hormone relaxin is not as commonly known, nor is its involvement in the pregnancy process, but it plays a very important role in delivery. Relaxin is nature’s way of ensuring that the baby will have enough room to pass through the pelvis by allowing for more flexibility. When relaxin is secreted, it loosen the joints and ligaments of the pelvis, which make it easier for the baby to pass through. However, relaxin is not just limited to the pelvis. It will affect every ligament and joint in the body, which can lead to back pain, sciatica, or even a curve in the spine.
What Causes Back Pain
As pregnancy progresses and the uterus grows, back pain becomes more common. And as the uterus continues to grow, the women’s center of gravity shifts. This drastic change causes the abdominal muscles to stretch and weaken as the posture shifts and changes. The abdominal muscles are responsible for supporting the spine, and when they are weakened it will increase the chances of lower back injury. This change puts a terrible strain on the lower back, resulting in lower back pain throughout the pregnancy. The additional weight of the fetus also means additional work for the muscles and joints, so as the months pass and the load increases, the pain will also increase if it remains untreated.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care is a great way for expecting mothers to take care of their bodies during their pregnancy. Regular visits, especially when started early on, do a great job of reducing overall pain and discomfort, and routine adjustments can re-establishing balance, align the pelvis and hips, and improve the function of the spine. Some of the many benefits to adding chiropractic care to your wellness routine include the following:
- Reduced morning sickness
- Alleviation of sciatic nerve pain
- Reduction of a dependency on pain medications
- Alignment of the pelvis for a smoother delivery
- Reduction of labor and delivery time
Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Delivery
An added benefit of adding chiropractic care to your other prenatal appointments is that women who receive regular chiropractic treatments, typically experience shorter birthing time and a reduced chance of a Caesarean Section. For example, if the baby’s position is off even a little bit during birth, it will slow down the delivery process and add more stress to the mother and the baby. Regular adjustments will help keep the pelvis, hips, and spine all in the correct position for delivery and make the entire process less stressful. In addition to reducing pain during pregnancy, prenatal chiropractic care can also help reduce risk during birth.
How the Chiropractors at RxWellness Can Help
At RxWellness Spine & Health, we combine massage therapy with chiropractic care to provide our patients with a more complete experience and beneficial healing experience. Massage therapy is a great natural option that can help women through different types of pain and discomfort. Massaging muscles that are pinching or irritating the nerves will also provide tremendous relief to expecting mothers. For example, some women may develop sciatica during their pregnancy from the added weight combined with the shifting and changing of their bodies. Chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy can ease the pain by relieving the added pressure on the sciatic nerve. When paired with chiropractic visits and adjustments this combination can have a positive impact on back pain, posture, and the overall quality of the pregnancy. During your consultation, our doctors will discuss if massage therapy is a good option for you.
At RxWellness Spine & Health in Rockville, we strive to provide the best quality and customized chiropractic experience for all our patients. The goal of working with a chiropractor is to make the pregnancy process smoother and as pain-free as possible. At RxWellness Rockville, the doctor will monitor the changes in the spine throughout the pregnancy and create a treatment process where you will see the most benefits. And as pregnancy progresses and the body continues to change, they will adjust the treatments as necessary, always keeping the comfort of mother and baby in mind.
At RxWellness Rockville, we provide quality care that is safe, gentle, and noninvasive for both mother and baby. During the initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to talk to the doctor in detail and discuss your concerns, hopes, and expectations from treatment.
Contact Us
During the various stages of pregnancy, there are a wide variety of ways for how chiropractic care can help women have easier births. The best and most effective way to support the added weight of the fetus is to contact RxWellness Spine & Health in Rockville and work with our qualified chiropractor to find the best treatment option for the expecting mother. The chiropractor will talk with mom and get a full understanding of her experience, so they can recommend care that would be best for her and her unborn child. At RxWellness Rockville we are here to answer any questions, optimize your body during pregnancy, and get you through the entire experience safely. If you have any questions or want to book a consultation, give us a call at (240) 556-5721 or book an appointment online.