If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably noticed how quickly your body is changing. As your baby grows, back and joint pain can start to creep in. These changes are completely natural, but they can also be quite uncomfortable. That’s where pregnant chiropractic care comes in.
Many pregnant women are unaware that chiropractic care can help relieve pain and support a healthy pregnancy. Some may think it’s not even possible when you can’t lie on your stomach.
Fortunately, not only is it possible — it provides incredible benefits!
To understand how chiropractic care helps pregnant people, you must first understand what is causing the pain and difficulties as your baby grows.
How Pregnancy Changes Your Body
During pregnancy, your body is preparing to support your growing baby. That requires some big changes. And you’re not just getting ready for the extra weight of the baby; there’s a lot more to it.
Your body starts to build and store more nutrients for your growing fetus early in the pregnancy. That means more blood, amniotic fluid, fat, proteins, nutrients, and tissue. By the end, you may gain 30 pounds or more in additional fluids and tissues, not even including your baby. Since most newborns weigh 7-8 pounds, you could be carrying almost 40 pounds more than you did pre-pregnancy.
That’s a lot of extra weight on your body.
Furthermore, you experience significant shifts in your posture and alignment. As your belly grows, the curve in your lower back becomes more pronounced, which shifts your center of gravity. This adjustment can cause extra stress on your spine, muscles, and joints.
On top of that, your body releases a hormone called relaxin, which loosens your ligaments to make room for childbirth. While this is essential for labor, it can also make your joints less stable and more prone to pain.
All of these changes are designed to help you grow and deliver a healthy baby. Unfortunately for you, they often lead to discomfort, especially in the lower back, pelvis, and hips. But don’t worry — pregnant chiropractic care can help!
Common Joint and Back Problems During Pregnancy
As wonderful as pregnancy can be, it’s not without discomfort for many people. So many changes happening in your body can cause several issues. Some of these include:
- Lower Back Pain — As your belly grows, your lower back carries more of the weight. The more your stomach sticks out, the more added strain to your lower spine. This condition, called lordosis, can result in significant discomfort and sharp pains, whether sitting, standing, or walking.
- Sciatica — The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back through your hips and down each leg. As your baby grows, they can put pressure on this nerve, causing pain that shoots down your back or legs. Sciatica can be incredibly frustrating, making it hard to get comfortable sitting or lying down.
- Pelvic Pain — The loosening of your ligaments around the pelvis can cause pain, especially when walking or changing positions. Some women experience a condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), which happens when the joint in front of the pelvis becomes too relaxed and unstable.
- Round Ligament Pain — The round ligaments support your uterus as it expands. Sometimes, these ligaments can become overstretched, leading to sharp pains in your lower belly or hips, especially when you move quickly or change positions.
- Joint Pain — In addition to your hips and pelvis, the hormonal and postural changes you experience can also cause joint pain. While it’s most common in your knees, some also feel joint pain and weakness in their shoulders, wrists, and ankles.
Not all women experience these issues. However, daily activities and always-important exercise can be challenging for those who do. Plus, frequent pain can harm your overall well-being and mental health, making pregnancy even harder.
Thankfully, pregnant chiropractic adjustments can provide significant relief from these discomforts and, in some cases, even eliminate the pain altogether.
How Pregnant Chiropractic Adjustments Help
Chiropractic care is a safe and natural way to help relieve pain and support a healthy pregnancy.
First, it starts with alleviating the most common issue, back pain. Pregnant chiropractic adjustments can help realign your spine and take the pressure off your lower back. By gently adjusting the vertebrae, your chiropractor can ease tension in your muscles and joints, helping you feel more comfortable as your pregnancy progresses.
Realigning the spine also improves sciatica by reducing pressure and inflammation around your sciatic nerve.
We also focus on reducing pelvic pain. By using specific techniques, such as the Webster Technique, we can stabilize the pelvis, reduce pressure on nerves, and relieve tension in muscles and ligaments. In addition to treating pain, this improves pelvic balance, making it easier for your baby to move into the best position for birth.
Finally, realigning the spine and pelvis supports a more comfortable pregnancy and healthy labor. Reducing back and joint pain helps you focus on other aspects of your health as you prepare for your little one.
Pregnant Chiropractic Care Provides Relief
Pregnancy is an incredible journey, but it’s not always easy on your body. Between the changes in your size, posture, and hormones, having some level of pain is quite common. Luckily, it’s usually temporary and will resolve on its own after delivery. But it’s one thing you shouldn’t have to deal with during this amazing time in your life.
Pregnant chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to help relieve pain, improve alignment, and support a healthy pregnancy. Our chiropractors are skilled in adjusting techniques to be gentle and comfortable for your changing body, providing you with a sense of security and comfort.
If you’re experiencing joint or back pain, know that you’re not alone. Call us to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you feel more comfortable and prepare your body for labor, so you can focus on what matters most — welcoming your new baby.
