Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?

So far, chiropractic care does not have any known contraindications regarding pregnant women. Chiropractors have undergone the necessary training, to work with expecting mothers. Most chiropractors will help women who are pregnant or trying to have a baby. There are some who specialize in prenatal as well as postnatal care.

Chiropractors who are trained to work with expecting mothers have the option to use tables that can be adjusted according to the body of a pregnant women. They will also use methods that will prevent the addition of unneeded pressure on the abdomen of the pregnant woman.  A chiropractor is specifically trained in the requirements of expecting mothers and will recommend exercises and stretches that are safe for their fragile conditions.

Benefits Of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, a lot of endocrinological and physiological changes happen in the body to prepare it for the creation of the environment for the growing fetus. Changes like increased back curve and protruding abdomen, postural adaptations, pelvic changes can lead to misaligned spine or joints.

One good reason to undergo chiropractic care during pregnancy is to establish pelvic alignment and balance. If the pelvis is misaligned, it could significantly reduce the amount of available room for the developing baby, which is called intrauterine constraint. A pelvis that is misaligned can make it harder for the baby to find the best position for delivery.

This could affect the ability of the mother to have a non invasive, natural birth. Posterior as well as breech positions can interfere with the normal ease of labor and result in interventions such as c-sections.

The master communication system to all the other systems in the body is the central nervous system. Keeping an aligned spine will encourage the whole body to function effectively.The other health benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy are as follows:

• Maintaining a healthy pregnancy
• Controlling the signs and symptoms of nausea
• Cutting down the time of labor and delivery
• Relieving joint, neck, or back pain.
• Avoiding a possible cesarean delivery

Chiropractic Care and Breech Deliveries

The founder of ICPA or the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, Larry Webster, came up with a specific chiropractic analysis as well as adjustment that allows chiropractors to create a balanced pelvis, of the pregnant woman and cut back on the undue stress to her supporting ligaments and uterus.

The balanced state in the pelvic area has been shown to encourage optimal fetal positioning and this technique is referred to as the Webster Technique.

Some believe it is normal if a baby is in breech position until the third trimester. The majority of birth practitioners aren’t worried about breech presentations until the patient is 37 weeks pregnant. About 4% of all pregnancies lead to a breech presentation.

According to the July/August issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, about 82% of babies turn vertex whenever chiropractors use the Webster Technique. Furthermore, the findings from the study showed that it might be advantageous to conduct the Webster Technique during the 8^th month of pregnancy, once a pregnant woman presents breech.

Now, the ICPA suggests that women should get chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy to create pelvic balance and to make sure that the room for the developing baby during pregnancy, is always at its best condition. The optimal baby positioning during the time of birth would reduce the possibility of dystocia or difficult labor and leads to safer and easier deliveries for both the mother and the baby.

Talk To Your Health Care Provider First

An increasing number of women are looking for the benefits offered by chiropractic care during pregnancy and there are also a growing number of health care professionals, who are seeking chiropractors to whom they can refer their patients.

Talk to your health care provider about these options. If you need more information about chiropractic care during pregnancy, ask your doctor about it and the associated benefits. You should check your options to support the natural abilities of your body to function. Be sure to work with a team like Fenton Chiropractic that will be respectful of your choices.

Call Fenton Chiropractic now if you wish to know more about chiropractic care.