Pregnancy is a miraculous journey that unfolds with a series of changes to your body to accommodate your growing baby. As your body goes through these changes, it’s common for discomfort to arise.
Understanding the aches and pains of pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful and natural process, however, it can put a lot of stress on your body.
You may find that as the physical and hormonal changes take effect, some of your day-to-day activities, positions and postures become uncomfortable. Daily tasks you once completed with ease might become more difficult. For some, pain might cause stress and overwhelm.
You may feel pain in areas such as your back, neck, shoulders, pelvis, and ribs. Issues like sciatica and headaches might also make an appearance.
A common culprit for pain during your pregnancy is a hormone called ‘relaxin’. Relaxin relaxes your muscles, joints and ligaments to make room for your growing baby and help your body prepare for birth. For some, this laxity can be a cause for discomfort.
Also, as your belly undergoes rapid growth, the way your body carries its load changes. The even distribution of weight you once knew is shifted, and you might feel a tug forward, placing additional stress on the joints in your lower back. This shift can prompt you to adjust your posture, potentially increasing the curve of your back to compensate for the added weight of your bump.
For some women, this may result in a misaligned spine or joints, leading to pain and discomfort that could linger long after your little one’s born.
This is where prenatal chiropractic care comes in.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy
Your pregnancy chiro understand the unique needs of pregnant women, will identify misalignments and help to correct them by using their hands to adjust your spine, joints and muscles. Your chiropractor will provide gentle adjustments which will be less forceful than the manipulations commonly performed on other adults.
There are many potential benefits to seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy:
- Pain management– Your chiropractor will aim to improve your balance and alignment to reduce discomfort.
- Walk easier– by keeping your spine and hips in alignment you may find you can move more comfortably, keeping you as active as possible during your pregnancy.
- Reduction in labour time– research suggests that women who received chiropractic care during their pregnancies experienced an average 25% reduction in labour times and those in their subsequent pregnancies experienced an average of 31% reduction in labour times.
You may wonder, is chiro while pregnant safe? Remember, it’s important to consult with your healthcare professional, like your obstetrician or midwife for an assessment before beginning any new treatment.
Pregnancy chiro isn’t recommended if you’re experiencing any of the following in your pregnancy:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Placental abruption
- Placenta previa
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Toxaemia
When is the best time to see a Chiropractor in pregnancy?
There’s no right or wrong time to start seeing a chiropractor during your pregnancy, however, we do recommend beginning early in your pregnancy as early visits to a chiropractor can help support your body’s natural adjustments and ease the transition as it accommodates your growing baby.
Early chiropractic care may also help prevent issues from escalating, contributing to a more comfortable pregnancy overall.
We generally advise you visit us for pregnancy chiropractic adjustments monthly, but as each woman and every pregnancy is unique, your chiropractor will tailor an individualised treatment schedule that works best for you.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
During your visits with our prenatal chiropractor at Liberty Health and Happiness, your comfort and well-being take centre stage.
Here’s a sneak peek into what your first appointment will look like:
1. Careful Health Review: Your chiropractor will start by taking your health history. They’ll listen to your concerns, needs, and any specific issues you might be facing.
2. Thorough Assessment: A detailed examination of your spine and nervous system will follow. This step allows us to understand your body’s unique dynamics and identify areas that may need attention.
3. Planning your Care: Following your assessment, we’ll sit down with you to discuss our findings. This is a collaborative process where we work together to tailor an individualised treatment plan specifically for you. This plan can be adjusted as your pregnancy progresses, ensuring it aligns with your changing needs.
4. Treatment: Your treatment will take place on a specialised adjustable table, with a pregnancy pillow designed for maximum comfort. Your bump will be cushioned to eliminate any pressure. Your well-being is our top priority, so if at any point during your treatment you feel even the slightest discomfort, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re here to make the entire process gentle, comfortable, and, above all, safe.
How Liberty Health and Happiness can help
At Liberty Health and Happiness, we’ve had the privilege of adjusting many pregnant women. We’re dedicated to providing safe and gentle chiropractic care tailored specifically to you and your pregnancy. We aim to help you manage musculoskeletal symptoms that may arise as your belly grows and your centre of gravity shifts.
We aim to simplify things by working with you to identify what is best for you and your specific situation. We focus on helping you adjust to the changes in your body as smoothly as possible.
If you’d like a little extra care for your body and spine throughout your pregnancy give us a call or book online here.
Rest easy knowing that from the first moment you walk into our office, the emphasis will be on you. You’ll be cared for at Liberty as if you were our own family.
We can’t wait to meet you (and your bump)!
* All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Liberty Health and Happiness can consult with you to confirm if a particular treatment is right for you.
References:
- Borggren CL. (2007). Pregnancy and Chiropractic: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. Jun;6(2):70-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jcme.2007.04.004
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Relaxin. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24305-relaxin
- Pregnancy, Birth & Baby. (2023). Anatomy of Pregnancy and Birth. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/anatomy-of-pregnancy-and-birth
