Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care

Prenatal Care

Back pain is an inconvenience that often comes with the joy of expecting a child. But you don't have to spend your pregnancy uncomfortable and in pain! Chiropractic in Evergreen is a proven and effective way to treat your low back pain as the body changes during your pregnancy.

As the baby grows inside the womb, the woman's body releases a hormone, relaxin that relaxes ligaments, so that the pelvis can loosen in preparation for birth. This laxity can cause muscles and ligaments to become stretched and strained. In a pregnant woman, her center of gravity starts to shift forward and her body starts to change as the baby grows and her body prepares for birth. The curve in her low back increases to accommodate the growing baby and this increased curvature adds more stress to the joints and discs in the spine. By using gentle chiropractic adjustments, stress on the nerves, muscles, and bones can be removed by restoring proper joint alignment and nerve flow, thus reducing pain and discomfort.

Furthermore, these biomechanical changes in a woman's body can misalign the pelvis, which can then cause a tightening and twisting of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. These tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus are what prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. However, there is a specific chiropractic technique, the Webster Technique that removes stress on the pelvic nerves, muscles, and ligaments by balancing everything out. This technique is often used with breech babies because it decreases the intrauterine constraint, so the baby can rotate freely into a better position, thus reducing the need for interventions during birth, such as a c-section.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy not only can help you to stay more comfortable but can also help to facilitate your birth. Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to significantly reduce the length of time a woman labors. First-time moms averaged a 24% shorter labor, while mothers who have already given birth experienced a 39% reduction in the average labor length, compared to controls. Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can also reduce the likelihood of experiencing back labor. Regular chiropractic adjustments can safely continue up until the time of birth.

Chiropractic care can keep a pregnant mom comfortable throughout her pregnancy by reducing low back, hip pain, sciatica, constipation, and heartburn. It also can reduce nerve interference to the uterus, which is vital for the development of a healthy baby. Chiropractic adjustments are safe for the pregnant woman and her baby. These are resources so that the mom-to-be can become well informed so that she can make the best choices for her healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby!

Postnatal Care in Evergreen

Chiropractic care can also help after birth because in the two months following delivery, the ligaments start to tighten back up, and ideally we would like to correct joint problems before they return to the pre-pregnancy position. This can help prevent problems such as muscle tension, headaches, rib, and upper back pain. Furthermore, new moms are constantly in a flexed forward posture from holding and feeding their newborns. Chiropractic care can help alleviate the pain and discomfort in the upper back, neck, and head from this flexed forward position.

Infancy and Children

Birth is one of the most traumatic events in a person's life. The resulting stress and irritation to the still-developing spine can cause many newborn health complaints, such as colic, nursing problems, unexplained crying, poor appetite, breathing problems, ear infections, asthma, and allergic reactions. These all can be traced to nervous system dysfunction caused by a malfunctioning spine.

As the child grows, they go through several developmental stages: holding the head up, sitting up, crawling, learning to walk, and mastering walking. After each of these stages the child should be checked by a chiropractor because if neglected, the bumps and falls during this period of rapid growth can lead to serious spinal deformities later in life. This can set the stage for "growing pains," scoliosis, and a weakened immune system.

Chiropractic adjustments are modified for the size and weight of the infant and child and they are very gentle. Often the child will smile or laugh after the adjustment! Many parents report that their children seem healthier than other kids their age. Proper spinal hygiene is an important key to better health, so please bring in your child today!

Get Moving Chiropractic's, Dr. Katy Mooberry DC has her certification in pediatrics (CACCP) as well certification in the Webster Technique.