5 Reasons to See a Prenatal Chiropractor

Pregnancy has a funny way of turning your world upside down.

But a prenatal chiropractor could make things a bit easier.

First off, congratulations!

Pregnancy is an incredibly exciting time for mom, dad, and everyone else who’s eagerly awaiting that precious bundle of joy. But in addition to those feelings of excitement, you may be feeling anxiety, fatigue, and discomfort.

If only you could keep going to the chiropractor to relieve this ache in your back….

Good news: You can!

Whether this is your first chiropractor visit or you’ve been swearing by your adjustments for years, a prenatal chiropractor can help you sail through your pregnancy with ease.

What Happens During Pregnancy

At the beginning of his or her life, your baby is about the size of a poppy seed—hardly small enough to cause discomfort. But as your child grows, they become a much bigger burden (literally).

Your body (and your back) go through a lot during pregnancy.

To compensate for your growing belly, mom’s center of gravity needs to shift forward, which increases the curvature of her lower back. In fact, it feels a lot like strapping a bowling ball to your stomach and trying to get through your day.

As you might imagine, the additional weight places extra stress on your muscles, joints, and ligaments, pulling them out of alignment.

Why See a Prenatal Chiropractor?

Chiropractors receive extensive education and training on the mechanics of the human body, including pregnant bodies. A prenatal chiropractor uses this knowledge to gently bring your joints back into alignment through manual manipulation.

And at Oviedo Chiropractic, we’ll do all the work while you reap all the benefits.

Here are five reasons to see a prenatal chiropractor.

1. Less Pain

From lower back pain to sciatica, pain and pregnancy go hand-in-hand. But this doesn’t have to be your reality for the next nine months.

Studies have shown that 84% of women who see a prenatal chiropractor report less back pain than women who don’t. By realigning your joints into their proper positions, your musculoskeletal system is under a lot less stress.

Other conditions that arise during pregnancy, such as sciatica, can be easily treated by a prenatal chiropractor.

2. Boost To Your Immune System

An improved immune system is another surprise benefit of chiropractic care—one that is highly beneficial during pregnancy.

Remember, chiropractors may focus on the spine and bones but they treat the body as a whole unit rather than a collection of systems. By relieving pressure on the nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, your body can work the way it was meant to work.

A prenatal chiropractor may be able to help baby get in position for birth.

3. Baby Positioning

Sure, your belly may look a lot bigger, but your baby doesn’t exactly have room to stretch out. This is often due to the stress that your uterus is under.

This amazing organ is attached to your tailbone and abdominal wall by a set of ligaments. As your belly grows, these ligaments can become tight, creating what is known as “intrauterine constraint.” And if your joints are misaligned, the situation becomes even worse.

Luckily, your chiropractor may be able to help. A prenatal chiropractor can the Webster Technique to help loosen the surrounding muscles and ligaments so that you (and your baby) are more comfortable.

4. Shorter Labor

This may be the best news you’ll hear all day!

Studies have shown that first-time mothers who sought prenatal chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies had a 25% shorter labor than those without chiropractic adjustments. Not your first time giving birth? Even better! These women experience an average of 31% shorter labors.

The study above also showed a link between back pain during pregnancy and the ever-dreaded back labor. By treating your back pain throughout your pregnancy, you’ll have a better chance of an easier delivery.

5. Postpartum Issues

You’ve welcomed your new little bundle of joy into the world, but that doesn’t mean your chiropractic visits have to end.

Giving birth can cause your joints to become misaligned (not to mention the back pain from changing diapers, nursing, and babywearing), so don’t forget to return to your prenatal chiropractor once your OB gives you the go-ahead.

You can continue seeing your chiropractor even after you give birth.

And if you’re experiencing the “baby blues,” your prenatal chiropractor just may be able to help. Remember, chiropractors view the body as a singular organism. If a misaligned joint puts pressure on a certain nerve, your body’s hormones can get thrown out of whack.

Regular adjustments (and the pain relief that follows) also cause a release of endorphins (the “happy” hormone).

Did you know that you can also bring your baby in for an adjustment of their own? Babies and children get misaligned joints as well. Here at Oviedo Chiropractic, we treat newborns, adults, and everyone in between.

Conclusion

We hope this article leaves you excited and ready to give chiropractic care a try!

If you’ve been seeing a chiropractor regularly, make sure to tell him/her you’re pregnant so they can adjust their equipment and strategy accordingly. Monitor your body after each adjustment and let your OB know if you experience any new symptoms.

Pregnancy is an exciting time in life that comes with a plethora of rules and information. At Oviedo Chiropractic, we like to make each and every patient feel at ease with their care.

Visit us today so we can help keep your pregnancy worry and pain free!

Dr. Erin Chu, D.C.

Dr Chu graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, FL as the class valedictorian after receiving her bachelor's in Biology from UCF. She is one of the few chiropractors in the Orlando area who is certified in the Webster Technique for pregnancy chiropractic. She has been interested in chiropractic care since high school when she worked as a chiropractic assistant.