It’s no surprise that pregnancy can be tough on your body. The changes that women experience while they are pregnant, like protruding abdomens, back curves, pelvic pressure, and changes in posture can all result in misaligned joints or spine.
Growing and carrying a baby puts a lot of pressure on a woman’s body and as the baby gets bigger, pregnancy can be extremely painful. This is where chiropractic care during pregnancy can help. Not only is it safe to see a chiropractor while pregnant, but many doctors also recommend it.
Read on for five prenatal benefits of a chiropractor.
1. It Can Put the Baby in a Better Birthing Position
You want your baby to be head down for delivery, but sometimes babies are in the breech position or are sunny side up (face up rather than face down). Your chiropractor can help get your baby in the right position, helping you avoid a c-section.
It’s wise to find a maternity chiropractor who specializes in adjustments of pregnant women as well. They understand pregnancy complications and can help alleviate those ailments.
2. It Relieves Back Pain
Back pain is common in pregnancy. Relaxin, which is a hormone that relaxes and loosens your ligaments and joints in your pelvic area, is released as your body gets ready for labor and delivery.
This loosening can also cause instability and back pain, as the ligaments supporting your back (and belly) are strained.
Back pain can also occur because women may curve their backs to alleviate the heaviness in their belly. This becomes especially pronounced the bigger the baby gets as the pregnancy progresses.
Adjustments from your chiropractor can correct your posture and spinal curvature, reducing or eliminating your pain.
3. It Can Reduce Nausea
If you’ve been pregnant before or are currently pregnant, you may be familiar with the nausea that often accompanies pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
A chiropractor can help reduce your nausea and vomiting by realigning your spine. This will help to improve the overall function of your nervous system, which can help alleviate the severity of your nausea or vomiting.
If constipation, heartburn, or other stomach troubles are triggering your nausea, your chiropractor can also perform adjustments that help with your digestive issues.
4. It Improves the Function of Your Nervous System
If your spine is misaligned, your nervous system may not be able to work properly. Pregnancy is one of the times where you want your nervous system to work optimally and a chiropractor can help. An adjustment can help prevent things like stroke, eclampsia, and preeclampsia.
5. It Can Shorten Labor and Delivery
On average, active labor last between four and eight hours. During this time, you are having contractions and your cervix is dilating from 6 cm to 10 cm. Having a properly aligned pelvis, spine, and hips can help keep this process moving along.
Optimal nerve health can help speed the process up and make it easier for women to give birth naturally and without any medications or pain relief.
Why You Should Strongly Consider Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care during pregnancy has many physical benefits but it also has mental health benefits as well. Getting ready to bring a baby into your home can be a stressful time and that stress can be exacerbated by a tough pregnancy.
Seeing a chiropractor helps alleviate physical pain and in turn, benefits your mental health and stress levels as well.
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I am four months pregnant now, and I have been experiencing frequent back pains in the past weeks. I thought the pain would go away for a while, but it keeps coming back so I decided to consider getting pregnancy chiropractic care. It’s such a relief to know that this helps get the baby in the right position, which also prevents me from having a c-section.