Every pregnant woman strives to make the healthiest choices for their developing babies through-out the course of pregnancy. Chiropractic care is quickly becoming a huge choice in having a healthy pregnancy. It’s a no brainer that during the course of pregnancy, a Mom’s body goes through numerous changes. These changes are not only hormonal/biochemical changes but a woman’s body also goes through a huge structural change during pregnancy.
Over the course of a 40 week gestation period, a woman can usually gain anywhere between 30-40 pounds as the baby is growing. This weight increase can create postural distortions and spinal misalignments. As the bulk of this weight is distributed in the abdominal area, the mother’s center of gravity shifts forward. In order to compensate for this, the natural curves in the spine are exaggerated, especially in the lower back (lumbar region) and this can cause some lower back pain. The mother’s hips may also expand laterally to help stabilize the body (and in preparation for the birth) and this can cause increased pressure and discomfort at the sacroiliac joints. There are loads of hormonal changes during pregnancy, and these changes cause the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage to “soften” and become more pliable. It’s an amazingly intelligent process to help the mom’s body get ready for giving for birth, but it can also cause an increase in spinal misalignments (subluxations).
Pregnant women are choosing chiropractic care not only to stay more comfortable during pregnancy, but to also make sure their nerve systems are functioning at their best. Since our nerve system is the master control of everything going on within our bodies, it only makes sense to keep it functioning at its best during the course of a pregnancy so the developing baby has the best start to life as possible. Also, by staying well adjusted, a pregnant mom is giving the developing baby the room it needs within the womb as it grows. If a mom’s spine or pelvis is mis-aligned or torqued, this can distort the womb (since it sits within the pelvic bowl) which can cause the developing baby to not have the room it needs. At times, a pelvic distortion can contribute to a baby not turning into a head down position in preparation for birth. Chiropractic care can help normalize the pelvis which can then give the baby the room it needs to turn. We have heard many pregnant moms within our own office say that chiropractic care not only helped them stay more comfortable and functional throughout their pregnancy, but it also helped them have an easier birth process overall.
I wish I had my own story to share here, but I don’t since I have no children yet. However, I do know if I am ever to have a baby, I would definitely stay under chiropractic care and get adjusted on a regular basis, not only to stay as comfortable as possible, but to make sure the growing baby has the room it needs and more importantly all the nerve signals it needs to start life off as healthy as possible. If you want more information on chiropractic care during pregnancy, search the topic on this website: www.icpa4kids.org.
In Health,
Dr. Jen