The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy Discomforts

Pains and aches are part of pregnancy. In fact, research shows that approximately 70% of pregnancies involve moderate pain in the lower back, pelvis, or abdomen. These discomforts can disrupt daily activities and diminish the overall quality of life of many expecting mothers.

Luckily, chiropractic care for pregnancy discomfort offers a holistic solution without requiring medication or surgery. In this blog, we’ll explore the key benefits of prenatal chiropractic care and how it can help you enjoy a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy.

Understanding Pregnancy Discomforts

Your body undergoes immense changes during pregnancy. These changes are necessary to support the growing fetus in your womb. However, they also come with physical discomforts that can make the journey to motherhood challenging.

For instance, weight gain during pregnancy adds stress to the joints, particularly the hips, knees, and feet. Additionally, the spike in the hormone relaxin loosens ligaments to prepare you for childbirth but increases the risk of soft tissue injuries.

All these can significantly impact your daily life. Simple activities like walking or standing up from your seat become challenging. The strain on your body can also interfere with getting restful sleep. Over time, these discomforts can lead to fatigue, irritability, and a diminished sense of well-being, making it harder to enjoy the journey and stay active during this crucial time.

How Chiropractic Care Helps During Pregnancy

With more than 35 million Americans seeking treatment annually, chiropractic care has been proven effective in managing pain and enhancing overall well-being. It offers a noninvasive approach, using gentle, hands-on adjustments to address misalignments in the spine and joints. These adjustments help improve spinal health, muscular balance, and nervous system function. 

Importantly, it reduces the reliance on pain medications, which may carry risks for both you and your baby. With prenatal chiropractic care, you can manage discomfort without the need for pharmaceuticals.

The Webster technique is a specialized chiropractic method for pregnant women designed to correct misalignments in the pelvis. It is gentle and safe, promoting easier labor, effective relief for common pregnancy pains, and an overall more comfortable pregnancy.

Common Pregnancy Discomforts Addressed by Chiropractic Care

Back Pain

As your belly grows, your center of gravity shifts forward, forcing you to push your pelvis out and arch your lower back. This posture is known as swayback. While this helps you stay upright, it strains your lumbar spine, often leading to lower back pain. Chiropractic care can help with pregnancy back pain relief and enhance mobility by realigning the spine. 

Hip and Joint Pain

As mentioned, pain in the joints, especially the hips, is often triggered by the weight gain associated with pregnancy. This discomfort is also common in the third trimester as the baby drops lower into the pelvis in preparation for birth. Chiropractic care can help alleviate this pain by reducing joint pressure and restoring balance through targeted adjustments.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a type of nerve pain that occurs when pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve. This pain can feel like a burning or shooting sensation, often radiating from the lower back to the legs and feet. As the hormone relaxin loosens ligaments, spinal disks can slip, pinching the sciatic nerve. The growing uterus can also exert pressure on the sciatic nerve. Chiropractic care for pregnancy discomfort can effectively relieve this pressure and restore spinal alignment.

Nausea and Digestive Discomfort

Nausea and vomiting are usually experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy. They are often referred to as morning sickness, and expecting moms can expect mild to moderate symptoms. Chiropractors can address these issues through spinal realignment, which improves nervous system function, including regulating hormones.

Additional Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Improved Pelvic Alignment and Shorter Labor Times

Subluxations or misalignments in the pelvis contribute to difficult labor. The longer the labor hours, the higher the risks for the mother and the baby.

Chiropractic care can significantly ease labor by promoting proper pelvic alignment. According to research, chiropractic care shortens labor time by 25% in first-time moms and 31% in moms who have previously given birth. By adjusting the pelvis, chiropractic care can also relieve constraints on the uterus, helping to prevent breech presentations and ensuring a smoother delivery process. 

Overall Well-Being and Stress Relief

Due to the many changes that expectant mothers experience, pregnancy can be a time of heightened stress and emotions. Chiropractic care plays a crucial role in improving overall well-being by relieving the physical discomforts associated with pregnancy. Additionally, enhanced nervous system function from this noninvasive pregnancy discomfort treatment can help with emotional regulation, reducing anxiety and promoting a greater sense of calm.

Takeaway

Pregnancy can put a lot of strain on the body. It’s safe to seek chiropractic care for pregnancy discomfort, as it offers a noninvasive solution to alleviate pain and promote overall well-being.

Consult Dr. Dylan Driver of Driver Chiropractic to discuss how chiropractic treatments can support you throughout your pregnancy. With personalized care tailored to your specific needs, you can find relief from discomfort and enjoy a healthier, more comfortable experience as you prepare for motherhood.

Schedule an appointment today!