Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy: Safety and Benefits
Pregnancy is a wonderful, exciting time in a woman’s life, and it is important to stay healthy and strong through every trimester. While many women focus on eating right and staying active, it’s easy to overlook the tremendous strain that pregnancy can put on the body, particularly the spine and pelvic region.
Making chiropractic care in Fargo part of your prenatal health plan will have numerous benefits for you and your unborn child.
What is a Prenatal Chiropractor?
While all chiropractors have been trained to treat pregnant women, some will go on to receive additional certification in order to specialize in this area of treatment. Our doctors in Fargo can help you.
In addition to ensuring that the body is properly aligned throughout pregnancy, a prenatal chiropractor will also provide information about how to prepare the body for labor and birth, as well as postpartum care.
Chiropractic During Pregnancy: Benefits & Risks
The benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy far outweigh the risks, but it is important to understand everything about it before undergoing treatment. In addition to the most obvious benefits, which include relieving pain in areas such as the lower back, chiropractic treatments have been shown to significantly improve the quality of life for mothers during pregnancy while reducing the need for prescription or OTC pain medication.
Some of the numerous benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
- Controlling urinary incontinence
- Reducing pregnancy-related nausea
- Aligning the pelvis for easier delivery
- Alleviating sciatic nerve pain
- Eliminating the need for pain medications
- Reducing labor and delivery time
There is very little risk associated with prenatal chiropractic treatment; however, it is not recommended for pregnant women with certain health complications such as vaginal bleeding or ectopic pregnancy.
When to Go to a Chiropractor During Pregnancy
Providing you have received approval from your obstetrician, you can see a chiropractor in Fargo at any stage during your pregnancy. Many women prefer to see a chiropractor starting in the first trimester; developing a relationship with the practitioner early will benefit the patient as her body changes throughout the pregnancy.
How Often Should I Go to the Chiropractor During Pregnancy?
Most women will see the chiropractor once a month during the first trimester and increase the visits as the pregnancy progresses. Of course, every woman’s pregnancy is different, and certain conditions may require additional chiropractic treatments.
Your chiropractor in Fargo will be able to best advise you on the frequency of treatment throughout your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Chiropractic Techniques
As with regular treatment, the chiropractor’s job is to manipulate the pregnant patient’s spine, joints, and muscles into alignment. However, in addition to applying gentler pressure than usual, a prenatal chiropractor will adjust their techniques accordingly and may focus more on the pelvic region and the reduction of stress on the uterus and ligaments.
The chiropractor will also take care not to exert undue pressure on the abdomen, and some may even employ equipment specifically made for pregnant women.
Intrauterine Constraint During Pregnancy
One common reason a woman may see a chiropractor during her pregnancy is due to intrauterine constraint, a condition whereby the baby’s movement is restricted due to pelvic misalignment. If left untreated, this condition can result in complications during birth or the need for a C-section.
Similar to the Webster technique, the chiropractor adjusts the pelvis so that the baby can assume an optimal birth position. While the technique can be applied in any trimester, consistent chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy can drastically reduce the need for such an intervention in the first place.
Pregnancy and Sciatica
Sciatica is common during pregnancy, especially in the later months, due to the pressure exerted on the sciatic nerve by the ever-growing baby. The sharp, burning pain from the hip to the foot can make walking, sitting, and even sleeping extremely uncomfortable for the sufferer.
While some women will be fortunate enough to experience relief of this pain if the baby simply moves off the sciatic nerve, most will require some form of treatment to deal with it. The good news is that chiropractic treatment is one of the best ways to relieve sciatic pain, and your chiropractor will work with you to develop the best course of action. Often, this will include a series of adjustments, hot and cold therapies, and stretches to reduce the pain.
Remember, your chiropractor can continue to help you after the birth of your baby, providing post-natal care while your body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. Here at Inline Chiropractic in Fargo, we will care for you and your baby every step of the way, ensuring that you enjoy optimal health during pregnancy and beyond.