Some pregnant women worry chiropractic care isn’t safe until they give birth, but the good news is that this is not true. Unless you have an ectopic pregnancy, are experiencing vaginal bleeding, have a placenta abruption, or toxemia, you and your baby could both benefit from prenatal chiropractic care.
How Mom Benefits
When you’re pregnant, your body experiences a lot of changes, both physically and hormonally. Your posture could be impacted, your back could begin to ache, you could start getting headaches, and a whole range of other issues. Your baby’s weight will begin to shift your center of gravity, which can cause your spine to become misaligned. When you visit the chiropractor you can experience pain relief, better posture, and more agility during your pregnancy. Some other benefits to mom include:
- Getting the hips limber, and ready for delivery
- Relieving morning sickness symptoms
- Reducing labor and delivery time
- Preventing cesarean delivery
How Baby Benefits
In addition to the expectant mother benefiting from chiropractic care, the baby experiences benefits. Something called “intrauterine constraint” happens when external forces get in the way of baby moving normally. If your bones are misaligned, the pelvis could be getting in the way of baby. This can lead to birth defects or a difficult birth for the baby.
With the pelvis out of alignment, the baby may have a harder time moving into position for birth. This can lead to a stressful birth that misaligns the baby’s bones. After your baby is born, you can take him or her to the chiropractor for an infant adjustment. While all chiropractors are trained to handle babies, there are some with special certifications and additional education, and that may be who you want to get in touch with. The birth canal is a narrow space, and your baby could be suffering because of a traumatic birth.
How to Get Started
If you are considering going to the chiropractor while you’re pregnant, be sure you speak about it with your doctor. It’s possible there are risks you aren’t quite aware of, or that you simply don’t understand, so keeping your doctor in the loop about all care you’re seeking is always the safest thing to do.
If you’ve spoken with your doctor and are ready to schedule a visit, contact a chiropractor, like a chiropractor in Silver Spring, MD . You might be amazed at the amount both you and baby can benefit when you take proper care of yourself during your pregnancy. Call today to get started with care.
Thanks to AmeriWell Clinics for their insight into how chiropractic care can benefit pregnant women and their babies.
