Pregnant? Call the Chiropractor!
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Contrary to the common misconception, there are no contraindications for using chiropractics during a pregnancy. Utilizing chiropractics during pregnancy can aid in nausea control, reduce labor and delivery time, reduce back pain, joint and neck pain, help prevent caesarian delivery, and maintain an overall healthier pregnancy.
Last week, I was lucky enough to have a long conversation with Dr. Nicole Lederman, a prenatal chiropractor, doula, and associate professor at Parker University.
She informed me that, yes, pregnant women are able to have adjustments, but they are modified, generally by utilizing different tools such as a modified table or a chiropractic pregnancy pillow. And get this — instead of traditional side adjustments, women will lie on their bellies (of course with a modified table or pregnancy pillow)!
A prenatal adjustment is usually easy and gentle, as the pregnant women have the naturally occurring hormone relaxin, which helps relax the joints in the pelvis to ease delivery.
Chiropractic adjustments can actually change the mother’s physical structure, putting the pelvis in the best position possible to accommodate the both mother and child. Adjustments may not only help alleviate pain, but can also help prevent it!
In addition to adjustments in prenatal care, chiropractors also utilize soft tissue work. This can work faster than a long massage, and help to further relax the muscles around the area being worked on.
Being on her fourth pregnancy herself, Dr. Lederman is humbly surprised that people always ask women how uncomfortable they are during their pregnancy (especially the last few weeks).
She explains that it’s, “sad people think that’s how pregnancy has to be,” and can vouch for chiropractic success by professing to have had no back pain during any of her pregnancies, (except for a short time during her first). She of course, has regular chiropractic adjustments!
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My wife couldn't have gone without chiropractic care during our first pregnancy. She had sciatica and she was treated with a modified table that allowed the bottom to drop out to accommodate her belly. There are a few articles posted on this site http://www.drtchiro.com/pregnancy.htm
February 14, 2012 - 10:57amThis Comment