Common Conditions During Pregnancy That Chiropractic Care Can Help

• Low Back Pain during Pregnancy: This condition affects about 50% of women during their pregnancy and is the most commonly reported benefit of chiropractic care.  It that has been clinically shown to reduce low back pain during pregnancy.  In our office we support a woman during the changes that occur during pregnancy to help reduce pain and improve ability to function.
• Pelvic Girdle Pain: Chiropractic adjustments can improve pelvic alignment and reduce tension caused by muscle strain and joint instability.  Pelvic instability can occur during pregnancy due to a hormone called relaxin.  This hormone relaxes or softens the ligaments throughout a woman's body during pregnancy.  Muscle tension changes also can be a cause of pelvic girdle pain.  During pregnancy, the low back and pelvic muscles work harder during pregnancy as part of changes to a woman's center of gravity as her uterus and the baby grow.
• Sciatica: Nerve compression due to increased weight and postural changes that stress the spine and pelvis may be relieved by a chiropractic treatment called a spinal manipulation.  This treatment improves the distribution of tension and weight gently increasing the mobility and position of spine and pelvic bones.
• Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction (PSD): Chiropractic care can re-align the pelvis and specifically focus on improving the front connection between the right and left side of the pelvis called the pubic symphysis.  During pregnancy, hormone changes can make it easier for a woman to spread her pelvis or shift her bones into a stressful position.  Chiropractic adjustments can improve the muscle tension and bone position to improve pubic symphysis dysfunction.
• Round Ligament Pain: The round ligament occurs on both sides of the uterus and can become tense and painful during pregnancy if pelvic alignment is off and causing the movements as a woman walks to become unsymmetrical.  A chiropractic adjustment can balance pelvic movement and improve symmetrical tone of the round ligamtsPosture Imbalances: A woman's body changes so much during pregnancy that frequently posture imbalances can occur.  If a woman works at a desk, she is more likely to develop forward head posture.  If a woman rapidly gains weight (from uterus and baby growing), it can cause an increase in the arch of the low back called the lordosis.  Hyperlordosis during pregnancy is very common and managed by a chiropractor to decrease inflammation this will cause to the spinal vertebra.
• Headaches and Migraines: Often this is related to spinal tension or misalignment.  Chiropractic care has been shown to safely reduce the frequency and severity headaches and migraines without the use of medications.  Decreased need to take over the counter medications is advised during pregnancy. 
• Neck Pain: Commonly during pregnancy postural strain and hormone laxity will neck pain.  Often spinal adjustments can provide relief.  
• Hip Pain: The ball and socket joint called the hip joint can become stressed and inflamed during pregnancy due to misalignments and posture changes.  Improving the alignment reduces these issues and reduces hip pain.
• Sleep Disruption due to Pain: Pressure points can easily develop during pregnancy can cause an increased awareness of pain while we try to sleep.  Chiropractic care reduces these pressure points by improving alignment of the spine and pelvis.
• Difficulty Walking or Gait Changes: During pregnancy a woman's body will frequently start to waddle or have alterations in how she walks.  Waddling is a stressful movement on a woman's frame and is not an efficient use of energy when walking.  A chiropractic treatment can improve the efficiency of her movements and reduce soreness from muscles overworking.
• Fatigue related to Musculoskeletal Stress:  Growing a human is hard work! Pregnancy shifts nutrients and energy to the baby for growth, and this can deplete the mother's reserves.  As certain nutrients reduce inside the mother, it can contribute to increased risk of cramping and fatigue.  Cramps during pregnancy can be more intense and longer lasting due to these deficiencies.​
• Breech Presentation (Webster Technique):  The preferred position to deliver a baby is head out. When a baby is positioned to where the butt or leg(s) are going to be delivered first it is called breech.  Breech position can be changed by improving pelvic and sacral alignment and balancing ligament tension.  These changes allow the baby to  move more freely to change position.
• Labor Duration and Ease:  Midwives, doulas, and obstetricians often find that when a woman has been under chiropractic care, her body is better equipped to adjust to the process of labor and delivery.  This allows for a shorter and easier labor experience.
• General Functional Mobility: In general, optimizing spinal alignment helps improve nerve, muscle and joint function in the body.  The allows better movement, less pain, and more comfort.  A properly aligned body performs better than a misaligned body!