Prenatal Chiropractic Care
The connection between chiropractic and pregnancy has a long history, and it has helped women adapt to the changes in their body for generations.
Throughout pregnancy, a woman gains between 30-40 pounds and her center of gravity shifts upward and forward. This shift in the mother’s body creates spinal misalignments and postural deviation. As the baby continues to grow, the natural curves in the mothers back will continue to exaggerate and cause low back pain. Pregnancy related low back pain usually increases each subsequent pregnancy. Not just the low back, but multiple joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles are affected by pregnancy creating new found pains, and even aggravating old pains. Women also experience a list of multiple other symptoms including heartburn, swelling, rib pain, pubic pain, sinus congestion, and low back pain. Pregnant mothers often report an improvement in sleep as well. These symptoms are relieved with chiropractic care and other natural modalities, usually acupuncture. Chiropractic care helps reduce nerve conduction interference, and a healthy nervous system is vital for both the mother and the baby’s development.
Receiving chiropractic care throughout pregnancy not only relieves pain, but also ensures that the mother’s pelvic bones are balanced. With a balanced pelvis, the baby can get into optimal position for growth, and later for delivery. Studies show that women that receive chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy report a 24% shorter labor than women who did not receive care during their pregnancy.
Prenatal chiropractors hold certifications through the ICPA, that require hours of training specifically on the pelvis. ICPA chiropractors have special training and knowledge around the pregnant body and common-pregnancy related pain and discomfort. The Webster Technique was developed specifically with pregnant mothers in mind and is completely safe for mom and baby.
When should I start seeking prenatal chiropractic care?
As soon as you find out you’re pregnant! Due to the effects of the hormone relaxin and its contribution to sacral instability during pregnancy, it’s beneficial to start care as soon as possible. The female body changes rapidly during pregnancy and chiropractic care allows these changes to be integrated into the body with ease. Further along in your pregnancy? You can begin prenatal chiropractic care at any time during your pregnancy and adjustments are safe all the way into labor. Some women that choose home birth are even adjusted during their active labor.
Postnatal Care
Postnatal care is just as important as prenatal care! Our goal is for our moms to achieve pre-pregnancy status. Labor and birth is difficult on both the mother and the baby’s spine and pelvis. There are also many other biomechanical changes that happen in delivery. Many new motions cause spinal imbalances and pains. Carrying a baby, feeding, carrying car seats, and moving around strollers are just a few new activities that will be added into a mom’s daily routine. It is important to keep yourself feeling good, and keep your nervous system optimized so you can be the best version of yourself while raising your new bundle of joy.
What about the baby?
An adjustment after birth is the most important adjustment of your life. Birth trauma continues to be a severely undertreated and under talked about problem. Excessive force and complications during delivery can create misalignments and subluxations in the spinal column. This can compromise the baby’s nervous system from day one. It is important to make sure the baby is free of nerve inference to allow the connection between the rest of the body and the brain to be optimized. Some conditions that respond to chiropractic care include difficulty breastfeeding, ear infections, colic, reflux, constipation, and digestive issues. It is completely safe for a newborn to be adjusted. Adjustments for babies are gentle with less force that checking the ripeness of an avocado.
Serving the McHenry County area, including Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Cary, Huntley, Barrington, Lake in the Hills, Fox River Grove, West Dundee, Prairie Grove, Lakewood, Gilberts, Carpentersville, and more. Search “prenatal chiropractor near me” for your best local pre- and postnatal chiropractic care options.