One of the biggest complaints during pregnancy is low back pain. As the baby grows and the abdomen becomes bigger increased stress is placed on the lumbar spine and pelvis. Due to this increased stress what were once minor aches and pains become magnified. Unfortunately, due to the rapidly growing baby, many of the conventional medical treatments for pain are not viable during this time. Chiropractic provides a safe alternative to conventional treatment and can help lessen low back pain in pregnancy as well as prevent future occurrences of pain.
At our office, we have a number of different methods to address pregnancy issues. Care for the mother can begin before conception by making sure that her body is prepared for the pregnancy changes. Care continues on through the pregnancy with a focus on helping her body move as functionally as possible in order to limit low back pain. Finally, care after the labor/delivery process is designed to bring the mother back to her “normal” state. Read on to find out more information about what we can do in this office.
Is the body ready for pregnancy?
It goes without saying that pregnancy is rough on the female body. Fluctuating hormones, nutritional needs, and physical changes are all part of the pregnancy process. A thorough work-up should be done prior to conception to find any possible hormone issues or nutritional deficiencies. These can then be corrected in order to promote the best possible pregnancy process. Issues with hormones, sugar regulation, or chronic infections could be greatly impacting the body making conceiving a baby difficult. Schedule a consultation with us if you are thinking about having a baby or are having difficulties conceiving.
Many women are surprised to hear that they can receive chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy. Most are concerned about the safety of those adjustments. It is important to understand that a woman is adjusted differently when she is pregnant. Adjusting techniques are modified to be safe for both mother and baby. There are also pregnancy specific techniques designed to be very easy on the mother and child. Adjustments are natural way to combat spine and pelvis pain without the use of drugs.
Another safe treatment for pain, inflammation, and stiffness in pregnancy is acupuncture. Using specific acupuncture points in the low back, arms, and legs pain can be treated in a minimally invasive manner at no risk to the mother or baby. Even symptoms like swelling in the hands and feet can be treated with acupuncture. Most mothers who have tried it comment on how relaxing it is. Acupuncture is a wonderful treatment that goes way beyond the simple treatment of pain. It is also a cumulative therapy. The more times it is performed the greater its effects are. Visit our acupuncture page to learn more.
As the baby nears the final weeks of development he/she will turn in the womb so that the head is pointing towards the birth canal. If the baby does not due this they may be in a breech or transverse position. If given more time the baby could still turn by their self to the correct position. If that does not happen however, the external cephalic version (ECV) may be recommended by the OBGYN. This is the process of inducing a baby to move by pressing on the outside of the abdomen. It has a success rate of 58% with a 6% risk of serious complications requiring emergency C-section. There are natural alternative options. The first is called the Webster’s Technique which utilizes a combination of adjustments and ligament stretching to encourage the baby to move. It is very safe with a 70-80% success rate (depending on the source). Acupuncture can also be used to try and correct baby position. This is also a very safe technique that uses acupuncture points on the abdomen and legs. Please consider trying these safe alternatives before going in for the ECV.