Chiropractic Adjustments During Pregnancy
Aches and pains in the hips and lower back are part of the normal pregnancy experience. Most pregnant women will experience these aches and pains at some point. Often, pelvic pain, lower back pain, or a combination of both tends to increase as the pregnancy progresses.
Body Stressors During Pregnancy
Nowadays, many pregnant women seek effective alternatives to regular pain medication. In particular, they opt for chiropractic care, which has to do with musculoskeletal issues. It is one of the most popular and effective alternative therapies for pregnant women.
During pregnancy, many women experience problems caused by an off-center uterus. This is because the uterus tends to pull out in front, preventing it from being well-balanced in the back. Additionally, hormonal changes soften a pregnant women’s joints, leading to more pain and discomfort.
What Are Chiropractic Adjustments?
Also known as joint or spinal manipulation, this is a process whereby trained chiropractors use their hands and/or special instruments to manipulate the joints in a patient’s body. A chiropractic adjustment can correct your body’s alignment, reduce pain, and improve overall physical function.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
If you are considering getting this type of treatment, you need to understand that it is not just for back problems. Joint and spinal manipulation can benefit different parts of your body. Pregnancy causes different changes in the body. Some of these changes may not be readily apparent for those expecting their first child.
Fluctuating hormones and an expanding belly may not surprise you, but a rapidly shifting posture, lower back pain, round ligament pain, joint discomfort, and loose limbs may be less welcome and less expected.
As the fetus grows, your center of gravity will gradually shift, causing your spine to shift as well. This will stress your musculoskeletal and nervous systems. This may cause physical problems that you may not even realize stem from your pregnancy.
Daily discomfort and pain should not affect your ability to enjoy this amazing period of your life. Thus, you should consider getting chiropractic therapy. This non-invasive, whole-body care can make pregnancy and motherhood a more enjoyable and less stressful experience.
Benefits
Your spinal curvature will increase as your belly grows. Your placenta will also secrete more relaxin to help your cervix dilate. Before you give birth, this hormone will help loosen your ligaments. This will allow your pelvis to soften enough to accommodate a vaginal birth. All these changes can lead to pelvic pain, hip pain, and sacroiliac dysfunction.
Fortunately, chiropractic adjustments can realign your spine as well as the affected joints. By combining chiropractic treatments with other therapies such as acupuncture and stretching, you will find relief from most of your muscle tension, aches, and pains. You may also experience other benefits, such as:
-
A less complicated and faster labor and delivery
-
Reduced nausea
-
Better sleep
-
Fewer headaches
-
Reduced sciatic pain
-
Less swelling
Chiropractic adjustments do not involve surgery or drugs. Hence, experts believe them to be safe during pregnancy. However, there may be circumstances where a chiropractic adjustment may not be the best idea. Therefore, you need to consult your doctor before getting a chiropractic adjustment while pregnant.
To learn more about chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy, visit Mission Bay Chiropractic at our office in San Francisco, California. You can call (415) 834-5566 today to schedule an appointment.