Pregnancy & PRENATAL CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Many women suffer from musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy. Low back pain is most common with 50-80% of women reporting back pain during pregnancy. During this time, there are changes in biomechanics and weight distribution of the body, as well as hormonal changes which can create laxity in the ligaments and connective tissue. This can lead to low back, hip and pubic pain due to altered posture, biomechanics and the decreased joint stability due to the loosening of joints.

Women often report pain and discomfort including: neck pain, upper and lower back pain, pelvic pain and pressure, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain Tenosynovitis and general fatigue.

Prenatal Chiropractic care can restore physiological function for both the patient and their baby. The research recommends regular appointments throughout pregnancy to restore the uterus's tone and counteract the effects of neuro-muscular imbalance in the pelvis. Chiropractic care is an essential element of prenatal care and can have many positive effects of fetal development, labor and delivery:

Minimize fetal constraint, creating more room for the baby's cranium, spine and other skeletal structures to grow unrestricted
Remove torsion of uterus supporting muscles and ligaments, reducing uterine tension
Balance pelvis structures, muscles and ligaments for optimal fetal positioning at birth
Reduce the risk of dystonia (difficult labor) and unnecessary intervention induced birth trauma

Our chiropractors offer a wide variety of safe and gentle hands on therapies to help pregnant patients adapt to the complex physiological and biomechanical changes they go through from conception well into the postpartum period. Low-force adjusting techniques help restore and maintain normal motion in the joints through the spine and pelvis, along with soft tissue techniques, stretching and at home exercises. Our goal is to provide nurturing and individualized treatment as well as ongoing education to promote optimum health for patient and baby before, during and after pregnancy.

According to recent studies, women receiving Chiropractic care:

Report having an easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery
In their first pregnancy have a 24% reduction in labour times
Have a 50% reduced need for analgesics (pain medication) and report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care
Have a significantly less likelihood of back labour (contractions and sharp pain felt in the lower back during labour)
Become more comfortable breast feeding and have less postural strain
Are quicker and more comfortable in their recovery post-partum and better able to handle added stresses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CHIROPRACTIC CARE DURING PREGNANCY SAFE?

Chiropractic care is safe for both mom & baby. Our chiropractors are specifically trained to adjust pregnant women and ensure that the necessary modifications are made to ensure comfort and safety. When performed, chiropractic care during this stage can be an extremely effective treatment for many of the common discomforts associated with pregnancy. Our chiropractors use special pregnancy pillows to help accommodate mom's growing belly and allow the utmost comfort during treatment.

When should i start seeing a chiropractor?

We do recommend seeking chiropractic care early on during your pregnancy to allow your chiropractor to develop a treatment plan that will address any issues that may develop and become problematic and start to affect your quality of life. It also works in a preventative way to ensure a smooth pregnancy, and assist with a smooth labour and delivery.