Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy

How many of you have been to a chiropractor? Did it help? Did you feel better? So what is your first reaction when I say Chiropractic and Pregnancy in the same sentence?

Yeah - I see the eyebrows, let me guess your thoughts ae something like - "Your crazy. What would a quack know about pregnancy?" Oh yeah, I have heard it all.

However I want to talk with you about the importance of receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy; why I believe it not only helped me have a good pregnancy and delivery, but why I believe that I would greatly benefit all expectant mothers.

Now I realize that many people believe chiropractic care is not safe. However studies show that while 4,000 people will die from a reaction to medically prescribed drugs and 100 people will be struck by lightning, only 1 in 1 million people receiving chiropractic care will have a news worthy adverse effect. Now, I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty safe to me.

So why should you consider going to the chiropractor and what can they do for you?

One of the biggest complaints you hear from women about being pregnant, is how much their backs hurt. Call me crazy, but isn't this what a chiropractor specializes in? The reason for the back pain is the hormones. These hormones cause the bones, muscles and ligaments to soften and become pliable. This allows the body to get out of whack very easily, but it also makes it easier to put it back the way it belongs.

Making regular appointments similar to that of your scheduled prenatal appointments help to re-align the spine and pelvic bones to adjust to the growing baby and changing center of gravity. Of the women who receive chiropractic care, 84 percent notice a large reduction in lower back pain.

Secondly, they can help reduce the length of labor and delivery.

Regular adjustments throughout, and especially during the last trimester, help to establish the pelvic balance and reduce the stress to the uterus and supporting ligaments. This allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.

The process to help relax the uterus is known as the Webster Technique. Since 1 in 40 babies are breech, this method helps the baby to turn naturally. In women who received chiropractic care, there was a 25 percent reduction in the average labor time versus the generally accepted average. That goes up to 33 percent for women who have already given birth.

Considering that my personal labor and delivery, from the time my water broke to the time my daughter was born, was seven and one half hours versus the 12 - 14 hour4s I was told it could be, I am a believer!!!

Third, a quicker recovery time after birth. Labor and delivery is hard on mom and baby. With bodies in better shape and alignment, post partum pain was relieved in 90 to 120 moms that had received regular chiropractic care.

One myth that exists within the obstetrical community is that chiropractic has no role for pregnant women. That couldn't be more wrong and lots of women have suffered when they didn't have to.

To summarize, chiropractic care is very important for the expectant mother. It can help reduce lower back pain, shorten labor and delivery times, and allow for quicker recovery after giving birth.

I know that it was the best decision I could have made for myself and I would challenge all of you to consider these techniques for yourself or loved ones during pregnancy.

--Toni F.