If you’ve ever been pregnant, you know that various aches and pains are part of the deal. As that bumps grows, your posture suffers, which means soreness in the back, hips and pelvis isn’t far behind. Fortunately, chiropractic care can really make a difference. Here’s what to understand about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, plus who to see here in Reno, Nevada.
Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive method of treating the spinal column and misaligned joints without drugs or surgery. Think of it as physical therapy for the spine as a method of promoting health throughout the body. Every day, it’s estimated that over one million adjustments are made around the world, and complications are very rare.
The same is true during pregnancy. However, it’s always best to speak with your OB and you may be advised against chiropractor care in certain instances. That includes ectopic pregnancy, moderate to severe toxemia, placenta previa or abruption, and vaginal bleeding.
For women experiencing healthy pregnancies without complications, chiropractic care can offer much-needed relief from back and hip pain. To ensure your comfort and safety, chiropractic adjustments should include techniques that don’t put pressure on the abdomen.
All licensed chiropractors receive pregnancy-related training, but some have the benefit of personal experience. Dr. Lynelle McSweeney in Reno is a mother of three herself and very familiar with the physical toll pregnancy takes. In addition to adjusting your spine and hips to relieve pain, she can recommend stretches that can be performed at pain to ease tension and discomfort.
As your baby grows, it affects your center of gravity. To accommodate for this shift, you’ll unconsciously make changes to your posture. Often, that creates misalignments in the spine and other joints. But that’s not all. That ever-expanding belly can affect the natural curve of your back. Meanwhile, the joints and ligaments in the pelvis begin to loosen in preparation for labor and delivery. It all adds up to major back, hip and pelvic pain.
Regular visits to the chiropractor can help address these issues as they arise, relieving pain and tension and helping to re-establish alignment and balance. According to one study, a full 75% of pregnant chiropractic patients enjoyed pain relief. Other studies suggest that regular chiropractic care may help reduce or alleviate symptoms of morning sickness. Aligning the spine helps the nervous system functional optimally, which could be why.
Even better, your growing baby can benefit from chiropractic care too.
The loosening ligaments in the pelvis combined with the pressure of a baby that’s growing by the day can create misalignments that severely limit space. External forces that constrict your baby’s movements are what’s known as intrauterine constraints, and they can lead to birth defects. What’s more, a constricted or misaligned pelvis can create problems during delivery. The best position for delivery is when the baby is head down and rear facing, but it’s not always possible for the baby to move into this position if the pelvis isn’t properly aligned.
A balanced, aligned pelvis helps increase the chances of a healthy, natural and non-invasive birth. Other evidence suggests that women who have received chiropractic care during their pregnancies enjoy better outcomes in labor and delivery, and it may even reduce labor times.
Pregnancy can be a trying time, but chiropractic care offers relief. Not only does it help realign the spine and other joints to relieve pain, regular chiropractic care can help balance the pelvis to provide as much space as possible to your growing baby. That might mean a faster, easier labor and delivery.
In Reno, Dr. McSweeney can help you feel your best during pregnancy. Schedule a visit today.
