Can a Chiropractor Induce Labor? Here Are Pregnancy Tips to Know
As a pregnant woman, you’re likely very much aware of the challenges that labor can present. You barely have any control over it. Thus, most pregnant women do not give birth on their expected due date.
Those seeking to control their destiny regarding labor explore various approaches, the bulk of them invasive or medicine-based. Chiropractic care has emerged as an alternative in recent years.
Can a chiropractor induce labor when you’re ready to bring your baby into the world? Woodstock’s top chiropractor covers all the details in this post.
How a Chiropractor Can Help During Pregnancy
If you’re new to chiropractic care, you may wonder if it’s even safe for pregnancy. The good news? It’s completely safe. Many prospective mums embrace this alternative method of pregnancy care because of the numerous benefits it offers.
Seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy can help:
- Reduce back pain associated with pregnancy
- Relax the pelvic floor muscles
- Improve your level of flexibility
- Correct pelvic misalignment
A combination of these benefits helps improve the level of comfort during pregnancy.
How Does Seeing a Chiropractor Help with Labor?
Can a chiropractor induce labor? The answer is multifaceted. A qualified chiropractor cannot induce labor directly in the same way your doctor would using Pitocin or membrane stripping.
However, they can use a range of approaches to indirectly prepare your body for labor and make the process less challenging. Many women have reported experiencing contractions and the start of labor after a session of chiropractic adjustment.
Some of the approaches a chiropractor will use to prepare your body for childbirth include the following:
Induction Massage
This type of deep-tissue massage is highly beneficial for expectant mothers experiencing anxiety, fatigue, and stress. The therapist will use long strokes to target areas where you’re experiencing pain, such as the joints and lower back.
A properly executed induction massage can reduce stress, relieve joint pain, and relax the mind. Perhaps most importantly, it can increase the flow of oxytocin in your bloodstream—a vital hormone for the process of natural labor induction.
Fascial Stretch Therapy
The goal of this therapy is to improve blood circulation. The volume of blood increases by up to 50% during pregnancy, making the overall flow a bit sluggish. Stretching the fascia and increasing blood flow will increase the spread of oxytocin.
Active Release Treatment
Active-release therapy helps encourage healing in soft tissue injuries. The therapy can also help manage pain due to the buildup of scar tissue. Thus, it can be beneficial for women who have already had previous pregnancies. The uterine muscles, ligaments, and tendons will have scars from those pregnancies.
Relieving pain in these tissues and increasing blood flow toward them can help induce labor in pregnancies close to their due date.
Important Tips for Expectant Mothers Thinking About Embracing Chiropractic Care
Here are a few tips you should keep in mind if you want to get the best out of chiropractic care as an expectant mother:
Consult Your Healthcare Provider First
You should consult with your obstetrician before you consider chiropractic care during pregnancy or while trying to induce labor. After evaluating your current condition, medical history, and other factors, they will provide personalized advice on whether the approach will work for you.
Work with an Experienced Chiropractor
If your doctor clears you for chiropractic care, be sure to work with a chiropractor who has extensive experience working with pregnant women. Such doctors understand the unique needs of pregnant women and know how to provide them with safe and effective care.
Communicate with Your Chiropractor
During the chiropractic appointment, you should endeavor to communicate openly with your chiropractor about any concerns. Speak up immediately if you’re in discomfort during the chiropractic adjustments.
Communicating with your chiropractor is important because it will help them to tailor their approach toward addressing your specific needs without compromising your safety and comfort.
Stay Calm and Patient
The experience of pregnancy and childbirth will vary from one woman to another. If you’re yet to experience labor past your due date, there’s no reason to panic. You can still give birth to your baby safely as long as you keep working with all the relevant stakeholders in the delivery process—including your chiropractor.
Make Labor Less Daunting with Quality Chiropractic Care
Can a chiropractor induce labor? Yes, albeit indirectly. Seeing a chiropractor while pregnant has many benefits. For many women, faster and shorter labor times could be one of those benefits.
Are you ready to enjoy these benefits? Call Ribley Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA, today to schedule a consultation.