Chiropractor While Pregnant: A Guide for Would-Be Parents
Many pregnant women experience loose joints and wobbliness, especially late in the pregnancy. Pregnancy is already stressful, and these extra challenges put a lot of strain on your body, resulting in pain and a feeling of exhaustion. Chiropractic care during pregnancy can dramatically improve your wellbeing by readjusting your spinal column, easing the discomfort many mothers-to-be feel.
While going to a chiropractor during pregnancy is beneficial, some mothers worry about the safety of doing so. It’s important to find an accredited practitioner that has training in prenatal care. The chiropractor should also use an adjustable table that keeps pressure off your stomach, and you will need to avoid lying on your back during the third trimester.
What Happens During a Prenatal Chiropractic Session?
The session will often start with the Webster Technique, which focuses on creating more space for the baby to move around. This technique adjusts the position of the sacrum and may include spinal adjustments to release tension in the ligaments surrounding the pelvis.
The final aspect of this technique is a short massage around the round ligament at the center of your belly. Releasing this ligament increases the amount of space in your belly, allowing your baby to move around freely.
The Benefits of Visiting a Chiropractor While Pregnant
Pelvic misalignment can impact the development of your child and affect labor and delivery. A misaligned pelvis can result in the baby having trouble getting into the right position, resulting in breech births and other complications.
Additional benefits of visiting a chiropractor while pregnant include:
- Pain relief, especially in the hips and lower back
- Controlling the symptoms of nausea
- Helping you adjust to loosened ligaments and joints
How Often Should You Go
There is no set schedule for visiting the chiropractor during pregnancy. Most practitioners will recommend regular monthly visits, but you may need more frequent consultations if you have any particular concerns.
The Webster Technique is suitable for pregnant women in the third trimester, but it can also assist in relieving discomfort during earlier stages of pregnancy. Many pregnant women opt to visit a chiropractor to soothe lower back pain and ligament discomfort, such as that wobbliness that often starts sometime during the second trimester.
Ultimately, how often you go will depend on your particular needs. Some women get more from prenatal chiropractic care than others. Discuss your schedule with your chiropractor to achieve optimum results.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can do wonders for your wellbeing and may even lessen the discomfort of labor and delivery. For more information or to schedule an appointment, feel free to get in touch with Ribley Family Chiropractic today!