Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, but it can also be a painful one. As your baby and body grow, you’ll likely feel discomfort in your back, hips and legs, as well as headaches, fatigue, dehydration and lack of balance, among others. Some of these can be managed with stretching and movement, but in many cases, pregnancy pain is chronic and debilitating. The good news is that chiropractic care can help to ease that pain, making pregnancy less painful and more pleasant.
To fully understand the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, let’s tell the story of Kate. Kate is a 33-year-old woman who is pregnant with her second child. Her first pregnancy was easy and problem-free. However, now that she’s a few years older and her body has been through pregnancy and childbirth, she’s experiencing more pain and discomfort. Further, after having a natural, intervention-free birth with her first child, she’s hoping to have a similar birth experience, and wants to do all she can to make that happen.
So how can chiropractic help Kate have a more comfortable pregnancy and a natural childbirth?
Comfort and Pain Relief during Pregnancy
Chiropractic care can help to relieve pressure on joints and realign the center of gravity. It can undo tight areas of the musculoskeletal system that are causing pregnancy pain. We also often teach gentle stretching movements that can help relieve aches at home.
Preparing for Natural Childbirth
Realigning the pelvis can give baby more room to grow. This can help minimize the need for induction, extra monitoring or other interventions. In addition, a misaligned pelvis can cause the baby to move into a breech or other suboptimal position for birth, increasing the likelihood of a Cesarean delivery. Further, when babies are not in a good position for birth (i.e. “sunny side up”), labor is more painful, and an epidural or other pain medication may be needed.
Have the pregnancy and birth that YOU want.
At Opp Family Chiropractic, we use targeted chiropractic techniques to treat pregnant women and babies for conditions common in pregnancy, delivery and the first weeks of a newborn’s life. We are committed to making this intense transitional period healthier and happier! Contact us today to learn more and get started.