Chiropractic care during pregnancy has benefits far beyond alleviating lower back pain. Adjustments during pregnancy have specifically been proven to relax the pelvic floor muscles, which is helpful in preventing complications during birth. Research shows that women who receive chiropractic adjustments while pregnant experience, on average, a 25-31% reduction in their labor and delivery time. For any woman who has ever given birth, or anyone who has supported a woman during labor, you can appreciate how significant that statistic is! 

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Chiropractors can address so much more than just the lower back. Although there are many changes that can’t be avoided during pregnancy, headaches, pelvic girdle pain, lower back pain, sciatica, and extremity pains don’t need to be on the list of unavoidable problems.

 

Chiropractors have varying degrees of education and experience regarding prenatal (and postpartum) care. Palmer College of Chiropractic teaches Webster’s technique as part of the core curriculum. This is the most well-known prenatal technique in the chiropractic world. There are many additional classes and certifications that

chiropractors can obtain after graduation if they want to delve deeper into pediatric or prenatal care in the classroom. Any of these certifications are indications that the DC you’re seeing has a solid footing with understanding the needs of pregnant patients. Clinical experience is also a vital part of building confidence and competence with prenatal care. The ‘clinical pearls’ that a chiropractor, or any physician, learns through practice, are often the things that become their most valuable resources. If your chiropractor has worked with a lot of different kinds of patients, or has worked with other well-seasoned chiropractors, they likely have gained a lot of wisdom and insight.

 

Adjusting throughout pregnancy should always be a bit more gentle. Although it’s appropriate for pregnant patients to receive manual adjustments, its not appropriate in every area of the spine at every stage of pregnancy. There are also additional adjustments that are warranted in pregnancy that are typically not utilized in non-pregnant patients. This is another reason it’s important to work with a doctor who has a solid foundation for prenatal care.

 

Trust is always the most important part of a doctor-patient relationship. Talk with your chiropractor about any questions, hesitations, or fears you may have before starting your prenatal care. Any good physician will be able to explain things thoroughly; your treatment will be better with the open communication