Chiropractic care to relieve back pain during pregnancy

Chiropractic care to relieve back pain during pregnancy

During my 35 years of practicing chiropractic, I have heard many interesting comments from my pregnant patients. One woman who received great relief from lower back pain through chiropractic care during her second pregnancy said, "I wish I had known to go to a chiropractor during my first pregnancy." She went on to tell me that she didn't have chiropractic care during her first pregnancy and suffered from severe back pain. This article explains how back pain can occur during pregnancy and how chiropractic care can relieve lower back pain.

Another statement I heard was from an assistant named Christine who worked for me. She became pregnant with her first child and I gave her chiropractic care during her pregnancy. Not only did she have very little back pain, but she also had a very easy and quick delivery of her baby. During one of her visits to her obstetrician during her pregnancy, the obstetrician said to her, “Without my chiropractor, I would never have made it through my pregnancies.” I have noticed that over the years obstetricians have become more accepting of chiropractic care for pregnant patients and are suggesting and recommending patients see chiropractors for treatment, particularly when it comes to back pain.

Back problems can develop during pregnancy due to postural changes that occur due to changes in the mother's load. As the baby grows, the mother's posture shifts forward. This can put strain on the joints of the lower back and pelvis. In this case, misalignment and abnormal movements can irritate the pelvic and spinal joints, causing back problems.

Chiropractic care is a safe and gentle way to realign the lower spine and pelvis and relieve pain. This is why obstetricians and primary care physicians recommend chiropractors to their pregnant patients as it is a drug-free alternative therapy for back pain relief.

Additionally, a normally aligned pelvis allows the baby to be positioned correctly during the different stages of pregnancy. Studies show that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy, and especially in the last trimester, tend to have quicker and easier deliveries. It should be emphasized that chiropractors do not rotate or reposition babies during pregnancy. This is the realm of the obstetrician. Chiropractic care simply ensures that the pelvis and spine are in an optimal position. Some chiropractors use the Webster technique, a safe and gentle method to align a woman's pelvis and relieve back pain. The Webster Technique is one of the many treatments chiropractors can offer to relieve back pain during pregnancy.

Inspired by James Schofield