The stress and strains of pregnancy can cause a lot of discomfort in the female body. Visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy can be the first step towards minimizing your pain.
Pregnancy naturally puts a lot of stress on certain parts of the body, and these demands on the female body create pressure points and force new patterns to develop. Today we’re going to look into some of these changes that occur during pregnancy, as well as how you can best control these symptoms to minimize discomfort and pain by visiting a chiropractor.
Weight Placement Changes During Pregnancy
Women typically gain between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds during their pregnancy. Naturally, your weight will begin to shift forward, and that additional weight can put a lot of stress and pressure on your joints. As the majority of this weight is in the abdomen, the body begins to rock forward, increasing the curve in your lower back.
Your center of gravity is shifted forward, putting extra stress on your lumbar spine, potentially causing issues such as sciatica. Furthermore, this can cause digestive issues such as constipation, and pain can travel to the upper back, causing neck discomfort and headaches.
Visiting a Chiropractor During Pregnancy – What to Expect
You may be wondering how you can minimize this pain, and your first step is to book to see a chiropractor. They can assess your spine and nervous system, and through simple adjustments can encourage your body to self-correct and self-heal. The goal of chiropractic work is to reduce nerve interference and allow your body to function as usual. For pregnancy, chiropractors use a special technique called Webster’s technique.
This technique aims to align the pelvis, particularly the sacrum, which can get very locked up during pregnancy. The alignment of the pelvis is crucial for a healthy pregnancy due to the location of the birth canal, and if this area is not opened up, the birth canal will be shortened.
After adjusting this area, the mom-to-be will be flipped onto her back to take a look at the round ligaments, which suspend the uterus and lengthen as the uterus grows through pregnancy. When the round ligaments are tight, it can cause tightness torsion on the uterus, which can be uncomfortable for both mom and baby. While Webster’s technique isn’t used to turn the baby and avoid a breech position, it does allow the uterus to lay as it is supposed to and can help the baby to remain in an optimal position.
When you visit the chiropractor, the practitioner will ensure you are comfortable throughout your visit and that your back is in a neutral position. After a light resistance check, the chiropractor will be able to check more thoroughly where any resistance is and what areas need correcting during your visit. The aim of your visit is to correct any areas of resistance so that the two sides of your back are balanced.
To get the best results from this treatment, you’ll want to visit a chiropractor throughout your pregnancy and even before your pregnancy if possible. This will ensure that any symptoms you experience throughout pregnancy can be minimized to avoid pain and discomfort as much as possible and offer you the best chance of a safe and healthy birth.
