Chiropractic during pregnancy
Pregnancy chiropractor Perth
Chiropractic care during pregnancy
Pregnancy should be one of the happiest times in an expectant mother’s life. Unfortunately, increased stress placed on the mother’s spine as the baby develops means pregnancy is often dominated by pain and discomfort.
It has been reported that up to 76% of pregnant women will experience some degree of back pain. Pain during pregnancy usually occurs in the lower back (lumbar) region, but the mid back (thoracic) region can also be affected due to breasts increasing in size. Much of this pain is due to a necessary change in posture. As your abdomen increases in size and weight, your body compensates by arching, or leaning backwards, to avoid falling over. This change puts increased pressure on the pelvis and lumbar region, causing pain.
An added factor is that, as pregnancy progresses, there is slow release of a hormone which helps the pelvic ligaments to soften and stretch, allowing the birth canal to be as wide as possible during the birth. However this hormone is not specific and affects every ligament within the body, making it easier for subluxations (misalignments) to occur.
A pregnancy chiropractor can help with back pain during pregnancy.
Chiropractic care can help your body adapt
A 1991 American study found 84% of women who had spinal manipulation during the course of their pregnancy received pain relief. The human body adapts extremely well for survival but not always for optimal function. The study showed adjusting pelvic and spinal segments that were under increased stress from the added weight of pregnancy, was safer and more effective treatments for the mother without risk to the baby, right up until the day of delivery.
The birthing position can also have a huge impact on the length of labour and method of birth used to deliver the baby. The popular semi-recumbent (laying on your back) position does not allow any movement from the pelvis, which is needed during delivery to maximize the width of the birth canal. An added detriment is that the mother now has to push against gravity. Squatting or standing utilizes gravity and has been linked with quicker labour times and fewer forceps deliveries, which explains its increased popularity in recent years for both home and hospital births.
Pregnancy is period of rapid change. Chiropractic care can help you accommodate those changes, maximising enjoyment and comfort for both you and your baby.
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