Chiropractic During Pregnancy?
Welcome back to this week’s blog post!
If you had asked me if I would ever adjust pregnant patients during chiropractic school, I would have said “Absolutely not,” because at the time, I initially only wanted to treat athletes. However, with the experiences I have gained, I realized just how beneficial the adjustments were to my pregnant patients. Patient after patient came in for treatments throughout their pregnancies, and every time, I was humbled by the results they were receiving and reporting back to me. It is not at all uncommon for a pregnant patient to get so much relief post-adjustment that she has an emotional response to the relief.
An all-too-common thing I will unfortunately hear my patients say is something along the lines of, “Pain is unavoidable while pregnant.” Pain does not and should not be accepted as normal during pregnancy. True, there are some things we must be more cautious of and aware of, but that does not mean pain should in any way be considered normal, or even acceptable.
Throughout pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called Relaxin, which does exactly what it sounds like—its function is to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments to allow the pelvis to widen for the birthing process. While Relaxin is doing what it’s designed for, helping the mom’s body adapt to the rapid changes of pregnancy and prepare the pelvis for birth, it can also wreak havoc on the rest of the body and destabilize the mom’s musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic can be a great solution to minimize the discomfort and destabilization that Relaxin can cause. Relaxin levels usually peak between 12-14 weeks of gestation, and therefore at the highest vulnerability to injury. This hormone remains elevated for several months postpartum.
The Problem?
While Relaxin is vital to the developing fetus, throughout gestation, delivery, and even breast milk production, it is non-specific. An analogy I often use with my patients is “pregnancy is like full-body whiplash for about a year”. Chiropractic care and stabilizing exercises are therefore imperative not only during pregnancy but postpartum as well. The combination of optimizing joint motion and stabilizing musculature to help counter some of the negative effects of Relaxin allows for a better, safer pregnancy and delivery, while also reducing the likelihood of injuries and pain.
How Does it Work?
As the chiropractor, my job is to help optimize joint motion and restore motion to joints that are restricted in their motion. One of the methods I utilize is the Webster Technique, which simply put, is the analysis of the sacrum and pelvis and corresponding structures. The pelvis and sacrum essentially look and act like a bowl that the baby and organs rest in, and later compete for space. A pregnancy pillow is used to reduce the pressure placed on the mother’s tummy during the adjustment, during the later stages of pregnancy.
The Plan
Towards the end of the first trimester is when I usually recommend increasing the frequency of treatment to once per week, which will last throughout much of the pregnancy. Then, during the last 2-3 weeks, I recommend more frequent visits (2-3 times per week) because, as the baby grows, the process tends to wreak havoc on mom. Some mothers will even come in on the day of their predicted delivery date to do a “final tune-up” to help ensure they are in the most optimal state to deliver. Postpartum care is very individualized, but once cleared by your OB/GYN, we can resume care per mom’s tolerance. The adjustments postpartum for the first months are very gentle to reduce the likelihood of irritation to the pelvis and sacrum. During this time, I also usually prescribe some rehabilitative exercises and massage therapy to help the mother recover from delivery.
We want to help you achieve your health goals! It is our honor and privilege to walk with you in your healthcare journey.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Grant Shelton, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic at Peace of Health Chiropractic Wellness Clinic
