Chiropractic care during pregnancy is essential, because pregnancy is a time of great change. One can see the obvious physical changes, such as a growing belly of the expectant mother, but what we don’t see are the millions of hormonal changes and chemical reactions that are taking place in the expectant mother. All of these changes are controlled and coordinated by the nervous system.
The nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves. A message created by the brain, telling a specific target in the body what to do, is sent along the spinal cord and out through the nerves. The spinal nerves control everything in the body, from cells, to tissues, to muscles and organs. These nerves exit at each level of the spine. When a vertebra subluxates, or misaligns, it irritates and interferes with the nerve. Doctors of Chiropractic find these areas of subluxation and correct them through spinal adjustments.
As a woman gains weight during pregnancy, especially in the abdomen, her center of gravity shifts and puts a greater amount of pull downward on her low back. In addition to the extra weight gain, altered gait and changing hormones can also wreak havoc on the spine. Growing breasts in preparation for lactation can also cause subluxations in the upper to mid back area of the spine.
Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy results in less spinal pain, decreased back labor as well as an easier delivery. It is vital that the mother’s pelvis is properly aligned for the birth of her child, as a misaligned pelvis makes for a more difficult birth. It can also result in a baby that is breech. A breech baby is one who is not in a vertex or head-down presentation when it comes time to be born. Babies may present with their buttocks in the birth canal, an arm, leg or be transverse in the mother’s uterus.
Dr. Larry Webster, developer of the Webster’s technique, developed a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which allows chiropractors to create balance in the pregnant woman’s pelvis and reduce unnecessary stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. Dr. Webster reported that in women who presented with a breech baby, the results of the adjustment appeared to improve function and mobility of the pelvis as well as enable optimal positioning of the fetus.
If a woman’s tailbone is misaligned, it may cause twisting and tightening of muscles and ligaments of the pelvis. These tense muscles and ligaments, in addition to their irregular effect on the uterus, may prevent the baby from assuming the most comfortable position for labor and delivery. Through chiropractic spinal adjustments as well as the Webster technique to relieve tension in the uterus, oftentimes breech babies will present in a vertex position.
Briefly, chiropractic care during pregnancy is a must. If you are pregnant, it is important to find a chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy care. A mother’s nervous system is ultimately in control of her fetus. It is of utmost importance that she seeks chiropractic care the whole time she is pregnant.
