Healthier Pregnancy, Healthier you

​Soon-to-be-Moms and their loved ones often ask about how Chiropractic care might help them facilitate a safer and more comfortable pregnancy experience.

The great news is that Chiropractic Care can help. Here are answers to some of the questions I am most frequently asked:

Why should Moms-to-be seek out chiropractic care?

First, it is somewhat of a misconception that Chiropractors only deal with neck and back pain. The truth is we treat the 'whole patient' by ensuring balance in the body. Our goal is to ensure that the brain is in complete control of the entire body as well as all of its processes without any interruption in the communication of those messages. The way we do this is by adjusting the spine, pelvis and cranium, removing any subluxations (mis-alignments) which may detract from the electrical signal from the brain traveling along the nerves to their final destinations such as organs, muscles, tissues and so on. This is critical to safety and comfort for you and your developing baby. If you have subluxations in your spine, your bodily systems are likely not functioning at 100%. And, chances are that you and your baby's health could be impacted.

What type of health impact?

Consequences may take many forms from mild pain or discomfort to high blood pressure, gastric reflux, constipation, back pain or difficult labor (dystocia). Everything in your body is controlled by your brain and nervous system. You have nerves that you consciously feel and many more nerves that you cannot feel. 

Your brain and body are in constant communication. During child birth your brain gives signals to release oxytocin to induce contractions, the brain then receives feedback as to how everything is working. When subluxations exist, your brain and body communication is compromised often resulting in a longer and more difficult labor.

Can chiropractors help correct my babies position for birth?

Breech babies are a big concern for most moms-to-be. We all want a safe birth for both Mom and baby. When the pelvis is mis-aligned the ligaments attaching the uterus to the pelvis get strained and the baby may be in the unfavorable head-down position. The Webster technique aims to re-align the pelvis and thus enable the baby to find a more favorable, more comfortable position. The goal of this Chiropractic technique is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is improved resulting in a safer, more comforable birthing process.

What about labor pains?

Study after study confirm that regular adjustments throughout your pregnancy may help you have a shorter and easier labor. And proper alignment of the pelvis and lumbar spine has been shown to decrease the low back pain which commonly occurs throughout pregnancy and after delivery without the use of drugs or injections.

What are the risks of undergoing the Webster technique?

The Webster technique is considered safe and there are minimal associated risks. The technique helps balance the pelvis restoring proper nerve flow to the pelvis, uterus and lower body muscles. The benefits of balancing your pelvis and relieving uterus torsion is that your baby is more likely to turn head-down and be in a more comfortable and favorable vaginal birth position. For some women, report mild discomfort from muscle spasms forming in areas around subluxated joints. The body has compensated to these mis-alignments and getting these taken care of may cause temporary mild tenderness. The other discomfort that may occur could be the baby shifting in the uterus, but that should not cause any more discomfort than the mother has experienced with previous movement of the child. 

What should I consider when choosing a chiropractor?

When choosing a Chiropractor it is helpful to choose one who is certified in the Webster Technique. It's also helpful if the practice offers massage therapy in-house.

---