You will experience a variety of hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy. As your baby grows, you may feel some aches and pains that will have an impact on your posture and comfort. The reason for this is that as your baby becomes heavier, your center of gravity shifts and your posture will adjust accordingly. The good news is that whether you are uncomfortable with the change in your posture or if you are worried about how your body will withstand labor, a pregnancy chiropractor can help. A chiropractor can help to alleviate your pain and strengthen your nervous system, both of which will contribute to the overall health of you and your baby. This guide will introduce you to how a chiropractor can be beneficial for pregnancy as well as chiropractic techniques and what a pregnancy chiropractor does.
A chiropractor is a health practitioner who assesses the misalignments of your joints and uses musculoskeletal adjustments in an attempt to heal various health conditions, including back pain, neck pain and headaches. Chiropractic care is based on a belief that there is a significant relationship between your body’s structure and its functions. By adjusting your spine and other parts of your body, such as your joints and ligaments, your pain will be alleviated and your body’s natural ability to support itself is improved. During pregnancy, you will experience several changes to your body that can lead to discomfort, including pelvic pain and back pain. You may also notice other emotional, physical and mental changes, all of which a pregnancy chiropractor can help you with.
There are several benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy. A single visit to a pregnancy chiropractor can do wonders for your health during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and after giving birth. Some benefits of visiting a pregnancy chiropractor include:
Your pelvis is the large bone structure that is located at the bottom of your spine. The pelvic bone supports your torso and connects the torso to your legs. It also supports several of your internal organs. Pressure in the pelvic region is normal during pregnancy; however, some women experience a condition known as symphysis pubis-dysfunction (SPD), which is also known as pelvic girdle pain. This condition occurs when the hormones that are meant to prepare your body for delivery go into overdrive, causing the ligaments between the two bones of the symphysis pubis to become relaxed. These ligaments and muscles hold the pelvis in place, so if they become overly stretched, your pelvis can become misaligned, causing pelvic pain.
When the pelvis becomes misaligned and unbalanced, it may cause more pain than normal, especially if you are sitting in the same position for long periods of time. When the pelvis is out of line, it can also restrict the amount of room that your developing baby has (intrauterine constraints), which may also cause pain and discomfort in the pelvic region. A pregnancy chiropractor can adjust the pelvic bone and joint to prevent these problems.
Many women have problems with back pain during pregnancy due to the extra weight they must carry in the front of their body. Your protruding abdomen may increase the curve of your back, causing pain and posture issues. A pregnancy chiropractor can help restore your posture as well as help to prevent the additional stress of pregnancy on your body from causing potential long-term pain and posture problems.
As your posture changes during pregnancy, you may also notice your balance being affected as the center of gravity shifts and your joints loosen. Pregnancy chiropractic care can realign your spine to improve your posture and make you a little more balanced on your feet. Chiropractic care is also beneficial for your nervous system, which plays a critical role in relaying messages from your ears and eyes to your brain. So, if your nervous system is impacted due to stress on your spine from pregnancy, these signals can be distorted, causing pain, dizziness, numbness, tingling and imbalance. A simple chiropractic manipulation can get these messages flowing clearly again. Keep in mind that falls can be serious during pregnancy, so it’s important to be sure you maintain proper balance.
During your third trimester, or the last three months of pregnancy, your body will experience a variety of changes as you prepare to give birth. Your body produces extra hormones to relax and stretch the muscles in your pelvis, and your belly seems to drop as your baby moves into the birth canal. An important factor of the third trimester is the position of your baby inside the womb. If your baby isn’t in the correct position, labor may be difficult as well as dangerous. Your pregnancy chiropractor can educate you on correctly aligning your pelvis through stretches and exercise as well as provide spinal manipulation to help your baby move into a better position for birth, with the head toward the birth canal.
Studies have shown that women who receive regular chiropractic care are taking the essential steps necessary to ensure their nervous system is healthy, which may better prepare their bodies to handle the childbirth process. When your nervous system is working correctly, your whole body is working like it is supposed to. With this in mind, many women who visit a pregnancy chiropractor during their pregnancy have shorter labor and delivery times. With an aligned pelvis, properly working nervous system and a better handle on the pain, you may experience a much smoother and quicker delivery with routine chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy.
It is natural for pregnant women to be worried about the health and safety of their baby during their pregnancy. It is essential for you to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of mild exercise and to avoid stressful situations. Pregnancy chiropractors are experienced in providing women with educational information on how to change and improve lifestyle habits during pregnancy, which may include diet, nutrition and exercise advice. Chiropractors are highly trained to provide adjustments for pregnant women, and not only do they have special techniques to help keep you safe and comfortable, but they use specialized tools as well, such as pregnancy pillows for additional comfort.
To learn more about chiropractic care during pregnancy or to schedule a consultation with a pregnancy chiropractor, contact Cultivate Chiropractic.
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