Benefits of a Chiropractor During Pregnancy

There is such immense beauty and power in bringing another being into the world that you can then raise in your likeness. Nothing can make a mom’s heart sing quite like seeing her baby’s heartbeat on the monitor during that first appointment. But like with all things, such a great reward comes with a powerful set of investments and sacrifices along the way. Many women consider one of the biggest of these to be the trials and tribulations that come along with pregnancy.

It’s important to note that not all women experience nasty side effects during their pregnancy, but they certainly are those that do. Let’s explore some of the ways that pregnancy chiropractic care in Knoxville can help with not only some of the adverse pregnancy symptoms but also with ensuring that your labor and delivery are as safe as possible for both you and your baby. 

How Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Me?

A foundational principle of pregnancy chiropractic is that if a joint is restricted and not functioning the way that it should, the nerves that innervate that joint, similarly, are dysfunctional. These nerves, in turn, communicate an altered signal to the muscle and surrounding tissues that it innervates causing them to, like the others, become dysfunctional. 

In the maternal pelvis, these tissues are vitally important as they are needed to keep the baby developing normally and in a position that is as low-stress as possible to Mom. Therefore, bringing balance to the pelvis and its surrounding structures becomes imperative to the health and development of the duo during pregnancy.

Chiropractic Pregnancy Risks

Not only is it safe but highly encouraged! There are no known risks to chiropractic care while pregnant. Extra precautions are taken to make sure that mom is as safe and comfortable as possible while being treated. The adjustments are carried out on their stomach, side, and back. 

A specialized, large, firm cushion with a cut out in the middle is used to fully support Mom without putting any pressure at all on her abdomen while lying on her stomach. Time spent on her back is minimal and the treatment in this position is carried out quickly and efficiently. 

Benefits of Chiropractic Care 

Chiropractic care is beneficial because it helps alleviate pregnancy-related aches and pains. As you grow and change over the duration of your pregnancy, your tissues do as well IN A BIG WAY. Relaxin is a hormone that floods the system during the first trimester and again in the final stages. It allows the ligaments that keep your joints stable to stretch in order to accommodate the growing baby. The areas that are affected the most during this time are the pelvis and lower back. Some common conditions that pregnancy chiropractic can help with during this time:

• General Low back discomfort
• Sacral and Sacro-iliac joint pain
• Symphysis Pubis (pubic bone) pain
• Rib pain and mid back pain
• Round ligament pain
• Sciatic pain

Easier Labor With Chiropractic Care

It has been shown, both anecdotally and in the research, that chiropractic care during pregnancy has a strong impact on time and ease of labor. The most common factors leading to dystocia (difficult labor) are almost always structural in nature. How often have you heard the statements “The baby wasn’t dropping”, or “My pelvis was just too small”? Both of these have to do with the fact that the pelvis and the structures that support the uterus are not inappropriate positions to allow the baby to adequately engage the pelvis. If there isn’t any room for the baby to drop, it won’t. Chiropractic helps to ensure that the joints of the pelvis and especially the sacrum are positioned in such a way as to allow the baby to get into the optimal position for labor.

Reduction in Cesarean Section (C-section) risk?

In 2002, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics published a report that showed an 82% rate of babies going head down following a series of chiropractic adjustments utilizing the Webster Technique. Webster takes into account the 6 most important structures that pertain to balancing and creating space within the pelvis for the baby to develop. Torsion of the pelvis will cause a squeezing effect on the uterus and will keep the baby from being able to situate itself properly inside of the mom. This can cause considerable discomfort for the mom and in worst-case scenarios even contribute to malposition of the baby (breech), the leading cause of C-section. 

What to expect at your first visit

Upon arrival, you will be asked to fill out a few forms (unless of course you’ve downloaded them from the website and brought them with you) that give us a little background on you. From there Dr. Matt will take you through a thorough biomechanical analysis to determine precisely how best to bring balance to your body. 

Treatment via Webster technique will follow and a plan for going forward will be established involving exercises specifically geared towards your individual findings.

The job of bringing a baby into the world is one of the most impactful jobs that any creature on earth can take on.  We would be honored to come alongside you to make your pregnancy journey as seamless and beautiful as it deserves to be.

If you’re looking for a pregnancy chiropractor in Knoxville, TN, call us at (865) 337-5574 today to schedule an appointment.