Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

A pregnant mother's pelvis and spine undergo many changes during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby. Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to work by enhancing nervous system functions and providing greater health for the baby and mother. One of the biggest reasons for chiropractic care during pregnancy is to establish a balance in the pelvis.

Due to a lifetime of stress on the spine and pelvis, the pelvic opening can be compromised, possibly resulting in a less than prime passage for the baby. Any contractions of the pelvis that diminish its capacity can create difficulty during labor, and the diameter of a woman's pelvis decreases when the sacrum is displaced. Chiropractors refer to this displacement as spinal misalignment or subluxation caused by the stress of trauma. Pregnant women are also likely to develop an imbalance to their ligaments and pelvic muscles. A woman's pelvis supports the growing uterus with specific ligaments and when the pelvic bones are balanced, the uterus is able to enlarge properly. On the other hand, if the pelvic bone is subluxated or out of alignment it will affect the way the uterus is supported. An unequal ligament support of the uterus can reduce the maximum amount of growing room for the baby, this is called intrauterine constraint.

Intrauterine constraint can restrict the baby's positions and affect their developing cranium and spine. The constraint can also lead to limited movement of the baby during pregnancy and may prevent them from getting into the best possible birth position. Not having the ideal birth position can result in longer and more painful labor, and possibly even the need for a cesarean section instead of a vaginal birth.

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic adjustment specifically for pregnant women, and was discovered by Dr. Larry Webster. The Webster Technique balances ligaments in the pelvis and pelvic muscles which removes any constraint and allows the baby to get into the best possible birthing position. Awareness of the Webster Technique is growing and more women are seeing chiropractors during pregnancy. The Webster Technique has not only proven to help a woman prepare for labor but also makes the woman more comfortable during pregnancy, which can be an uncomfortable time. As with any specialist, it is important to talk to your primary care doctor about the risks and benefits of seeing a chiropractor, especially when pregnant.

Chiropractic Care Safety – An article from the American Pregnancy Association discussing the safety of chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Can Chiropractic Care Help? - Information on how chiropractic care can help during pregnancy including preparing for birth.

Chiropractic Care – An article discussing the reasons why women should have chiropractic care during their pregnancies.

Benefits Of Chiropractic Care – Information on the benefits of receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Pregnancy And Chiropractics – An article with information on pregnancy and chiropractics including information on insurance coverage.

Care During Pregnancy – Information on chiropractics during pregnancy including research, treatments, and warnings.

ICPA – The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association website with seminar information, memberships, services, and more.

Chiropractics And Early Pregnancy – Information in receiving chiropractic treatments in early pregnancy.

Chiropractic Research – Information on some of the research done on chiropractic care during pregnancy.

The Webster Technique – Information on the Webster Technique for pregnant women from the World Chiropractic Alliance.