It’s important that you keep your body healthy both pre and post pregnancy. However, this is often easier said than done. One of the best ways to ensure your body stays in good shape is to use chiropractic care. This article will explore more behind how a chiropractor can help you during and after your pregnancy and some of the numerous benefits chiropractic care offers.
Common Pregnancy Problems
There are quite a few problems women deal with both pre and post pregnancy. Some of these include:
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Insomnia
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Constipation
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Back pain
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Indigestion
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Headaches
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Nausea
Is it Safe to Go to a Chiropractor During and After Your Pregnancy?
Some might be a little hesitant to go to a chiropractor during or after their pregnancy because they feel it might cause pain or even worsen the slight pain they currently have. The good news is visiting a chiropractor is extremely safe.
During your pregnancy you’ll find that a chiropractor can release tension throughout your body. Most recommend that women stop by once a month during their first trimester for best results.
After your pregnancy chiropractic care can be just as helpful. It will fix many musculoskeletal problems caused by pregnancy and help to provide pain relief.
5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Pre and Post Pregnancy Concerns
It Can Quicken Labor Time
Numerous studies have shown that women who consistently use chiropractic care during their pregnancy had a much faster and easier delivery compared to those who didn’t. This can be very helpful for women who want to have a natural birth experience.
Chiropractic care is able to do this because it relaxes the pelvis and helps the body return to its natural alignment – something which suffers due to pregnancy weight. This encourages the baby to move out faster during labor.
It Helps with Recovery
It can take anywhere from six to eight weeks for a woman to recover from giving birth. Chiropractic care can help speed up the recovery process because it ensures your bones, joints, and muscles are all properly aligned. This will help your body to return back to its normal position much faster and without pain.
In addition to this, many chiropractors offer massage therapy. This isn’t only soothing, but can balance out your hormones and reduce stress. It can also reduce swelling and improve your quality of sleep. Some massage types they might suggest include Swedish or Jamu.
It Realigns Your Spine and Pelvis
A great benefit of chiropractic care is that it can naturally realign your spine and pelvis. If your spine or pelvis is misaligned, it can make giving birth much harder and could result in some complications. After giving birth, you might find that both of these might have slipped out of place. Chiropractic care will help prevent this by ensuring your spinal discs are in place both before and after giving birth.
It Stops Low Back Pain
A common problem many women suffer from during and after pregnancy is low back pain. This develops for a variety of different reasons but is commonly due to the production of relaxin (a hormone that weakens the ligaments in the pelvis) or poor posture.
Many new moms also find that their lower back suffers due to the constant bending down to hold or feed their baby. These repetitive motions can cause back pain because it could create muscle strain or even a slipped disc.
So, how do chiropractors adjust your back? A chiropractor will adjust your back by turning it in certain directions to help remove pressure on surrounding ligaments. They’ll also give you some tips as to how you can prevent low back pain.
It Reduces Your Reliance on Pain Medications
Many women often need pain medications to help them both pre and post pregnancy. While it won’t fully make pain disappear, chiropractic care can significantly decrease it.
The adjustments a chiropractor does will release endorphins. These hormones don’t only reduce pain, but can improve your mood and make you feel more energetic.
Chiropractic Tips for Reducing Post Pregnancy Musculoskeletal Pain
While prenatal care can be exhausting on your body, postpartum care can be just as tiresome. Sometimes it can even be worse because you have to be more active and carry heavier items than before. Below are a few tips you can keep in mind to help reduce post pregnancy musculoskeletal pain.
Watch the Diaper Bag Weight
Many new moms want to make sure they are prepared for everything. Because of this, most will stuff numerous items in their diaper bag. However, most don’t realize that this weight can wreak havoc on their body, especially their shoulders. You’ll want to only include essential items in your diaper bag to reduce the weight. You might also spread out the items so the weight is evenly distributed throughout the bag.
Change How You Lift and Carry Your Child
Most don’t realize that how they lift and carry their child can cause severe pain throughout their body. Many moms tend to bend their spine down which can put strain on it. To prevent this, you might want to change the way you lift and carry your baby. Instead of relying on your back to bend down, use your legs. For instance, when you remove your child from their crib, bend your knees slightly and tighten your core muscles. Once you grab your baby, lift yourself back up with your legs.
To carry your baby, it’s important to not keep them on your hip. This can cause you to twist your body to one side more than the other which can result in back strain. Instead, consider carrying them with a front pack. This item works slightly like a backpack. After putting its straps on, you can slide your baby into the front compartment. This will work to distribute weight evenly so your back and hips don’t suffer.
If you are looking for a holistic way to help you get through your pregnancy or heal your body after giving birth, chiropractic care might be good to consider. Not only does it incorporate natural techniques for pain relief, but it can help your body recover faster.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899346707000444
https://europepmc.org/article/med/1828912/reload=0
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1526952305004435
About Dr. Wells
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of Anchorage patients from different health problems using physical therapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy designed to help give long-lasting relief .
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe, Organic Facts, and Thrive Global. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.