How can chiropractic care relieve pregnancy pains?

Low back pain, mid back pain, and pelvic pain are common in pregnancies. But they don’t have to be. Adjustments can ease the pain and help the baby settle into a more birth-ready position.

Why the pain?

With all of the wonderful new experiences of pregnancy, there are also new pains. Pregnant people often feel pain where their spines meet their pelvises. Why does this happen?

A person’s spine and pelvis are under new stress when they are pregnant. They support new weight and receive less support.

Abdominal muscles usually support the spine. During pregnancy, they stretch around the growing belly and weaken.

Ligaments connect bones. They keep the body stable. During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin readies the body for giving birth. It relaxes ligaments and joints in the pelvis.

As the belly grows, the pregnant person’s center of gravity shifts. A pregnant person’s posture changes and puts new stress on the spine.

Emotional stress can also tighten muscles in the back, causing pain. But a comfortable pregnancy is still possible.

What can adjustments do?

Adjustments are quick, low-force movements to adjust joints. Sometimes, a joint pops when it is corrected.

Chiropractors can adjust a pregnant patient’s pelvis. When a pelvis is not aligned correctly, it can reduce space for the baby. It can also stop a baby from moving into position for an easy delivery.

Pelvic adjustments can create more space for the baby, easing pain and helping the baby move into a better position.

Chiropractors can also use the Webster Technique. This technique is a specific sequence of adjustments, including the sacrum, a bone that forms the back of the pelvis. The Webster Technique can increase space for the baby to move. In a 2002 survey, this technique had an 82% success rate of encouraging a head-down position for birth.

What other methods relieve pain?

Round ligaments can become painful throughout pregnancy. Round ligaments anchor the uterus. As the uterus grows, the round ligaments stretch. This tension can cause spasms and pain.

Round ligament release is a technique that can relieve pain. Chiropractors apply gentle pressure on the round ligaments until they relax.

Taping can also support a pregnant person’s belly. It supports muscles, joints, ligaments, the diaphragm, and posture. It decreases pain, swelling, and pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor. It can also be an alternative to belly bands as it helps hold the weight of the belly.

With proper care, pregnancy can be more comfortable and manageable.

Have more questions? Make an appointment here. We look forward to helping you to better health.

By Dr. Alexandra Correll, D.C.