Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting and joyous times in a woman’s life. The miracle of life is literally happening right inside you! You are likely noticing the various ways in which your body is changing to support the growth of your little one (or ones, if you’re having multiples!). And you may have already started making preparations in anticipation of your little one’s arrival.

But amidst all the excitement, the journey of pregnancy also comes with a lot of questions and uncertainty. There may be times your overtaken by conflicting emotions. And let’s face it, you may be experiencing some discomfort, anxiety and fatigue.

Guess what? That’s all normal too! Creating a life is hard work, mama!

That’s where prenatal chiropractic comes in. A chiropractor trained in pregnancy can help support your body’s natural process throughout your pregnancy. Prenatal chiropractic care helps prepare your body for labor, support a safe birth for both mom and baby and aims to soothe pregnancy symptoms such as joint pain, discomfort and even nausea.

Let’s take a look at the top 6 reasons to choose add a prenatal chiropractor to your pregnancy team.

But first, What Is a Prenatal Chiropractor?

A prenatal chiropractor is specially trained in pregnancy chiropractic care and ideally Webster Technique certified. Chiropractic adjustments help keep the structure of your hips and spine balanced during your pregnancy and birth. It enables your body to function at its best during and after your pregnancy. As mom functions better, so does her growing baby. Prenatal chiropractic care helps prepare the body for labor, support a safe birth for both mom and baby and aims to soothe pregnancy symptoms such as joint pain, discomfort and even nausea. Overall, prenatal chiropractic will help both mom and baby to be more comfortable and healthier during pregnancy.

There are a variety of reasons to choose a prenatal chiropractor, but here are the 6 most common reasons:

1. A More Comfortable Pregnancy

Every change your body experiences as a pregnant mom is vital for the healthy growth and arrival of your baby. Prenatal chiropractic care can help make your pregnancy more comfortable, more enjoyable, and prepare the body for a more easeful, graceful and safe birth.

Throughout pregnancy, a mother’s body changes rapidly and dramatically. These changes can occur chemically (hormonal fluctuation), emotionally and physically.

On a physical level, your body can shift through changes in posture and structure including increased weight gain, loosening of the pelvic floor, as well as significant joint movement and pressure.

Many moms may even experience increased flexibility as a result of higher levels of relaxin throughout the body. The relaxin hormone is important for loosening the ligaments in the pelvic floor as well as softening and widening the cervix. Not only does it relax the ligaments in a woman’s pelvis to prepare her for labor, but it inherently stretches joints and ligaments all over the body.

Such joint and ligament fluidity can unfortunately lead to back aches and pain, pinched nerves, overall fatigue and sciatica. Other common side effects from a mother’s rapidly changing body can include acid reflux, heartburn, constipation, troubled sleeping patterns, mood swings, and even changes in the orientation of your baby prior to birth.

Utilizing a non-invasive and gentle approach to help correct and stabilize the spine, prenatal chiropractic care promotes a safer and more enjoyable pregnancy. Prenatal chiropractic focuses on the close relationship between the spine, pelvis, and most importantly, your nervous system. A healthy spine and pelvis in proper alignment encourages a tranquil and thriving nervous system which can help to improve overall quality of life, helping the body to feel safe as it moves and adjusts through a beautiful, natural and transformative time in your life.

2. A Well-Balanced Nervous System

Your nervous system is the highest form of communication connecting all systems within the body, including your reproductive system. The nervous system is centralized all along the spine and extends out like a network of roots and branches of a tree. Maintaining spinal cord alignment helps your entire body to feel balanced, healthy and safe.

Prenatal chiropractic care focused on the correct alignment of your spine and pelvis works tremendously to relieve tension and blockages promoting healthy communication from the nervous system to the rest of your body. This ripple effect can help with any of the following areas of concern regarding your pregnancy and birth:

• Relieves neck, back and joint pain
• Increases oxygen and blood flow to the baby
• Reduces nausea
• Decreases length of labor and delivery
• Prevents potential cesarean section and breech births

3. Birthing Position, Better Birth Outcomes and Less Interventions

When your pelvis is out of alignment, the amount of space available for your developing baby can become constricted. Obstruction to a baby’s healthy growing space is known as intrauterine constraint. This could lead to birth defects and even make it more challenging for your baby to move into the best birthing position (rear-facing, head down). When your baby is in a non-ideal birthing position, it is more likely you will need to consider other birthing options such as a c-section (Cesarean delivery) or require more medical attention from a birthing specialist.

Non-optimal birthing positions can lead to longer and more complicated deliveries. A balanced and aligned pelvis lowers your baby’s chance of moving into a breech or posterior position. Prenatal chiropractic increases a mother’s ability to have a natural and noninvasive birth. This will increase the likelihood of ensuring both your body and baby are ready for delivery. Women who have received chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy have attested to feeling more capable of moving forward with natural birth, experienced shorter labor and delivery time, and overall improved labor outcomes for both mom and baby.

4. Supports Your Prenatal Goals

As an expecting mother, feeling prepared is a high priority to ensure you are creating a safe and nurturing environment for your little one’s soon arrival. Preparing for your birth can include: attending prenatal care appointments, constructing birth plans, finding the right birth location, connecting with a midwife and/or doula, maintaining a nutritious diet, tending to your body, mind, and spirit, the list goes on. When you connect with a prenatal chiropractor, they offer not only physical, but mental and emotional support.

Visiting a prenatal chiropractor offers you a safe space to relax your system and become more open to the changes you are about to embark on as a mom-to-be. Chiropractic adjustments can help to relieve your joints and break up blockages in the body (both physically and energetically). This helps you to feel more confident throughout your pregnancy and going into your birth.

Prenatal chiropractors are a wonderful support system to help you create, maintain and achieve your prenatal goals of all sorts. A healthy spine and nervous system will encourage you to feel more empowered and balanced as you progress through this transformative time in your life. Moreover, having a connection with a prenatal chiropractor can help you to feel held and supported in ways that traditional medical professionals tend to pass by.

5. Stronger Connection between Mama and Baby

As a pregnant mom, prenatal chiropractic gives you the opportunity to intentionally prioritize a healthy pregnancy, a strong body, as well as a safe and successful delivery of your newborn.

This intentional time dedicated to you and your baby creates a beautiful bond before they are even born. Your baby can sense as things are going smoothly throughout the pregnancy and when you may be stressed or in pain. Stress can have a negative impact on your baby before they are even born

Seeing a prenatal chiropractor can help reduce anxiety during pregnancy tremendously bringing relief to both you and your baby. When your body is in proper alignment, everything works more synchronistically, including your emotions. Adjustments can boost your confidence and create a feeling of ease as you progress closer to your due date.

6. Webster Technique and Dystocia

As a prenatal chiropractor here at Well Family Chiro, we are qualified in pregnancy care by being certified in the Webster Technique through the ICPA and using evidence-based care. The Webster Technique helps reduce stress in the nervous system, and balances the pelvis, muscles, and ligaments to optimize the mother’s pelvic function for pregnancy and birth.

The Webster Technique offers both a sacral chiropractic analysis and adjustment designed to reduce the effects of spinal misalignment (or sacral subluxation). Subluxations can result in nerve interference most commonly found in the pelvic and sacral region for pregnant women. By correcting this misalignment, dystocia or prolonged difficult labor can be prevented allowing for a much smoother natural delivery.

Common causes of dystocia are the following:

• Diameter of the pelvic outlet disproportionately related to the position of the pelvis and sacrum
• Non-optimal positioning of the fetus (Breech, umbilical cord issues, shoulder blockage, etc.)
• Contractions not powerful enough to move baby down the birth canal

Prenatal chiropractic care promotes proper pelvic and sacral alignment creating optimal room for the passage and delivery of your baby. The pelvic outlet can become compromised when the sacrum is misaligned and leads to prolonged more challenging labor. With regular adjustments, chiropractors help to maintain optimal alignment of your sacral and pelvic area.

Ideal positioning of the fetus is based on the muscular and ligament balance within the uterus. Imbalances often lead to tension in your uterus, constraining the baby. An essential component of the Webster adjustment consists of administering gentle soft tissue contact placed on the uterine ligaments helping to relieve tension.

The power behind uterine contractions relies on proper nerve supply to the uterus. Seeing a prenatal chiropractor with a focus on your nervous system, can address nerve supply to muscles with their adjustments specifically to the sacrum and pelvis.

The Webster Technique helps to restore the balance of a mother’s pelvis, sacrum, and uterus allowing her baby to comfortably assume the most ideal position for her birth. This inherently will promote a shorter labor and delivery time as well as healthy postpartum healing.

Resources for an Optimal Birth Team

Creating a birth team can help support you throughout your pregnancy leading up to and including the delivery of your baby. Members of your birth team will help you to feel prepared and confident going into your birth and could become near and dear to your heart. Some examples of birth team members could be:

• Prenatal Chiropractor
• Midwife
• Doula
• Obstetrician
• OBGYN
• Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist (MFM or High-Risk Pregnancy Doctor)
• Family Doctor

How to Get Connected

Find local community-based organizations that prioritize pregnancy, birthing, and motherhood. You can reach out to local doulas, birth educators, midwives, and other birthing consultants. There are also many parenting groups you can find whether you are looking locally or remote. Reference networking and social media can be another way to get connected with like-minded groups and individuals who could be a great match for you!

About Well Family Chiropractic

At Well Family Chiropractic, our goal is to educate, empower, and adjust families toward a life of natural health through chiropractic care. We offer pediatric, pregnancy, and family care to Milwaukee, Mequon and the surrounding North Shore communities.

If you are an expecting mama, feel free to contact us for more information or to schedule your first visit.