What we cannot see are the millions of different hormonal changes and chemical reactions occurring both in the mother and the developing baby, all of which are controlled & coordinated by the nervous system. During pregnancy, more than ever you need a nervous system that responds immediately and accurately to changing requirements in all parts of your body, but especially your spine and pelvis!
Chiropractic care prior to conception promotes optimal uterine function. It prepares the body to be strong, supple, and as balanced as possible to carry a pregnancy. Restoring proper nerve supply to reproductive organs has helped many couples seeking to conceive. Adjusting women throughout pregnancy is one of the most rewarding parts of our work, because a healthier pregnancy means an easier labor & delivery for mother & child. This creates an an ideal start for baby transitioning to this world.
A human spine starts at the base of the skull and is made of 24 moveable bones called Vertebrae, plus the pelvis (1 sacrum + 2 ilium). From the brain, nerve impulses travel down the spinal cord, branch out into nerves, and exit the nerve roots between the vertebrae. When the vertebrae become misaligned or unable to move properly a condition called vertebral or spinal subluxation occurs.
The subluxated bones irritate and interfere with the normal nerve energy flowing at those levels of the spine. The message from the brain is slowed down at those levels and the life-energy carried by the nerve is unable to reach the organs and tissues to it’s full potential. A Doctor of Chiropractic aligns the vertebrae and pelvis through gentle adjustments to the spine, relieving the pressure on the nerves and allowing the full nerve energy to reach the tissues it serves again.
As you gain weight during pregnancy, this exerts a downward, forward pull on the lower spine. The extra weight combined with changes in your gait and centre of gravity can set the stage for back pain, pelvic pain and/or neck pain. Additionally, as labor approaches, your body secretes a hormone called Relaxin, which loosens ligaments in mom’s body in preparation for delivery. This ligament loosening can worsen the effects of an existing spine or pelvic problem. The positioning of the baby and its movement, as well as expansion of the lower part of the ribcage to accommodate your growing baby can cause discomfort in the ribs and mid back. Additionally, increasing breast size in preparation for lactation can create upper back subluxations.
According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery, the reduced need for analgesics (pain medication). In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24% reduction in labour times and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported 39% reduction in shorter labour times.
When women receive chiropractic care throughout pregnancy, the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis function better.
As result, there is significantly less likelihood of back pain during labour, improved comfort while breastfeeding which enhances sleep, baby bonding and mom’s ability to produce a quality milk supply. Chiropractic care has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a mother’s postpartum depression as a result of optimal child growth & postpartum recovery.
As your pregnancy advances, some chiropractic techniques will need to be modified for your comfort. We are prepared for these changes and will make the necessary accommodations for patient comfort. In particular, pregnancy pillows and tables with drop-away pelvic sections are used to accommodate your mom’s growing belly.
A Doctor of Chiropractic trained in Webster technique and perinatal care can address uterine constraint caused by tense uterine ligaments, will check for misalignment of the pelvic bones and any vertebrae making room for baby to grow without constraint! They will also make recommendations for mom’s ongoing self care during pregnancy.
Body position during delivery is also critical. Any late second stage labour position that denies postural sacral rotation denies the mother & baby critical pelvic outlet diameter and moves the tip of the sacrum up into the pelvic outlet. In other words, the standard semi-recumbent position that places mom on her back, closes off the vital space needed for the baby to get through the pelvic outlet.
This delivery position is the main reason why so many births are traumatic, labour is stalled and mom becomes fatigued & overwhelmed by pain. So the utilization of epidurals, forceps, episiotomies, vacuum extraction, and caesarean increases exponentially.
This is why squatting is the preferred position—gravity works to help and the pelvic outlet can open to a greater degree. Squatting during delivery results in decreased use of forceps and a shorter second stage of labour than the semi-recumbent position! Moreover, research has shown that coached pushing in the second stage of labour does not improve the short-term outcome for mothers or babies!
Pregnancy Exercise Tips
1) Lie flat on your back with your knees bent (this can also be done standing if you are uncomfortable on your back).
2) If needed, place a small pillow under your neck and/or lower back for support. Make sure you maintain a small curve in your neck to reduce the likelihood of strain.
3) Pull in abdominal and buttock muscles (this should flatten the lower back). Imagine you are peeling your buttocks and spine up off the floor. Slowly, vertebra-by-vertebra, rise to approximately bra-strap level (as long as there is no pain or tension felt in your neck).
4) Hold, breathe out, and count to five.
5) Relax. Inhale. Roll down slowly, and with control, vertebraby- vertebra.
Repeat five times.
Additional Hints to Help Prevent Pregnancy Backache
– Stand erect; do not allow your belly to sag.
– Change positions often to ease lower back strain.
– When lifting, bend your knees and keep your back straight.
– Consult your chiropractor for exercises to reduce lower back strain (an easy one to start with is the pelvic tilt shown above).
– Your mattress should be supportive and comfortable.
– Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees.
– Adequate rest is essential.
– Keep daily chores manageable. Seek those who can most help you make this experience meaningful. Whether it’s a friend to walk with to the pool, a doula to help with your labour plan, or your mother offering to watch the kids or help clean the kitchen, take advantage of the help around you.
– Know your limits. If you are working throughout your pregnancy and/or have other children to care for, try not to overdo it.
– Practice good postural habits.
– Plan and do regular exercise.
– Kegel exercises are a great way to prepare and tone the pelvic floor muscles for delivery and can be done anytime. To do Kegels, contract the muscles around your urethra and vagina— imagine you are trying to prevent yourself from urinating. Hold for several seconds, then release. Repeat sets of ten, several times each day.
– Have regular spinal check-ups; they are an important part of preventative health care.