More than 75 percent of pregnant folks experience increased pain as pregnancy progresses. While pain medication may be an option, a number of pain-reducing drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy and many expectant parents wish for safer, more holistic methods for pain relief. Enter chiropractic care.

The benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy extend beyond pain reduction. In fact, visiting a well-trained chiropractor throughout pregnancy can mean the difference between a manageable or painful pregnancy, a smooth or difficult birth, and more. 

If you’re expecting, chiropractic care may benefit you as your body changes in preparation for your baby’s arrival. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and why it may be right for you.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy May Help Reduce Nausea

For many, morning sickness is the hallmark symptom of early pregnancy. But anyone who’s ever been pregnant can attest that pregnancy nausea doesn’t just happen in the morning. 

Chiropractic care during pregnancy may reduce nausea and vomiting by realigning the spine and restoring nervous system function. Reducing nausea via chiropractic care can help the expecting parent to remain well-nourished, stay hydrated, and maintain energy necessary to power through pregnancy. Chiropractic care is also known for addressing heartburn, constipation, and other digestive issues, which may be at the root of pregnancy nausea.

Chiropractic Care Helps Relieve and Manage Pregnancy-Related Pain

A growing belly is something to cherish during pregnancy, but it’s also notorious for throwing the body out of balance. It’s no secret that weight gain, altered posture, hormonal shifts, and other changes cause physical strain on an expectant parent. Plus, a necessary hormone called relaxin is at work preparing your body to loosen, grow, and stretch, but may also wreak havoc on previously stable joints. 

Mom k m  Fortunately, chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and holistic way to manage the many aches and pains folks experience during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related pain may be common, but you don’t have to suffer through it. According to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic care can help to improve several conditions during pregnancy, including:

• Lower back pain

• Sciatic nerve pain

• Sacroiliac pain

• Pubic symphysis pain

• Round ligament pain

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy May Positively Alter the Birth Experience

When it comes to a smooth pregnancy leading up to birth, the baby’s positioning can be just as important as the gestational parent’s position. According to data from the American Chiropractic Association, first-time moms who sought regular chiropractic care throughout pregnancy had 25 percent shorter labors on average.

Seeking chiropractic care during pregnancy may lead to a smoother pregnancy, labor, and birth experience. That’s because when the body is aligned, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth. Chiropractors are trained to restore pelvic balance and optimize the room baby has to grow in the womb. With fewer obstacles during labor, the baby may have an easier time traveling down the birth canal. 

Chiropractic care may help during labor and birth by:

• Balancing the pelvis

• Relieving tension in ligaments and muscles

• Helping to restore proper fetal positioning 

• Eliminating the need for interventions or pain medications

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy May Help a Breech Baby Turn and Prevent a C-Section

There’s a reason many prenatal care providers encourage pregnant folks with breech babies to seek chiropractic care. It’s because well-trained chiropractors can alter the position of a baby by using the Webster Technique, a special chiropractic technique that restores balance in the pelvis and allows for optimal fetal positioning. 

The technique requires a chiropractor to adjust the sacrum and massage or stretch uterine ligaments on the abdominal wall. Though it may sound rather hands-on, it’s a safe and gentle technique that coaxes breech babies to turn on their own. Research supports a high success rate, and it’s why many expectant parents who seek chiropractic care experience a natural birth with less intervention. 

While most chiropractors have received extensive training, some go on to receive additional certification in specialty areas such as prenatal care. Always research the chiropractic care available in your area before seeking care. If you’re pregnant or thinking of expanding your family, meeting with a certified chiropractor from the start can help manage nausea, ease pregnancy strain in the body, improve the birth experience, and more. 

Learn More about Miami’s Premier Natural Birthing Center

At Magnolia Birth House, our promise is to empower you with knowledge, instill you with confidence, and support you in taking control of your pregnancy and birth experience. If you’d like to learn more, fill out our form to set up a free consultation.