Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care

A woman’s center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis during pregnancy. This extra upfront weight causes stress on the joints of the pelvis and low back. This gets worse as the baby grows heavier, causing an increased curvature of the lower back, badly stressing the fragile facet joints on the outer edge of the spine. Women who have pre-existing spinal problems will find these changes even harder and more painful to cope with as the spine and pelvis become seriously overtaxed.

Studies show that around 50% of expectant mothers will develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is more of a problem when the baby gains the most weight during the third trimester. Regular chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to condition the spine and pelvis helps to ease and may even prevent the pain and discomfort, creating the conditions for an easier and safer delivery. Most women who undergo chiropractic care during pregnancy find that they more easily forgo pain medication and experience reduced time in labor. Beside the adjustments, your chiropractor can also help with advice on nutrition, ergonomics and exercise.