Chiropractic Care:
Living Without Pain During Pregnancy
By Michelle Yan, D.C.
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Back pain, headaches, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome… these are a few of the conditions many pregnant women experience during pregnancy. Most of the time, expectant mothers are told they must live with the pain during their pregnancy, but this is a fallacy. Women can choose to minimize or eliminate suffering from aches and pains during their pregnancies. This choice also makes a safer and more comfortable delivery possible. The choice available to them is chiropractic care, one of the most popular alternative health-care choices since its beginnings at around 2700 BC in China and 1500 BC in Greece.
During pregnancy, women experience weight gain, postural shift, differences in their center of gravity and numerous hormonal changes. Any or all of these factors can impose stress on the spine and pelvis (collectively called spinal stress). In addition, any previous accidents, emotional stress, tension and overexertion can add to spinal stress. Spinal stress can shift the vertebrae (bones of the spine) and pelvis out of their normal alignment, causing pain, numbness or tingling. The misalignment of the spine and pelvis can compress and irritate nerves, such as the sciatic nerve, causing severe pain and discomfort.
As the expectant mother progresses through her pregnancy, the baby develops and the mother's uterus enlarges to accommodate the rapid growth of the baby. If the pelvis is aligned and balanced, the ligaments that are connected to the uterus maintain the supportive connection to the uterus. However, if the pelvis is out of alignment, the ligaments are not as supportive and can cause constraint of the uterus. Uterine constraint during pregnancy may impede the baby's development and restrict its positioning during pregnancy. This condition can hinder the proper development of the baby's spine, skull and nervous system. Uterine constraint can also present complications during delivery because it can prevent the baby from moving into the best position for birth.
Chiropractic adjustment gently and safely realigns the mother's spine and pelvis, therefore taking the pressure off any pinched nerve(s) and eliminating the pain. Chiropractic care helps restore proper alignment and balance to the spine and pelvis and alleviates the many unwanted discomforts that can occur during pregnancy.
One type of prenatal chiropractic care – a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment termed the Webster Technique because it was developed by Dr. Larry Webster – removes interference to the expectant mother's nervous system and balances her pelvic and abdominal muscles and ligaments. In turn, this reduces constraint to her uterus and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for its birth. The Webster technique is a safe way to restore proper pelvic balance and function, and it has shown a high success rate in allowing breech babies to go into the normal head- down position for birth. If the breech presentation is due to uterine constraint, the Webster technique has been reported to be approximately 85 to 90 percent effective. Positions other than the normal head down position may lead to longer and more painful labors, and often cesarean section deliveries are needed to prevent further complications. Chiropractors specializing in prenatal care recommend that the Webster technique be used throughout the duration of the pregnancy in order to detect spinal misalignment and prevent uterine constraint.
Research has shown that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy have approximately six hours less time spent in labor than women who do not receive chiropractic care. Women who receive prenatal chiropractic care also have approximately three hours less of labor during subsequent pregnancies. According to a study by Irvin Hendryson, MD, a member of the American Medical Association, "visiting a chiropractor while being pregnant can help the expectant mother deliver the baby with more comfort."
Women can begin chiropractic care at any time during their pregnancy. (If possible, the best time to begin care is before becoming pregnant. A balanced spine and pelvis can prevent irritation to the nervous system and prevent the many discomforts pregnancy can bring.) Most health-insurance plans cover chiropractic care but each individual plan varies. It is best to check with the insurance carrier or with the chiropractor for benefits.
A drugless, non-surgical form of health care, prenatal chiropractic care is a safe method of treatment for expectant mothers. Tailored specifically for each pregnant woman, it is safe, gentle and effective. Some women may experience temporary soreness after care but it usually resolves within the first couple of treatments. Most women who visit a chiropractic physician during pregnancy experience less pain, increased energy, better sleep and increased comfort during their pregnancies.
For further information on chiropractic and pregnancy, please visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to the research and development of chiropractic care in pregnancy, pediatric and family care, at www.icpa4kids.com or (610) 565-2360.
Michelle Yan, DC, has a family chiropractic practice at Cleveland Chiropractic Associates, Inc. in Westlake. Dr. Yan is a Webster-certified chiropractor and specializes in chiropractic care for children and pregnant women. She can be reached by calling (440) 250-9072 or by e-mail at cchiroassoc@yahoo.com.
