Is it a good idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant?
Well first off, yes it is a great idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant. As is obvious to anyone with a set of eyes, your body is going through quite a lot of changes as the pregnancy progresses. One change that goes basically unnoticed is your bodies increase production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.
This process, although designed to help the mother during labor, can create a lot of pain and discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. The elastin is being released in increased amounts as the months go on which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that, the gradual increase in the size of the baby and uterus, and you have the recipe for severe low back pain. I currently have several pregnant patients coming into my office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but most commonly it is for their low back pain.
One side benefit of having your spine and pelvis checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy is that
it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be. The muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient because they don’t have to fight past the misaligned joints.
To answer the second question from the introductory paragraph, yes it is safe. Not only can chiropractic help the pregnant mother with her low back pain and other associated symptoms (heart burn, nausea, swelling, etc.) but it is completely safe to both the mother and child. Certain trained chiropractors can also help mothers who have a breached baby. They do this by using the Webster Technique. This is a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.
In summation, not only is chiropractic safe for pregnant women, it is also very beneficial to pregnant women in helping with the symptoms associated with their pregnancy. To any pregnant women out there reading this please go see your local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up my office in Ventura CA. We can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy and can even make the labor process easier.
