Chiropractic and Pregnancy

When is chiropractic care appropriate during pregnancy? Obstetrical practitioners who have had little to no personal experience or professional exposure to Chiropractic erroneously discourage their patients from seeking chiropractic care during their pregnancy.

Often, when medical doctors think about the idea of a woman undergoing chiropractic manipulations there is somehow fear of a risk to the baby. Not true! Chiropractors modify their techniques in every case when it is appropriate to do so; such as for elderly patients and for children or babies. Many chiropractic treatment benches are engineered to expand space for the tummy for any position the pregnant patient is placed in for evaluation and treatment of their spine and pelvis.

It is a well know fact that it is in the developing child’s best interest when the mother does not take medicines during the course of the pregnancy; along with avoiding alcohol and tobacco products. Many of the conditions seen by chiropractors during a woman’s pregnancy are pain in their lower, mid or upper spine; pain in their head, upper and/or lower extremities, while drugs are never prescribed during the chiropractic encounter or needed while undergoing proper chiropractic care. When does a woman benefit from a drug-less practitioner? When she is pregnant.

Also, many natural remedies or helpful lifestyle changes are frequently a part of a typical chiropractic session for the resolution of any number of transient illnesses like urinary tract infections; applied nutrition, moderate physical activity unless contra-indicated, etc. Most often women appreciate that they can see their chiropractor in particular because of how effective the care can be in relieving their pains.

Furthermore, studies have reported that childbirth is often easier without protracted labors following a course of chiropractic care. This permits a more normal vaginal birth and/or precluding any further childbirth interventions such as pitocin induction or the need for forceps.

One noteworthy clinical case focus is on the Webster technique that helps to balance the woman’s pelvis to relax the round ligament to permit the baby’s head to complete rotation into the vertex position, avoiding the breach presentation during delivery and the complications associated with that condition. This is not the chiropractor turning the baby, but following the correction of the sacro-iliac fixations the baby turns on their own with proper application of the Webster technique.

OB specialists, please get to know a few chiropractors in your area and discuss your concerns while looking to offer your patients an appropriate referral to a competent provider of value to your OB patients when there is just cause to do so. If that request is not within your comfort zone, at least avoid discouraging a patient who elects to rely of the chiropractor for part of their care while they are pregnant. If you are open and willing to better understand anything stated herein, I welcome your questions for further clarification.

Yours in Health,
docMIKE