Prior to becoming pregnant it is important to make sure that your spine and nervous system are functioning properly. Because the nervous and immune systems of an expectant mother play an essential role in determining the health of an unborn child, any woman who hopes to become pregnant can benefit from chiropractic adjustments. The benefits to beginning a routine of chiropractic care are not just limited to immune and nervous system health, however. There are many other good reasons to consider including chiropractic adjustments in your wellness routine.

Relief From Pain

As your pregnancy progresses, your body changes. These changes can place excess strain and pressure on the spine, muscles and ligaments. Chiropractic adjustments and exercises—both of which are completely safe for expectant mothers—can provide relief from the back, hip, and sciatic nerve pain that frequently accompany pregnancy. Many women even find that chiropractic adjustments also provide relief from pregnancy-related heartburn or nausea. Chiropractic care is also known to help minimize the need for c-sections, as well as the use of forceps or vacuum during delivery.

Furthermore, the physical changes that your body undergoes during pregnancy can cause shifts and imbalances that can make for a difficult pregnancy. But perhaps more fundamentally, these imbalances can also have a negative impact on labor. The seminal obstetrics textbook, Williams Obstetrics, explains that “...any contraction of the pelvic diameters that diminish the capacity of the pelvis can create dystocia (difficulty) during labor.” The text goes on to explain that when the sacrum is displaced or out of alignment, the pelvic diameter is decreased. This could potentially lead to excessively difficult and painful labor. So restoring the natural alignment of the sacrum can help to minimize these issues. In fact, research has shown that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy spend an average of six fewer hours in labor than their peers who forego chiropractic care.

Webster Technique

Dr. Sarah is certified in the Webster Technique; a technique that was created by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that corrects sacral subluxation, balances pelvic muscles and ligaments, removes constraint and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth. If the bones of the pelvis are out of alignment, or subluxated, the body must change the way in which it supports the uterus. Chiropractic adjustments develop balance in the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis, allowing for a greater chance of a vaginal or “natural” delivery.

Benefits For The Child

Aside from the benefits to the expectant mother, ease of delivery also has far-reaching benefits for infants. There is substantial research that links various neurodevelopmental disorders with birth trauma and/or difficult pregnancies; particularly with c-sections. For example, autistic children are 12 times more likely to suffer birth trauma or complication than their non-autistic siblings. Because birth trauma is now recognized as one of the biggest contributing factors in the growing prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions, Dr. Sarah has made it her priority to see women prior to and during their pregnancy to help minimize potential risk factors. It is her philosophy that every expectant mother deserves the best possible chance for a natural, healthy birth!