Dr. Susan Carter, Chiropractic care during pregnancy

As a chiropractor and mom of 2 boys, I love caring for pregnant patients.  Pregnancy is no joke and the changes are tough on the body.  According to a 2018 study in Canada, 76% of 287 pregnant patients experienced back and pelvic pain or both.  The pain increased the further along the pregnancy.¹ 

I see many different pregnancy complaints in my office during the various trimesters.  In the first trimester (and beyond), if a pregnant patient experiences morning sickness, the vomiting can affect the alignment of the cervical spine or neck because it increases intrathecal pressure in the cord.  Sometimes back problems that were present before the pregnancy can get worse due to all of the new hormones.  I can help with gentle and effective adjustments to the neck and back using a range of techniques including Activator and Diversified Techniques.  Electrical stimulation and ultrasound can also be applied to the neck with careful supervision.

In the second trimester, the hormone relaxin starts to really build up.  Relaxin is advantageous in that it helps to loosen up the joints and ligaments in the body to make room for the baby.  The disadvantageous part is that it causes some instability in the spine, which can cause low back and pelvic pain.  I can help by adjusting the back pelvis in a safe and comfortable manner for you and your baby.

In the third trimester, the growing baby causes the center of gravity of the mothers’ body to shift forward.  This puts more pressure on the sacroiliac joints, sacrum and pubic symphysis.  This pressure may cause low back pain, pelvic pain, pubic pain, and sciatica.  As the baby grows, it puts pressure on the rib cage which may cause the ribs to become misaligned.  This may result in sharp shoulder blade pain and cramping in the shoulders.  Of course, these problems along with the pressure on the bladder cause difficulty sleeping.   Often times, especially near the end of the pregnancy, the patient needs to be adjusted immediately.  We have flexible scheduling and hours to address the time component.

During labor and delivery, the pressure and contractions, opening of the birth canal and the spreading the pelvis are going to cause problems in alignment.  Neck and upper mid back pain are common after starting to breast feed and holding the baby for hours at a time looking down.  As the baby grows, transferring them in and out of the crib, putting them in the car seat and constantly carrying them also cause spinal issues.  Bring your baby to our office while we adjust you and use therapies to help any discomfort.

Chiropractic care is a safe and efficient way to manage these ailments during pregnancy.  A 2014 study evaluated the effect of chiropractic treatment on 115 pregnant women with low back pain and pelvic pain. With respect to pain and disability after just one week of care 52% improved, after one month 70% improved, after three months 85% improved, and after six months 90% improved.²

Having been through two pregnancies myself, this allows me to know firsthand what being pregnant feels like through all of the trimesters and how to deal with each one appropriately.  Chiropractic care during my pregnancy kept me away from drugs or chemicals that can be harmful to the baby.  It also helped me to maintain a healthy and mostly pain free pregnancy while working full time.  Although it’s important to get your doctor’s approval before seeking a chiropractor during pregnancy, I am able to adjust you using techniques that won’t put pressure on the abdomen.  Regular visits can certainly address your issues and re-establish balance and alignment to ensure you enjoy this very exciting and special time in your life. 

Please visit http://www.drsusancarter.com/ for location and contact information for Carter Chiropractic and Wellness.

References

1.) Weis, CA etal.  J Ostet Gynaecol CAN 2018, Aug; 40 (8) 1038-1043.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30103876

2.) Peterson CK, Mühlemann D, Humphreys BK. Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: A prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up. Chiropr Man Therap 2014;22:15