Pregnancy Chiropractor
Comfortable and Gentle Chiropractic care during pregnancy
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
If you are here then I am assuming you are pregnant.. CONGRATULATIONS!!
You are embarking on what I believe to be one of the most amazing processes in a womans life! Seriously you are growing a human – that is incredible!
I get asked all the time whether pregnant women can get a Chiropractic adjustment and I always answer yes of course they can and in my opinion they should! Over the 9 months of your pregnancy your body undergoes a number of changes so that it can create and carry your baby. These changes are necessary but on the same hand can causes things such as pain and dysfunction. Gentle Chiropractic care for pregnancy can help your body better handle the gravitational changes your body is going through.
Chiropractic care aims to allow your Nervous System to better handle the demands of daily life and as a pregnant woman there ir more demand on your body then ever before. Chiropractic adjustments may help your body to better integrate the daily demands while at the same time decreasing any pain you may be experiencing.
Chiropractic care for pregnancy has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so and we are seeing more and more women use pregnancy Chiropractors to help them throughout their pregnancy.
Why See a Chiropractor during pregnancy?
There are many reasons why you may choose to see a Chiropractor while pregnant.
Some common things that I may be able to help with during your pregnancy through gentle pregnancy specific Chiropractic care include:
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Headaches
- Sciatica
- Pelvic Instibility
- Groin Pain/Pubic Pain
- General muscle tension and duscomfort
- Birth/Labour Preperation
Current Research shows Chiropractic care during pregnancy to be safe and some studies have shows its effectiveness in things such as reducing back pain. Dr Alana has undertaken post graduate training in Chiropractic Pregnancy Care and continues to learn as much as she can so that she can provide every new mumma that comes to InnerBloom with the best most up to date Chiropractic Care.
As a Chiropractor Dr Alana has 2 goals with each pregnant patient.
- Reduce their pain (if they have any) and balance their pelvis and body so they can have the best potential pregnacy and birth.
- Help educate and empower women when it comes to their pregnancy and especially their birth
Think Chiro duing pregnancy could help you
“Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy removes interference to the mother’s nervous system, enhancing baby development and uterine function. It balances her pelvis, eliminating undue tension to muscles and ligaments and enhancing optimal fetal positioning”
– JEANNE OHM, DC
Is Seeing a Chiropractor Safe While Pregnant?
I am often asked whether it is safe to be adjusted while pregnant and my answer is yes it is especially when you choose a Chiropractor who has extra training in pregnancy Chiropractic care.
When we look at the research surrounding Chiropractic and Pregnancy we find a number of positive studies. One such study done by Spring in 2007 showed that the Chiropractic evaulation and treatment during pregnancy may be considered a safe and effective means of treating common musculoskeletal symptoms that affect pregnant patients.
Seeing a good pregnancy Chiropractor will mean that they do an in-depth history and examination which will give them a good idea about what is happening in your body. This will help them make sure that the treatment they give to you is suitable and safe.
Women also express their concern around how they will be treated when their expanding belly stops them from laying on their tummy. Our answer to this is a special pillow which we call a belly pillow! It has a hole in the middle of it where a pregnant belly fits into which allows no pressure to be placed onto the belly.
The Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a popular regime used in the Chiropractic treatment of pregnant women.
This technique was originally used for breech babies as there have been cases where breech babies have turned following the Webster technique. However, current research is showing that it is not just beneficial for breech presentations but rather has positive effects on preventing dystocia.
Common Questions Around Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy
Q: How do I get treated when I can’t lay on my belly?
A: One thing that worries pregnant mothers is laying on their belly during treatment. To accomadate your growing bump I use a specific pregnancy pillow that allows your belly to be supported while laying on your stomach. This means that hardly any pressure is placced on your baby and you can lay on your belly comfortably. Most women comment how nice it is to lay on their stomach for once!
Q: Can I see a Chiropractor in my first trimester?
A: You can see a Chiropractor throughout your entire pregnancy! What you should see is that your treatment changes throughout your care. For example in your first trimester you are still able to lay on your tummy without the use of a pregnancy pillow. As you go through your pregnancy and your belly gets bigger the use of a pillow will be required. Another change is that the types of adjustments you recieve will cahnge. While there is no evidence that adjustments can impact negatively on your pregnancy I choose to bring in some more low force adjustments while pregnant which make mum more comfortable while still getting great results. I always discuss adjustments with you before I do them.
Q: Can Chiropractic hurt me or my baby?
A: There are no known contraindications to pregnancy chiropractic making it a safe choice for mothers. As a qualified and registered Chiropractor with a special interest in pregnancy care, Dr Alana has done post graduate training around how to best treat and work with pregnant mums. She has learnt how to ease their pain and help their biomechanics without causing any harm to the mother or baby. Studies have found that chiropractic during pregnancy is both effective and very low risk (1). This means that as an expecting mother you can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic physically as well as mentally. Many women report great benefits from chiropractic care during pregnancy, and it is always important to talk with your treating OB, mid wife or doctor if you are unsure.
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