5 Conditions Chiropractic Care Can Improve During Pregnancy

Aches and pains in the lower back and hips are part of the pregnancy experience for many women. According to studies, about 50 percent of pregnant women experience hip or lower back pain at some point before they give birth.

Various biomechanical changes take place during pregnancy. They can lead to pain and discomfort during both pregnancy and delivery. Some of these changes include:

• Increased lumbar lordosis.
• An anterior shift in your center of gravity.
• Weight gain.
• An altered walking pattern. 

Fortunately, relief from such aches and pains is just a chiropractor’s visit away. Chiropractic therapy can improve several conditions during pregnancy. It is an effective, drug-free, and safe way to manage pregnancy-related conditions. It can also improve other musculoskeletal symptoms. Some of the conditions it can help improve include:

Low Back Pain

An anterior shift in a pregnant woman’s center of gravity causes increased stress on the lumbar spine. This can subsequently cause low back
pain. Altered gait patterns and muscle tightness can also contribute to low back pain. This pain can range from mild to severe, depending on your activity level, work duties, and daily activities.

Round Ligament Pain

The round ligaments of a woman’s uterus have contractile fibers. They connect and suspend the uterus to the anterolateral abdominal wall. The round ligaments stretch as the uterus grows. This can cause sharp pain near the labia or pubic bones or on either side of the abdomen.

Nausea

Morning sickness or nausea is one of the most common pregnancy-related symptoms. It can be extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, through a spinal realignment, a chiropractor can reduce nausea and vomiting and improve the function of the nervous system.

Sciatic Nerve Pain

During pregnancy, hypertoxicity in the deep external rotators and gluteal muscles can compress and irritate the sciatic nerve. The growth of the fetus can cause uterine pressure in supporting vasculature. It can also lead to the compression of the sciatic nerve. This can cause low back pain that can radiate into the legs.

Pubic Symphysis Pain

A hormone known as relaxin allows for the relaxation of the ligaments that stabilize the pubic symphysis joint, allowing for the joint to separate and move. Also called SPD, this condition can cause pain and reduced mobility.

Is Chiropractic Therapy Safe During Pregnancy?

According to the American Pregnancy Organization, chiropractic care is a process that can help maintain the health of the discs, spinal column, and related nerves. This form of therapy also focuses on the maintenance of bone geometry. Chiropractic care is both a science and an art.

Chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Chiropractors undergo the training required to treat and provide advice to pregnant women. So if you are pregnant and considering chiropractic therapy to get relief from certain conditions, do not worry.

Some doctors of chiropractic specialize in areas like prenatal and postnatal care. You should choose a chiropractor who focuses on both areas of chiropractic therapy. Patient education and chiropractic care as part of prenatal care provide more benefits to pregnant women than obstetric care alone.

To learn more about chiropractic care during pregnancy, visit Chiropractic Nashville at our office is in Nashville, Tennessee. You can call (615) 205-1022 today to schedule an appointment.