Pregnancy

Improve Your Nervous System Function


All chiropractors at Back Into Health are trained and experienced in working with women during pregnancy.

What are some common problems women experience during pregnancy?

While having a baby is designed to be one of the most natural things in the world, this process is complicated by choice. There are a never-ending stream of products and services on the market to assist with this process and it can be quite overwhelming – especially for first time mums. It is often hard to know where to get the best information and assistance with common pregnancy-related problems such as low back pain or sciatica, headaches, nausea, poor nutrition, low immunity and the baby not being positioned optimally for birth. Chiropractic aims to provide a natural, comfortable alternative allowing you to remain informed about your health choices.

How can chiropractic help me have a smooth, easy, stress free pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a magical time and should be experienced for the miracle that it is. However, pregnancy also puts a woman’s body through many changes, not just hormonally but structurally as well. Chiropractors are trained in looking at your health holistically – that is looking at you structurally, nutritionally and emotionally.

 

As a pregnancy progresses the body releases a hormone known as Relaxin into the system. Relaxin is designed to help loosen and stretch the ligaments of the pelvis so that baby can position itself in the optimal position for birth. Although this is an expected part of the process, Relaxin can also cause or exaggerate instability in the pelvis. This instability means that the structures of the pelvis can put pressure on the surrounding nerves in the lower back, leading to back pain and leg pain. This pain can even become more pronounced during labour, when there is further force being placed on these unstable structures. It is hard to appreciate the wonders of pregnancy when you’re in pain! Long term pain can also lead to stress, which isn’t good for the health of mum or baby. This is where chiropractic comes in.

 

Chiropractic care aims to align the joints in the spine to minimise nerve pressure and therefore improve overall nervous system function. This allows you to have a pregnancy with little pain, and less stress.

Why is having my spine in alignment important during pregnancy?

Our spine is home to our central nervous system – the nerves that control and coordinate every cell, tissue and organ in our body, and during pregnancy – our baby’s body too! Allowing these nerves to work without interference during this crucial time is important for baby’s development, but also for mum’s health. Interference to the spine during pregnancy can lead to morning sickness, difficulty sleeping and lower immunity just to name a few.

Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?

There is so much advice available to pregnant mums, and a lot of that advice centres around the Do’s and Don’ts. Yes pregnant mums require special care, but chiropractic specialises its care for each and every patient. The goal with chiropractic is always to remove nerve interference so the body can function optimally and heal itself. We have unique tables and pillows that allow for pregnant bellies of all sizes, and the techniques we use are very gentle. As we mentioned earlier, the ligaments of the spine during pregnancy are a lot looser to compensate for the growing baby, so this allows us to make our adjustments with minimal force.

When you’re establishing your pregnancy support team of friends, family and doctors, a chiropractor is an essential part to maximise your chances of a safe, healthy and comfortable pregnancy.

Can I have chiropractic at any stage of my pregnancy?

Chiropractic care ranges from preconception, right through to post labour. The sooner care is started, the longer the nervous system has to heal and optimise the health of the body, however these benefits occur from the first adjustment, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are in.

How can chiropractic assist me during labour?

A baby’s skull is designed to undergo specific stimulation through the birth canal. Once a woman has had a caesarean birth, statistically she is more likely to need one again for subsequent births. Early chiropractic intervention before and during pregnancy allows for the pelvic muscles to remain strong and for the baby to position itself in the optimal position for birth. Having the body in this position reduces the strain of labour and can result in a much shorter labour time. Shorter more comfortable labour times also decrease the need for drugs to be used during the labour, which not only affect the mother but can intoxicate and distress the baby as well.

When the pelvis is misaligned this can place constraint on the uterus, which means baby may not have enough room to move or become ‘engaged’ in the birth canal. This can lead to baby being in a breech or posterior position which may then lead to a caesarean operation, or even the use of interventions such as forceps and suction which are not only uncomfortable but put a lot of force on the fragile structure of a baby’s skull. Studies have shown that even if a woman has had a caesarean section before, if she has received chiropractic treatment throughout her pregnancy it is still possible to have a normal vaginal delivery.

Many women are hesitant to induce a birth as nature tells us baby will come when their bodies are ready. Inducing a birth also means introducing a cocktail of drugs to both mum and baby as well. But being in constant pain can lead to this decision being made anyway. In these women most commonly the problem was a misalignment in the pelvis, putting tension on the uterus. Therefore baby was not able to get into a comfortable position for birth, and also leaving the mum in a lot of discomfort as well.

Why is it important to get my newborn checked by a chiropractor?

Newborns can benefit greatly from chiropractic, as chiropractic aims to remove the interference from a baby’s rapidly developing nervous system. In the first few months of life a baby goes through huge growth spurts and if there is any pressure on their nervous system this can really get exacerbated at this time. The nerves from the spinal cord supply every growing organ, tissue and cell. Pressure on these nerves can lead to a variety of health issues, such as colic, reflux, difficulty feeding and recurrent middle ear infections. It can also result in problems getting your newborn to settle and go to sleep. We all know babies who won’t settle are also a big source of stress on a household as well. When baby doesn’t sleep, nobody does!

This nerve pressure often occurs during birth, even natural birth. The spinal structures in a new born are very delicate and mobile. This pressure can also occur as baby learns how to sleep, crawl and walk. To have your baby checked through all these important stages of development gives their nervous system the best possible chance to produce a happy, healthy child.

Chiropractic treatment of newborns is extremely gentle and non-invasive, so you can be guaranteed of the health and safety of your child throughout each and every consultation.

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