A pregnant woman’s body undergoes enormous changes throughout a pregnancy. While many of those changes are typical and expected, they impact how you feel for nine months and beyond. For example, gaining weight is normal, but it can cause back, hip, and joint pain as well as sciatic nerve pain.
Fortunately, most pregnant women can safely undergo chiropractic care and adjustments to help relieve pain, reduce spinal nerve stress, and establish pelvic balance.
What Is Prenatal or Pregnancy Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a specialized form of chiropractic care that focuses on the unique needs of pregnant patients. While most chiropractic care and adjustments focus on adjusting and manipulating the back, prenatal chiropractic care focuses on the pelvis. Using gentle adjustments, a chiropractor restores pelvic balance to promote overall health maintenance throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Is Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Safe?
The safety of chiropractic care during pregnancy hasn’t been extensively studied. However, a 2007 literature review found that, at the time, chiropractic care during pregnancy had “favorable results,” and a 2023 study on the effects of chiropractic care on fetal heart rates found no negative impacts.
Pregnant women considering chiropractic care should consult with their obstetrician before beginning any treatment. While most types of care are safe, pregnant patients should not receive:
- Electrical treatments (like stimulation or TENS)
- Ultrasounds
- Radio diagnostic imaging
You should avoid chiropractic care if you’re experiencing any of the following during your pregnancy:
- Placenta previa
- Toxemia
- Edema
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting
- High blood pressure
- Premature labor
- Cramping
If you receive chiropractic care and experience any of the following symptoms, discontinue care and contact your doctor immediately:
- Increased pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Contractions
What To Look for in a Prenatal or Pregnancy Chiropractor
Chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women, but they aren’t required to undergo any specialized training.
While chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant women, they aren’t required to have any specialized training. However, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) offers programming and certifications for chiropractors who want to learn more techniques for treating pregnant people.
The association has three certifications and one diploma program:
Each certification level includes training in specific chiropractic care and techniques for pregnancy wellness, prenatal, and postnatal care.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
As a pregnancy progresses, a woman’s body changes to accommodate the developing baby, which can have an enormous impact on the spinal column and pelvis, which, in turn, can impact the lower back, neck, and shoulders.
Reduce Back and Pelvic Pain
On average, pregnant women gain between 25 and 35 pounds over nine months, a healthy amount needed to accommodate the developing baby. As the baby grows, the sacroiliac joints (the joints between the pelvis and lower spine) become stressed due to the increased weight. Once the uterus expands out and away from the body, the protruding abdomen can compress your spinal disc, creating additional stress in your lumbar spine.
A pregnant patient’s hormones also change during pregnancy. The body releases additional progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin to loosen the joints, making it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. However, these hormones relax joints throughout the entire body. The combination of loose joints with stretched and weakened abdominal muscles puts additional pressure on the spine and pelvis.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy focuses on realigning the pelvis, restoring balance to stretched and strained ligaments to reduce joint pain throughout the body.
Improve Sciatica
Sciatica is when something pinches or presses against your sciatic nerve. It’s often caused by a herniated disc or (more rarely) a bone spur. Sciatica during pregnancy is caused by a growing and developing baby. As your uterus expands, your once balanced pelvis becomes unbalanced as your center of gravity shifts, but also happens due to weight gain, weakened muscles, and looser joints.
Sciatica is common during the third trimester and can be uncomfortable, with pain, numbness, and tingling in the lower back and legs. While there’s a good chance the sciatica will resolve a few months after giving birth, prenatal chiropractic care can establish pelvic balance and alignment to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Neck Pain
While most pregnant people experience pain in the lower back and pelvis, some patients also experience neck pain. Like the pain that happens in the lower back, the additional weight and shift in how you carry it can contribute to a misaligned spine.
Without even realizing it, your neck may end up in an awkward position while you’re sitting or sleeping, creating tension throughout the neck and shoulders. Your posture may change, resulting in slouching, which forces your neck into a tense, uncomfortable position. Over time, you may experience pain, tension, tingling, or burning sensations throughout your neck and shoulders. You may even have headaches as a result of your neck pain.
A chiropractor will help you realign your pelvis and spine so you’re better able to hold your neck properly, reducing your pain.
Can Chiropractic Care Help With a Breech Presentation?
Though most babies have turned to a head-down position by 30 to 34 weeks, not all do, putting them in a breech position. Some patients obtain chiropractic care in the hopes that the practitioner can “flip” the baby.
The Webster Technique is a set of chiropractic adjustments that can improve and maintain pelvic balance and alignment. It’s primarily used to correct a misaligned pelvis to reduce tension and strain in your back and hips. While the chiropractor doesn’t manipulate or move the baby, using the Webster technique during the last trimester can encourage the baby to move into the correct birthing position.
What To Expect at a Prenatal Chiropractor Visit
If this is your first visit to the chiropractor, you’ll start with an assessment of your pregnancy, concerns, and what you’re hoping to accomplish. From there, the chiropractor will discuss the proper adjustments and techniques for your situation and create an individualized treatment plan.
Your adjustments will consist of gentle chiropractic spinal manipulations to adjust your pelvic balance and realign your back and hips to reduce pain throughout your body.
How Often Should I Visit a Chiropractor During Pregnancy?
Most pregnant patients see their chiropractor once a month during the first trimester. In the second trimester, some patients stick with the monthly schedule, while others opt for more frequent visits and see their chiropractor every two to three weeks. During the last trimester, many patients schedule weekly chiropractic adjustments to reduce any aches or pains they’re experiencing and to prepare for childbirth.
>>Learn More: How Often Should You See a Chiropractor?
Find Relief
Regular chiropractic care throughout a pregnancy can provide pain relief through pelvic alignment and spinal balance. The compassionate, caring team of chiropractors and Webster-certified chiropractors can help you find the relief you’re looking for.
We offer a wide range of therapies to help you throughout your pregnancy, including:
- Prenatal massage
- Postural training
- Nutritional counseling
- Exercise recommendations
