Though pregnancy is a thrilling time, those nine months also offer their share of unique discomforts, from morning sickness to aches and pains related to the weight gain and redistribution issues associated with pregnancy.
The team at Regenerative Health & Wellness Medical Center offers chiropractic treatment that can ease several types of body pain that are common in mothers-to-be. Dr. Jacob Holdren and Dr. Steven Foley believe in treating the whole patient, which is why the services we offer range from regenerative medicine treatments to gently administered hands-on chiropractic care.*
Dr. Holdren’s years of chiropractic experience have given him special insight into the care that pregnant women need, no matter which trimester they’re in.
Is chiropractic care safe for me if I’m expecting?
Fortunately, chiropractic care is one of the safest treatments you can receive while pregnant, or any other time, for that matter. Broadly, chiropractic care involves adjustments of your various body parts — often your spine — to relieve many types of pain, from back discomfort to headache.
Treatment has even been shown to alleviate discomfort from certain chronic conditions, like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
The benefits of chiropractic care include:
- Noninvasive
- Gentle
- Customizable
- Complements other therapies well, such as heat and ice treatment and physical therapy
As with many modalities, there are different types of chiropractic treatment. These include spinal decompression, a gentle way to decompress and stretch your spine, and the Thompson technique, which involves a special table that facilitates thrusting motions at various intervals to treat problems.
What pregnancy-related problems can my chiropractor help me with?
Dr. Holdren uses chiropractic manipulation to help pregnant patients with numerous problems, but first it’s important to understand the body changes that pregnancy fuels.
Your center of gravity completely shifts as your baby — and in turn, you — grow. Your posture changes, too, and this can cause spine or joint misalignment. The curve of your back might be altered as you get bigger, and later on in your pregnancy, your pelvis goes through transitions as your body gets ready for labor.
The discomfort that gentle chiropractic manipulations can relieve include:
- Back pain
- Neck
- Hip pain
- Sciatic pain
- Posture problems
- Joint pain, such as knee pain due to carrying additional weight
- Pain resulting from your baby being positioned awkwardly (not head first)
- Loose ligaments (hormonal changes cause this)
- Nausea
Regarding your baby’s position, there’s a treatment called the Webster technique that relaxes your pelvic muscles and encourages breech (feet first) babies to right themselves prior to labor. If your baby is positioned optimally before birth, you’re likely to have a birth with less medical intervention.
Dr. Holdren’s care can also help stabilize the awkwardness that comes with your ligaments being looser.
Additionally, no matter what treatment Dr. Holdren performs, he’s always gentle and never places any pressure on your belly that would stress the baby.
Chiropractic care has been found to lead to shorter labors and overall better birth outcomes. Another piece of good news is that, in addition to supporting your comfort before the baby arrives, chiropractic treatment has been shown to help colicky infants.
Call our Holly or Colorado Springs office today if you’re expecting, or are planning a pregnancy so you can get care set up, or reach out to us through our website.
* Talk with your obstetrician about any pregnancy-related risks that may disqualify you for chiropractic care.*