Is chiropractic care safe during
pregnancy?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been
shown to be safe for both mother and fetus. (2,3) As your pregnancy progresses
there will be an increase in circulating hormones which cause significant muscle and ligamentous relaxation.
In light of these changes your chiropractor
will apply one of a number of adjusting techniques designed to provide maximum comfort and safety for both the expectant mother
and fetus. At no time in a women’s life is the incredible adaptive capacity
of the human body more obvious than during pregnancy.
The physiological changes that accompany pregnancy
are nothing short of amazing. Those changes are directed towards creating the optimal environment for the developing fetus. Unfortunately, as pregnancy progresses, some of the comforts afforded the fetus can
compromise a mother’s spinal and nervous system integrity. Furthermore, pregnancy is a dynamic process with numerous
changes taking place within a relatively short span of time. These changes mean
regular chiropractic check-ups, along with pre-pregnancy planning, proper nutrition and regular exercise should be priorities
for a mother to be. (1)
Chiropractic helps women to get well, stay
well and be their best, before, during, and after pregnancy.
What are the benefits of having
chiropractic care during pregnancy?
Clinical studies have now revealed a number
of benefits to receiving chiropractic care before, during and after pregnancy. By
reducing the effects of spinal subluxation your chiropractor will strive to enable you to remain active throughout your pregnancy.
It is now known that during a normal uncomplicated
pregnancy, there is no need to restrict vigorous low impact activities (stretching, walking, swimming). In fact it has been
shown that keeping active during pregnancy has both short and long term positive implications for our baby. One study found
that on-going exercise seemed to contribute to normal, on-time delivery. (4) We also now know that women who start, and maintain,
a moderate weight bearing exercise program during early pregnancy, improve their likelihood of giving birth to a healthy and
heavier baby. (5) Moreover, babies of greater birth weight are more intelligent in adulthood. (6)
Another important study was conducted by Irvin
Henderson MD, a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees. The study concluded that women who receive
chiropractic care during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were able
to carry and deliver with more comfort. (7) Dr. Per Freitag MD, a well known
orthopedic researcher, studied the effects of chiropractic adjustments on the delivery process. The study concluded that the
need for analgesics during delivery was reduced by half in the pregnant patients who received chiropractic care. (8)
It has been demonstrated that chiropractic
care significantly reduces the average amount of time spent in labor. Research by R. Joan Fallon revealed a 24% reduction in the average labor time for those women giving birth
for the first time who had received chiropractic care. Dr. Fallon’s research
also revealed that labor times were 39% shorter in women who were delivering for the 2nd time or 3rd
time, and who were receiving chiropractic care. (9)
How often should I receive chiropractic
care during my pregnancy?
The appropriate frequency of care varies from
one individual to another for a number of reasons. However, typically, during a non-complicated pregnancy the frequency of
chiropractic care will range from once a week to once a month.
Chiropractic adjustments are proving to be
an integral part of the lifestyle which helps women get well, stay well and be their best throughout and beyond pregnancy.
With the right advice, a healthy lifestyle,
and by regularly having your spine adjusted by your chiropractor, the challenges associated with pregnancy can be overcome.
Moreover, by optimizing your well-being you can better focus on the beautiful experience that pregnancy can be with the anticipation
of both a new life, and the formation of an intimate bond between mother and child.
In summary, chiropractic adjustments:
·
Help you to remain active throughout your pregnancy.
·
Helps make delivery more comfortable.
·
Helps reduce the need for analgesics during delivery.
·
Helps reduced the amount of time spent in labor.
·
Can be continued safely until the day of delivery.
