Pregnancy and Postpartum
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Pregnant women find that when they’re adjusted their body is more at ease and relaxed. Chiropractic care helps ensure that your body is in an ideal position which in turn allows for optimum room for your baby to grow and move. Our specific and gentle approach instills calmness into your system and our techniques will be modified to accommodate for your growing belly.
A well-functioning nervous system enables a mother to easily combat many of the hurdles of pregnancy. Often women learn to just accept pregnancy discomforts such as nausea, heartburn, shortness of breath, low back pain etc., when in fact they don’t need to.
Maintaining the integrity of the thoracic spine (mid back) with chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate mid back pain (due to an increase in breast size), shortness of breath and heartburn. Maintaining thoracolumbar (mid to low back) and lumbosacral (lower) flexibility free of subluxations can help with other unnecessary discomforts such as constipation, frequent urination, sciatica, lower back pain, symphysis pubis pain and pelvic pain.1 As your pregnancy progresses, the weight of your baby can become a major load to bear and hormonal changes begin to relax the supporting tissues of the spine. It is vitally important that your spine maintains correct alignment.
Research shows that correct alignment of the pelvis and spine contributes to a more straightforward labor with less pain and trauma for mother and child. A study conducted by Dr. Irvin Henderson MD (a member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees) demonstrated that, “Women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester were able to carry and deliver their child with much more comfort.”2
We are here to support, empower and inspire you during your pregnancy. Over 50% of all women complain of lower back pain during pregnancy, with the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis being mostly commonly affected.3,4 Chiropractic care has been shown to be safe for both mother and unborn children, with regular adjustments resulting in a less stressful pregnancy and a less uncomfortable delivery. 5, 6 Another hospital study that incorporated chiropractic adjustments during the patient’s pregnancy demonstrated that there was a 50% decrease in the need for painkillers during delivery, attributable to pre-delivery adjustments.7 Research also shows that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy experience a significant reduction in labor time and require fewer interventions. In her study, Dr. Joan Fallon found that first-time mothers averaged a 24% shorter labor, while mothers who had given birth before had a 39% reduction in the average labor time in a substantial percentage of births.8
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Webster Technique
According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), “The Webster protocol is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/SI joint dysfunction. In doing so the neuro-biomechanical function of the pelvis is improved.” Dr. Kelsey Hudson is a Webster-certified practitioner. Using safe and gentle techniques, her focus is removing nerve interference from mom’s nervous system, balancing her pelvis and removing intra-uterine constraint allowing for baby to have more freedom while in utero.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care While Pregnant
Benefits of regular prenatal chiropractic care can include:
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More comfortable pregnancy
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Increased energy levels
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Fewer headaches
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Diminished heartburn
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Proper fetal positioning is encouraged
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Improved sleep
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Better hormonal balance
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Fallon J DC. Chiropractic and Pregnancy, a partnership of the future. ICA Review Nov/Dec 1990. (pg. 39-42).
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Henderson I MD. American Medical Association Records released in 1987 during trial in U.S. District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777. May, 1987.
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Fast A. Low Back Pain in Pregnancy. Spine. 1987;12(4):368-371.
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Berg, G. Low Back Pain During Pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gyn. 1988;71:71-75.
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Diakow P. Gatsby T. et al. Back Pain During Pregnancy and Labour. JMPT. 1991;14:116-118.
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Penna M. Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care. ACA. J. Chiro. 1989;26:31-33.
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Frietag P. Expert testimony of P Frietag MD PhD., comparing the results of two neighboring hospitals, US District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No. 76C 3777. May 1987.
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Fallon J DC. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and Labour: A Comprehensive Study. Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic, 1991:24-31.
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