Chiropractor, Dr Beccy Norman
Many people often ask the question to Chiropractors and Osteopaths, “Can I have chiropractic during pregnancy?” The answer is yes! Not only can you undergo care with us during your pregnancy, it also has huge benefits for you. Find our more about Osteopathy & Chiropractic during pregnancy from Beccy Norman, Chiropractor.
Pain relief during pregnancy and labour
it’s been reported that around 50% of pregnant women experience back pain during their pregnancy and up to 75% of women experience back pain during labour! Recent studies have shown that 75% of pregnant women had relief from pain with chiropractic care.
Although pain relief is a huge factor of why chiropractic care is great during pregnancy, there are so many other benefits of receiving chiropractic during pregnancy!
Chiropractic and Pregnancy: Maintaining posture
There are two things that affect your posture during pregnancy, the first being gravitational changes and the second being hormonal influences. So even the fittest, healthiest body still has these challenges to adapt to. To accommodate all this increased loading, women widen their stance and develop an increased curve in low back. This puts additional pressure on the low back and become quite sore. What’s important to remember is to avoid poor posture and to think about correct lifting techniques.
Tackle hormone changes
During pregnancy the levels of a hormone called relaxin increase. This is to relax the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix ready for labour. This increased laxity often increases pain and imbalance in the pelvis. ICPA (International Chiropractic Paediatric Association) recommends that women receive chiropractic care to establish pelvic balance and optimise the room a baby has for development throughout pregnancy.
References:
Phillips C.J., Meyer J.J. Chiropractic care, including craniosacral therapy, during pregnancy: a static-group comparison of obstetric interventions during labor and delivery. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995;18(8):525–529.
. Diakow P.R.P., Gadsby T.A., Gadsby J.B., Gleddie J.G., Leprich D.J., Scales A.M. Back pain during pregnancy and labor. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14(2):116–118.
. Berg G., Hammer M., Moller-Nielsen J., Linden U., Thorblad J. Low back pain in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1988;71:71–75.
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
