Chiropractic for Pregnancy?

Many women in the Rochester Hills, MI area have found that chiropractic is an excellent option for pregnancy care. Dr. Laura Nicholson at Rochester Family Chiropractic is a Webster certified chiropractor who is highly regarded among mothers in the area. She has given numerous talks on pregnancy care to local mothers groups.

The physical stress of pregnancy can lead to a great deal of discomfort. It's common for women in Rochester Hills to visit a chiropractic office regularly for low back pain, as well as other related issues, such as sciatica, leg cramps and constipation. This can lead to difficulty performing daily tasks as well as difficulties in labor.

Chiropractic treatment for pregnancy can be an outstanding source of relief for back pain. Many women also comment that the birthing process was easier after having undergone chiropractic treatments. The following article takes a more in-depth look at the discomfort caused by pregnancy and explains exactly how chiropractic treatment can help.

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Prenatal Chiropractic in Rochester Hills

During pregnancy, a woman’s body is undergoing a number of different changes to accommodate the growing baby. As the baby grows, a mother’s center of gravity shifts to the front of her pelvis, resulting in added stress and discomfort in the lower back and the various joints of the pelvis. At the peak of pregnancy, resulting from the associated weight gain, the curve in the lower back (lordotic curve) can increase to the point of causing serious impact on the vertebral joints, the sacrum, and the hip joints.

The nerves that travel to all other parts of the body have their origin in the spine. When the spine is compressed, these nerves can become irritated causing the pain to radiate to other areas of the body. Sciatica is a condition commonly stimulated by pregnancy, involving pain that radiates from the lower back all the way down the legs.

If a previous issue exists with the alignment of the spine, and there has been a history of lower back problems, pregnancy will often aggravate the condition. Pregnancy can cause the spine to become misaligned to the point that it does not simply go back into place once the pregnancy is complete. This can make the tasks that become necessary once the child is born, such as carrying a baby on your front or back, breast-feeding, and bending over to lift and pick things up, painfully difficult.

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Prenatal Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic practitioners can provide safe and effective personalized care throughout your pregnancy and in the postpartum period. A thorough examination will determine the best treatment to address your discomfort and prepare the body for the height of pregnancy and childbirth. There are specialized adjustment methods to accommodate pregnancy. These treatments may reduce the need for pain medications throughout the delivery as well as help to reduce labor time. Follow up treatments can assist in realigning the body after the pregnancy and speed up the transition to a healthy post-pregnancy body.

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What Type of Chiropractic Care Is Done During Pregnancy?

The chiropractic care techniques used during pregnancy are, in large part, the same ones that are used when a patient is not pregnant. Gentle hands-on spinal adjustment is a key part of chiropractic care at any time. The chiropractor will make sure to position the pregnant patient to accommodate their expanding belly, so some positions may be different due to pregnancy and the changing shape of the body. Dr. Laura Nicholson also holds certification in Webster technique, which is an adjustment especially for pregnancy.

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What Is the Webster Technique?

The Webster technique is a type of chiropractic adjustment that is particularly well-suited for pregnancy. In this type of adjustment, the goal is to reduce the stress that the added weight of the baby causes in the pelvic area. Many pregnant women experience sacral subluxation (misalignment), and this can lead to more difficult labor. The Webster technique can correct that misalignment and make for much easier labor and delivery.

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Is Chiropractic Care Safe During the Whole Pregnancy?

For the majority of pregnant women, chiropractic care is a safe treatment throughout the pregnancy. The earlier that a woman begins receiving chiropractic during her pregnancy, the more comfortable her pregnancy can be.

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Can a Woman Who Has Never Had Chiropractic Begin During Pregnancy?

Yes, even women who have never had chiropractic care before can have their first chiropractic adjustment during pregnancy.

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What Are Common Pain Complaints During Pregnancy?

Many women experience back pain during pregnancy, with some women having daily back pain due to the added weight of the developing baby. Chiropractic care can greatly relieve the back pain and can also relieve other problems like neck pain, headache, and even indigestion. Many women find that chiropractic offers benefits throughout the entire pregnancy and decide to continue with adjustments after the baby is born as a result.

If you are curious about how chiropractic can help you with your pregnancy call our team at Rochester Family Chiropractic today. We are here to help.