3 Benefits Of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Posted on: 9 January 2015

There are many reasons to visit a chiropractor, but many women do not know that seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy has many benefits. Pregnancy drastically changes a woman's body, and as her stomach grows, stress is placed on her spine, pelvis, and other joints and tendons. Chiropractors specialize in aligning bones and joints in a non-invasive way, which can help pregnant women in a number of ways. If you are pregnant, you may enjoy the following benefits:

Relief From the Common Pains Associated with Pregnancy

As you progress into your pregnancy, you may start to experience significant pain in your hips or back. Some women also have sciatic pain which extends into their legs. Your chiropractor can gently adjust these areas, properly aligning your bones and joints, which can greatly diminish your discomfort. Most chiropractors are trained in how to adjust pregnant women, and some chiropractors specialize in pre-natal chiropractic care. These treatments are safe for pregnant women as long as you are visiting an experienced, licensed chiropractor.

Reduction in Labor and Delivery Time

While the birth of a baby is a blessing, few women want to spend more time than they have to going through labor and delivery. Recent studies have found that women who receive chiropractic care during their pregnancy experience significantly less time in labor than women who do not see a chiropractor. In fact, first time mothers who received chiropractic care displayed a 24% reduction in labor times, and women giving birth for the second or third time had labor times that were 39% shorter than similar women who did not have any chiropractic care.

Turning a Malpositioned Baby

Ideally, a baby will be head down when it comes time for delivery. But there are many situations where a baby may breech; in most cases doctors recommend C-sections in order to protect the health and safety of mom and baby if the infant is malpositioned. But a C-section is a major surgery, and many mothers would prefer to not have to deliver their baby through that method.

The Webster Method, a chiropractic technique developed by Larry Webster, D.C., is used to help turn a baby into the proper vertex position in the final weeks of pregnancy. One study found that there is an 82% success rate in turning a baby into the proper birthing position when the Webster Method is administered by a chiropractor trained in this technique. 

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