The Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care
When a woman is pregnant or trying to conceive, it seems like everyone has advice, personal stories, and opinions they are all too eager to share. The list of do’s and don'ts for pregnancy is long - and sometimes contradictory - depending on which child care specialist, website, friend, or relative you are following.
The experience can be so overwhelming. As chiropractors and parents ourselves, we know that you just want what’s best for your baby.
At Turning Point Wellness Center in Waterloo and Red Bud, IL, our goal is to provide whole body wellness for mom and baby. That includes before conception, through pregnancy, and beyond the birth of your child.
Is Prenatal Chiropractic Care safe?
Chiropractic care before, during, and after birth is not only safe, but beneficial to both mother and baby.
We encourage patients to start regular visits with our team of female chiropractic physicians as soon as they wish to become pregnant. Routine chiropractic care prepares the body for pregnancy.
Once pregnant, regular adjustments by a Webster Technique Certified practitioner encourage proper biomechanics during the many changes a woman’s body will experience.
All three of the chiropractic physicians at Turning Point Wellness Center are Webster Certified to safely treat pregnant women.
This means that no matter which of our providers you see, you will be treated by a specialist trained in techniques focused on the pelvis, sacrum, and surrounding muscles and ligaments. These techniques are used to free up space in the uterus and prepare the body for delivery.
Begin Prenatal Chiropractic Journey Early
Chiropractic care supports fertility. Adjustments, acupuncture, or a combination of the two procedures, are used to help prep the body and central nervous system for pregnancy.
Chiropractic adjustments early in your pregnancy journey ensure that your nervous system is operating effectively to keep your hormones in balance.
Acupunture helps restore balance in the body creating good qi (chi). This occurs when tiny needles are placed along acupuncture points on the body to support qi in a particular area. Learn more about the practice of acupuncture.
According to babylist.com, the National Institute of Health (NIH) states that acupuncture can lead to “increased uterine blood flow, inhibited uterine motility and the anesis of depression, anxiety and stress.” And while its efficacy in treating infertility still is being studied, researchers have observed positive effects in people struggling to conceive.
Chiropractic Care in the Second Trimester
Turning Point Wellness Center encourages at least one prenatal chiropractic visit in the first half of pregnancy, prior to 20 weeks.
The 20-week mark is typically the point of pregnancy when the uterus has grown too large to fit in the pelvis. As it grows, you will likely feel more aches and pains related to torque and torsion in the round ligaments and broad ligament as well as the bony pelvis.
Prenatal chiropractic adjustments help to ease strain on the ligaments and correct misalignments that can occur as the uterus expands and pushes organs out of the way.
Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care in the Third Trimester
Around the midpoint of the third trimester, at approximately 34 weeks, your Turning Point physician will likely increase the frequency of your visits.
This is the time when mom feels the most aches and pains due to ligaments expanding, strain on the back from a growing baby, and sciatica pain.
This is also the time when the Webster Technique is the most beneficial. This technique helps create space in the uterus and encourages babies to get in the correct head-down position for birth.
Newborn Chiropractic Care
Stress on the spine and nervous system during the birthing process can cause:
- Colic
- Breathing problems
- Nursing difficulties
- Sleep disturbances
- Allergic reactions
- Chronic infections
We highly encourage all new parents to bring in their newborns for chiropractic care soon after birth.
*Please note that pediatric chiropractic care, including adjustments, are modified to the child’s size, weight, and unique spinal condition.
At Turning Point Wellness Center, we look forward to being part of your journey into parenthood and beyond. Contact us to make your pre or postnatal chiropractic appointment, or to schedule your newborn chiropractic visit.
