During pregnancy, your body ramps up the production of a certain ligament- and joint-loosening hormones that help pave the way for the baby to make an exit. (Without them, your baby’s head would never be able to fit through your pelvis) But those hormones, combined with your gorgeously swollen belly, can also rapidly lower your center of gravity, leaving you loose-limbed, sway-backed, and unusually clumsy.
All of this can do quite a number on your spine. Enter, chiropractic care, or the process of adjusting or realigning your spinal cord (and the ligaments and muscles that surround it) to lessen the pain and promote health throughout the body. It’s thought that chiropractic care may be able to undo some of this damage and realign your lower body for an easier birth. Some chiropractors also claim that these adjustments can reduce the likelihood of miscarriage, control morning sickness, and even lower your risk of pre-term delivery. The chiropractor’s ability to realign and, in many cases, relax the ligaments and muscles in your pelvis has led to the Webster Technique, a method that helps breech babies to turn themselves, naturally.
What you need to know about chiropractic care during pregnancy
Make sure that any chiropractor you choose has been trained to work with pregnant women. You should be placed on a unique table designed to keep pressure off your belly during treatments. (Your chiropractor should also avoid having you lay flat on your back, especially during your last trimester.) And, as with any type of CAM treatment, just be sure your OB-GYN clears it first. He or she may have a particular reason you should avoid spinal realignment.
