Pregnancy Chiropractor

Pregnancy-related Aches and Pains

Pregnancy is a beautiful time, but it can also come with a variety of physical discomforts. Read on to understand how chiropractors can help with pregancy-related aches and pains.

Background

Pregnancy places significant physical demands on the body. As the baby grows, changes in posture, weight distribution, and hormone levels can increase stress on the spine, pelvis, hips, and surrounding joints. It is estimated that up to 75% of pregnant women experience discomfort such as lower back, hip, pelvic, neck, or joint pain during pregnancy, with some continuing postpartum.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy aims to support spinal and pelvic balance as the body adapts. Gentle pregnancy-specific techniques, such as the Webster Technique, are used to help reduce pelvic tension, improve function of the nervous system and support optimal pelvic alignment while also helping to create optimal space within the pelvis for the developing baby.

Understanding these changes can help expectant mothers better manage and prevent common pregnancy-related aches and pains.

Causes of Pregnancy Aches and Pains

Postural Changes (Gravity Shifts) : The growing baby changes your posture, shifting your center of gravity and putting strain on your neck, upper-mid back, lower back and pelvis region.
Weight Gain: The added weight of the baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid places extra pressure on the joints and muscles, contributing to discomfort when there’s underlying dysfunction in these areas.

Relaxin Hormone: Your body produces a hormone called relaxin, which loosens your joints and ligaments to prepare for childbirth. However, this can create aggravation of previous joint injuries/ dysfunction that lead to instability and pain.
Muscle Imbalances: Different pregnancy stages affect your body in different ways, when there is uneven weight distribution, it can lead to muscle imbalances that contribute to pain.
Stress: Hormonal changes can sometimes lead to emotional stress of which then manifest as physical tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and lower back.

Common Pregnancy Aches and Pains

Lower Back Pain: This is the most common pregnancy-related pain, often caused by the factors mentioned above.
Pelvis and/or Pubic Pain: When there was any underlying pelvic misalignment prior to pregnancy, the change in posture, the relaxin hormone and the weight of the baby can contribute to pelvis and pubic pain.
Sciatica: This pain radiates down the leg due to irritation of the sciatic nerve.
Neck Pain: Carrying extra weight, increased breast size and changes in posture can lead to neck pain.
Joint Pain: Relaxin hormone decreases stability of the joints which amplifies any joint misalignment or previous joint injuries, causing joint pain throughout the body.

Preventing Pregnancy-Related Aches and Pains

Expectant mothers can take several steps to prevent or reduce pregnancy-related aches and pains.

Practise Good Posture: Maintaining proper posture helps to minimise strain on the spine and muscles. When standing, keep the shoulders back, spine straight, and avoid standing with the belly sagging downward. While sitting, use a chair that supports the back and keep feet flat on the floor.

Stay Active: Regular, moderate exercise can strengthen the muscles that support the back and pelvis, improving flexibility and reducing tension. Prenatal yoga, swimming, and walking are excellent options for staying active during pregnancy.

Get Regular Checks On The Spine, Pelvis And Its Surrounding Tissues:
Have regular check ups with your chiropractor on the alignment of the body in order to restore proper joints functions, minimise musculoskeletal strain and optimise neurological function.

Use Supportive Footwear:
Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes helps maintain proper alignment and reduces strain on the lower back and legs.

How Chiropractic Helps to Ease Pregnancy-Related Aches and Pains.

Chiropractic care offers a safe and drug-free approach to managing pregnancy pain. Here’s how it can benefit you:

Improved Joint Alignment: Chiropractors can gently adjust your spine and joints to restore proper body’s alignment.
Reduced Muscle Tension: Tight muscles can contribute to pain. Chiropractic adjustments help release muscle tension for better comfort.
Pelvic Balance: A balanced pelvis is crucial for a healthy pregnancy as a misaligned pelvis alters pelvis opening and creates tension through the soft tissues that support the womb. Chiropractic care can help address pelvic misalignments.
Correcting Postural Imbalances: Our chiropractors assess how pregnancy affects your body and address musculoskeletal imbalances to optimise biomechanics, improving comfort and reducing the risk of injury.
Enhanced Nervous System Function: Proper spine alignment can optimise nervous system function, promoting overall health throughout the pregnancy and optimising labour experience.
Injury Prevention: Chiropractors can offer guidance on safe exercises and ergonomics to prevent pregnancy-related injuries.
Faster Recovery: Chiropractic care can help you recover faster from aches and pains.

Providing Pain Relief Without Medication

Chiropractic care offers a safe alternative to pain medication, which is often contraindicated during pregnancy. Through gentle adjustments and soft tissue therapy, chiropractic care can provide effective pain relief.

The Webster Technique

This specialised chiropractic technique focuses on the sacrum (tailbone) to optimise nervous system function and pelvic balance. A balanced pelvis reduces undue tension in the muscles and ligaments that attach to the uterus, allows for more space in the womb which then allows the baby’s ability to get into the best possible position for a smoother birth.

Benefits of Perinatal Chiropractic Care:

Reduced discomfort and pain
Improved postural support
Better sleep and mood
Increased mobility
Reduced risk of labour complications

Is Perinatal Chiropractic Care Safe?

Yes, chiropractic care during pregnancy is safe when performed by a qualified chiropractor experienced in Perinatal care.

Book a Perinatal Checkup

If you’re experiencing pregnancy-related aches and pains or simply want to ensure a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy, consider scheduling a checkup with one of our perinatal chiropractic specialists. At My Chirocare, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Call us now at +65 6208 4669 to schedule your consultation.