Prenatal Chiropractic Care

When you are carrying your unborn child, you want safe and drug-free care for any health concerns that may come up. That makes chiropractic care perfect for mothers-to-be. What can occur during pregnancy that a chiropractor can help with? Here are a few things you should know.

How Pregnancy Impacts the Spine

While your baby is growing inside of you, there are many discomforts that come along with the process. For example, the baby may be putting pressure on your spine and ribs, leading to pain, even if you’ve never had back problems in the past.

Another issue that arises is due to the vastly different hormone balances that take place in the body during pregnancy. Some of the hormones that are released actually soften the ligaments. This prepares your body for the necessary changes involved in the delivery process. However, it can also make alignment issues more common during pregnancy.

Another factor that can increase pain and nerve problems during pregnancy is fluid retention. The retained fluid may place pressure on nerves, irritating them. This can lead to carpal tunnel pain in the wrists and arms or sciatica impacting everything from your hips down to your feet. It all depends on where the fluid is being retained. Since the sciatic nerve is the largest in the body and it starts in your lower back and branches down both legs, the symptoms can vary from person to person depending on the degree and location of the nerve irritation.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

Chiropractic adjustments can correct misalignments that are being caused by the pregnancy process. These adjustments may decrease pain and even nerve irritation. The less pressure there is on your spine and nerves due to misalignments, the better you will feel in general. However, it may also have an additional positive impact on your pregnancy.

A properly aligned pelvis can make labor easier. In fact, a case study performed at Ward Chiropractic & Rehabilitation reveals that chiropractic care helped one expectant mother to reduce her lower back pain by 70%, and following care, her baby was no longer breech, allowing for a natural birth rather than a cesarian section.

Prenatal Chiropractic Care in Fairfax, VA

If you are pregnant and are experiencing back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel, or other spine and nerve-related symptoms, please contact Ward Chiropractic & Rehabilitation to schedule a consultation. Just call 703.672.1661, or you can request an appointment online.