When Should I Go to a Chiropractor During Pregnancy?

• by Guido Schmeler
• October 2, 2023

Chiropractors are trained in techniques that can help to reposition the baby. Women who get adjusted frequently are said to have 25% to 31% shorter labors.

Chiropractic care can also help to improve immunity. This will ensure a healthy pregnancy for both mother and baby. This is especially important if the mother has preexisting conditions.

1. During the first trimester

Pregnancy can bring on a host of aches and pains in the body. These include lower back pain, joint discomfort, sciatica and swollen feet and ankles. Some of these aches are caused by the burgeoning belly and changing hormone levels. Other aches are less obvious, such as round ligament pain or loosening joints and muscles. Seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy can help ease these new pains.

As long as the obstetrician has given the go-ahead, chiropractic care is safe for pregnant women. In fact, some doctors recommend pregnant patients see a chiropractor as soon as they find out they’re expecting. This can help establish pelvic balance and ensure the baby has adequate room in the uterus. This can reduce the incidence of breech and posterior presentations, which often require more invasive labor procedures and result in more complications after birth.

Women who seek chiropractic during pregnancy also report shorter labor times. This is likely because chiropractic adjustments can keep the nervous system in optimal condition, ensuring that the hormones regulating the contractions are balanced.

A trained pregnancy chiropractor can adjust you safely by using a specially designed table that supports your abdomen. Your chiropractor may also use a soft bolster or pillow to provide support. It is important to drink plenty of water after each adjustment to support your immune system and hydrate the tissues of your body.

You’ll want to make sure your chiropractor is certified in the Webster technique, a specific type of spinal analysis and adjustment that can help align the sacrum, pelvis and rib cage. This can create more room in the pelvic bowl, which can help prevent breech and posterior deliveries.

Whether you’re seeking chiropractic in the first trimester or further along, a good chiropractor can provide you with a treatment plan that’s tailored to your unique situation. In addition to spinal manipulations, your chiropractor can advise on stretches and exercises that can help manage pain and prepare the body for delivery.

The best time to visit Backwoods Chiropractic – Claremore Chiropractic during pregnancy is in the second trimester, when you’re between 24-28 weeks. This is the ideal window to help rebalance the pelvis and give the baby plenty of space in the uterus.

2. During the second trimester

Pregnancy causes a lot of changes to the body, and it is not uncommon for women to experience new aches and pains in their joints and muscles. Chiropractic treatment during the second trimester can help soothe discomfort, as well as prepare the back and pelvis for labor by helping to establish pelvic balance and optimal baby positioning.

Chiropractors are able to offer pregnancy specific adjustments to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this form of treatment for the mother and baby. In fact, there are a number of chiropractors who are certified in the Webster technique – a chiropractic analysis and adjustment that is specifically designed to create more room in the pelvis for the baby. This can assist the baby in moving into the head down position before birth, which is much safer than a breech presentation and can reduce the risk of interventions (such as a C-section) and a more complicated delivery process.

During this time, the weight of the pregnant woman’s belly can become very uncomfortable and can put additional stress on the spine, abdominal muscles, pelvic bones and ligaments. Chiropractic care can ease this discomfort, relieve low back and sciatica pain and help to maintain a healthy posture.

Many women will find that regular chiropractic care in the third trimester is beneficial. This is because the pelvic bones and muscles become stretched and torsioned during this stage of the pregnancy, causing pain and dysfunction in the surrounding structures. A chiropractor can provide spinal adjustments and massage of the pelvic muscles to ease this discomfort and improve function and stability of the area.

Seeing a chiropractor regularly throughout the last trimester can also help to reduce the risk of a breech delivery. Studies have shown that expecting mothers who receive chiropractic care on a regular basis can have a 25 to 31 percent decrease in the chance of the baby being born in breech position.

The frequency of chiropractic care during pregnancy is a personal decision that should be made with the advice of your obstetrician or midwife. Depending on the individual, multiple visits per week may be required at the beginning to address any pain or discomfort, then progressing to a once-per-week regimen for maintenance.

3. During the third trimester

As pregnancy progresses and the baby begins to crowd the pelvic bones, many women experience pain from pressure on the muscles, joints, and ligaments. While these changes are normal, chiropractic treatment can help soothe the tension, reduce back and hip pain, and ease the discomfort that may come along with this stage of pregnancy.

If you’re considering seeing a chiropractor during your third trimester, be sure to let the practitioner know that you’re pregnant so she can take special care with your adjustment, avoiding unnecessarily applying pressure to your stomach. A prenatal chiropractor will likely use an adjustable table designed to keep the pressure off your belly and can even provide a maternity pillow for support.

Some practitioners offer specialized chiropractic techniques for pregnant women, including the Webster Technique. This focuses on ensuring that the pelvis is in its proper alignment for the baby’s delivery and can be beneficial if you’re experiencing a breech presentation. If you’re interested in this treatment, be sure to find a chiropractor who is Webster certified and has extensive experience working with pregnant patients.

While general recommendations suggest that pregnant women visit a chiropractor at least once a month during the first trimester, visits can be increased to bi-weekly in the second trimester and weekly in the last trimester as the baby prepares to enter the world. However, it’s important to note that every pregnancy is different, so if you’ve never seen a chiropractor before and are worried about how often to seek chiropractic treatment during your pregnancy, consult your OB/GYN or healthcare provider.

Getting adjusted is a great drug-free option for managing back pain and other symptoms of pregnancy. In fact, it can also improve immunity and promote healthy weight gain for both the mother and child. For most women, chiropractic care can be safe and effective when used in conjunction with your other treatment methods like exercise, acupuncture, massage therapy, and stretching. As with any chiropractic treatment, talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns before seeking chiropractic care while pregnant. 

4. During the fourth trimester

As the pregnancy comes to an end, many women experience a burst of weight gain and loosened ligaments that throw everything from their gait to their posture out of whack. Visiting a chiropractor during the fourth trimester can help ease this discomfort and align the pelvis. A chiropractor that is trained in prenatal chiropractic may use a specialized table to avoid excessive pressure on the abdomen or modify their adjustments to work around the growing belly.

Some pregnant women find that regular visits to a chiropractor can help reposition a baby that is stuck in the breech position, which can cause complications during delivery. Studies have shown that women who receive regular chiropractic care during pregnancy tend to have shorter labor times than those who don’t receive care. This is likely due to the fact that a relaxed pelvic region means a baby can move through the birth canal more easily.

It is important to note that while a chiropractic adjustment can ease some of the discomforts associated with pregnancy, it won’t prevent a miscarriage. There are a number of factors that can contribute to miscarriage, including genetic traits, infections and hormonal imbalances. Despite this, the majority of miscarriages are not caused by chiropractic adjustments, and those that do occur usually happen within the first three months of pregnancy.

Ultimately, there is no wrong or right time to visit a chiropractor while pregnant. However, it is important to discuss any plans for prenatal chiropractic with an OB-GYN or health care practitioner before beginning treatments. Also, be sure to let your chiropractor know if you are feeling uncomfortable or if something doesn’t feel right.

In general, it is common to see a chiropractor about once per month in the first and second trimester and then to schedule visits bi-weekly during the third trimester. But as every pregnancy is different, your chiropractor will create a treatment plan based on your specific needs and how your body feels. Ultimately, there is no harm in seeing a chiropractor while pregnant as long as it’s performed by a qualified professional and approved by your obstetrician.

Chiropractors are trained in techniques that can help to reposition the baby. Women who get adjusted frequently are said to have 25% to 31% shorter labors. Chiropractic care can also help to improve immunity. This will ensure a healthy pregnancy for both mother and baby. This is especially important if the mother has preexisting conditions.…