Pregnancy & Chiropractic

Awaiting arrival of your new baby will be a time of change for you and your body. Studies show that women are able to carry and deliver their babies with more comfort when receiving chiropractic care. Over the course of pregnancy, expectant mothers’ weight gain will reach somewhere between 30 and 40 pounds. The increase in weight can create spinal misalignment and/or postural distortions, which in turn affect nerves, muscles, and mobility of joints. In addition, many women experience heartburn, rib pain, pubic pain, headaches, sinus congestion and low back pain because of the spinal changes that occur during pregnancy, many of which that were not there prior to becoming pregnant. Chiropractic care has been known to help all of these conditions.

Receiving chiropractic adjustments during your pregnancy can help ensure that the expectant mother’s pelvic bones are properly aligned, facilitating a quicker, easier delivery. In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24% shorter labor times than the group not receiving chiropractic care. As the bulk weight of the baby is deposited in the mother’s abdominal area, her center of gravity shifts forward. In order to compensate, the natural curves of the spine exaggerate causing low back pain. Studies involving women receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy reported relief of back pain. Chiropractic care can provide freedom from interference of normal nerve energy, which is vital for the development of a healthy baby and mother.

During this time chiropractic adjustments can correct vertebral subluxations and relieve pressure caused by the unborn baby. These adjustments are specifically tailored to the pregnant women. Correcting vertebral subluxation ensures that both the expectant mother and her unborn child have the best opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. We believe strongly in the benefits of chiropractic care to the mother and unborn child.

Dr. Stone is certified in Pediatrics through the Academy of Family Practice and the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics (C.A.C.C.P. certified) and is a Fellow of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (F.I.C.P.A.).She is also certified in the Webster’s Technique, a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that is specifically for pregnant women with a baby in the breech or transverse-lie position.

If your baby has not moved into the vertex position (head down) after your 7th month, come visit us today. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment that reduces interference to the nervous system, and balances out pelvic muscles and ligaments which in turn removes constraint to the woman’s pelvis. Many times, this avoids a C-section birth, as the need for medical intervention during labor greatly decreases in women who have had prenatal chiropractic care.

CLICK HERE to read Dr. Stone's article that appeared in Expectant Mother magazine.