Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

While pregnancy can be one of the most exciting times in a woman's life, it certainly comes with its fair share of aches and pains. This is why receiving chiropractic care form a clinic like Bakke Chiropractic Clinic SC during this time can be very beneficial to both mom and baby.

Finding a Chiropractor

Most doctors of chiropractic are trained to be able to care for women who are pregnant. If you have already become established with a chiropractor, you will likely be able to continue seeing them throughout your pregnancy. This may be beneficial to you because the doctor is already familiar with your body. There are, however, doctors who receive additional training which specifically pertains to the care of pregnant women. You should consider visiting a doctor who has this additional training as they will be more familiar with the woes of pregnancy; therefore, they can offer you the best care during this time.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your first appointment will likely be a consultation with the chiropractor. At this time, the doctor can review medical history and will discuss with you what kind of pain you may be having. The doctor will be unable to use X-Ray to view your spine because the radiation is unsafe for the baby. The doctor will, however, be able to do a physical examination to detect spinal misalignment. They will then be able to perform adjustments that are tailored to the issues you may be experiencing. It is important to receive adjustments regularly throughout the course of your pregnancy because the rapid changes in your body can cause new problems to present themselves.

Breech Babies

As you approach your due date the baby should turn to the head down position on their own, but this is not always the case. If a baby is having trouble getting into the correct position for birth, a specific technique can help align the pelvis which will reduce torque on the uterus. This technique, called the Webster Technique, will make it more comfortable for the baby to move into the appropriate position. This method can significantly cut down on the need for Cesarean section due to breech babies.

After Baby is Born

It is important for new moms to continue receiving chiropractic care during the postpartum period. It will be easiest for the doctor to return your body to its pre-pregnancy state during this time, as the joints and ligaments that were loosened throughout pregnancy will quickly tighten back up. Many new moms also complain of neck and shoulder pain. Between feeding the baby, rocking them to sleep, and playing with them, a great deal of a new mother's time is spent in a hunching position. This will quickly cause soreness in the upper spine. Your chiropractor will be able to perform cervical and thoracic adjustments to offset this pain.

Prenatal chiropractic care is a very useful tool in ensuring a happy pregnancy for mom and a healthy baby. As the old saying goes, if mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!

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