Pregnancy and Chiropractic

Orthotics offer relief for painful foot problems, especially for those who must walk or stand excessively while at work, or in everyday activities. Orthotics help to maintain the normal positioning of the bones in the foot, as well as the joints in the ankles, knees and toe alignment. Not to be confused with shoe inserts that can be purchased at a drug store, custom orthotics can only be prescribed by a medical professional. There is no such thing as a “one size fits all solution” for foot pain. The medical professional will examine your feet, your gait, your pronation, and perform an analysis of any pain you may be experiencing. Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to obtain chiropractic care during pregnancy. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. This restriction is called intrauterine constraint. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery. This can affect the mother’s ability to have a natural, non-invasive birth.

The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively. Chiropractic care during pregnancy can provide benefits for women by maintaining a healthier pregnancy, helping reduce the time of labor and delivery, relieving back, neck, or joint pain.

Even if you’re not in pain, you can benefit from visiting a chiropractor. Chiropractic care during pregnancy maintains, and can even improve, balance and alignment in your spine and pelvis. This can help your baby assume his/her optimal birthing position and reduce the risk of having a breech baby. Regular chiropractic care can also provide a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery for both the mother and baby. It stimulates the nervous system to enable proper functioning of your reproductive organs, and in this way supporting the needs of your baby throughout pregnancy and during delivery.

What is the Webster Technique?

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers. It reduces interference to the nervous system and helps balance the pelvis, muscles and ligaments. The Webster Technique is successful in relieving intrauterine constraint and allows the fetus to move freely. It can prevent, and even convert, breech birthing positions. The Webster Technique should be started as soon as you find out your baby is in the breech position. Baby’s can flip as late as 39 weeks, but anytime after 35 weeks the chances for success are reduced due to limited mobility in the womb.

Often after birth, whether vaginally or via c-section, the mother’s pelvic biomechanics change – these changes can bring discomfort with walking, nursing and sleeping. Chiropractic care can help restore the pelvic balance with similar manipulation, exercises, and stretches that were used during pregnancy. It can also be beneficial to mobilize the thoracic region due to positions during breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or simply rocking children to sleep. There is a tendency for new mothers to flex forward for long periods of time which can aggravate the mid back area. Carrying car seats with infants in them, pushing strollers, and caring for babies are all new activities that can alter biomechanics of the mother. Regular Chiropractic care can help minimize the effects of all these new activities!

Visit icpa4kids.org for more information.