Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy: Safety And Benefits
Chiropractic care is both beneficial to the mother and the baby during pregnancy. Some chiropractors specialize in prenatal care and practice specialized techniques for these patients.
Benefits to the Mother
Research shows that anywhere from 76 – 100% of pregnant women experience low back pain. The chiropractic adjustment improves low back pain in up to 91% of pregnant patients! Quite simply, pregnant women experience huge biomechanical changes as their abdomen grows and they find they are better able to manage those changes in chiropractic care. Studies also show that chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy result in decreased length of labor for women. Anyone who has had a baby can attest to the benefit of that!
Benefits to the Baby
Breech presentation increases the risk of torticollis, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cerebral palsy and often results in the necessity of a c-section. Chiropractic adjustments are especially helpful in making room for baby and keeping the baby in the right position for delivery. A specific technique called “the Webster Technique” has proven to turn babies from breech presentations to the preferred vertex presentation 82% of the time, resulting in normal, vaginal delivery. This makes for a much easier birth process for neonates. It is also hypothesized that infants who are born of chiropractic patients exhibit better neck control and strength upon arrival. This is likely due to the positive influence of the adjustment on the mother’s nervous system during pregnancy.
