Pregnancy | Pregnancy |
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The state of your spine and pelvis plays a key role in pregnancy. One of the common indicators for spinal dysfunction is low back pain. Low back pain is thought to occur in 57% - 69% of all pregnancies.Some common reasons for low back pain during pregnancy are thought to be related to changing load distributions due to weight gain and an increase in the lumbar lordosis (the curve in your lower back). Other causes are thought to be due to increases in joint laxity (joint mobility) and reduced spinal stabilisation, due to a hormone produced during pregnancy called relaxin. The expansion of the uterus and the stretching of different soft tissue structures around the pelvis leads to secondary muscle spasm which can also cause low back pain. In addition, weight gain leads to changes in the pregnant mother’s centre of gravity and is also thought to contribute to low back pain. It is thought that previous physical trauma left uncorrected and weak musculature alters the mechanics of the spine, magnifying all these effects in future pregnancies. Getting your spine checked by a chiropractor specialising in pregnancy is a safe, gentle and effective way of helping to ensure your spine is working well during pregnancy and prior to labour. This benifits both mother and baby.At Clair Hogan Family Chiropractic we specialse in chiropractic for pregnancy. Clair Hogan is a certified webster practitioner. See below for more information. A survey on 950 pregnant women and 87 Medical doctors of prenatal care found chiropractic to be the third most common form of complimentary therapy behind massage and yoga. Chiropractors are skilled at detecting spinal misalignments or what chiropractors call subluxations, and correcting them. You don’t necessarily have to be in pain to know you have a subluxation. Having your spine working well helps to ensure that your pelvis is sitting correctly and allows for optimum room for the babies to grow and move, which is extremely important. It is also important to ensure the spine and pelvis maintains good stability and movement throughout pregnancy and for the delivery. There have been a number of research papers supporting the benefits of chiropractic during pregnancy for low back pain. One such study showed improvement in pain intensity whilst under chiropractic care. Another found that 72% of patients under chiropractic care during pregnancy were likely to have found some benefit. Chiropractic care has also typically been included in the care of pregnant patients to assure the patient has a more comfortable pregnancy and help facilitate a comfortable labour. Other common reasons pregnant women go to the chiropractor for are:
The webster techniqueThis is a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers. In expectant mothers presenting breech, there has been a high reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal vertex position. This technique has been successfully used in women whose babies present transverse and posterior as well. It has also successfully used with twins. Any position of the baby other than ROA may indicate the presence of sacral subluxation and therefore intrauterine constraint. At no time should this technique be interpreted as an obstetric, "breech turning" technique. It is strongly recommended by the ICPA instructors of this technique that this specific analysis and adjustment of the sacrum be used throughout pregnancy, to detect imbalance and optimize pelvic biomechanics in preparation for safer, easier births. Because of the effect the chiropractic adjustment has on all body functions by reducing nerve system stress, pregnant mothers should have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimizing health benefits for both the mother and baby.
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