Pregnancy Care

Is low back or leg pain and sciatica causing problems with your pregnancy? Should this be the case, Chiropractic is a great natural, drugless approach to help with your pain. Many people often wonder if Chiropractic care can help a mother and their baby achieve a healthier pregnancy and delivery. Not only is chiropractic gentle and safe, but it is becoming an increasingly popular choice for many mothers who waiver from taking prescription and over the counter drugs during pregnancy. In fact, many clinical studies have shown chiropractic to be the choice for pregnant mothers experiencing pain.

One particular study by a member of the American Medical Association, Dr. Irvin Hendryson showed that women who were in their third trimester of pregnancy who received chiropractic adjustments were able to carry and deliver children with more comfort. A fellow orthopedist by the name of Per Freitag, M.D., showed in a hospital study that used chiropractic adjustments on pregnant patients and found that mothers need for pain killers during delivery decreased in half.

Along one's spine are 24 vertebrae (bones in the spine), with a sacrum and coccyx bone directly beneath them, and they work in tandem and surround the central nervous system. The brain produces neurological signals that travel down your spinal cord throughout the nerves to all of a person's limbs, organs, and muscles in the body. These signals direct all of the body's functions, and contribute to growth, repairing cells and tissues, and the natural healing mechanism of the body. When your spine is subluxated, or misaligned, nerves become tensed, and these pathways of signals become altered, causing the body to function inefficiently. Such imbalances in posture can occur with pregnancy such as a high hip, rotated pelvis, spinal curvature, sway back, dropped shoulder or any of many variations in structure, which can contribute a more difficult pregnancy. According the the American Jounal of Pain Management, the authors state: "posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture."

Chiropractors focus on the cause of many symptoms and specialize in the detection and correction of these spinal subluxations to improve body function. Much like orthodontics, this process can take from several weeks to months depending on the spinal structure and misalignment severity of the patient. As subluxations decrease and the central nervous system can work better, healing takes place more efficiently.

During pregnancy; women go thourgh a series of physiological and hormonal changes to create the most optimal environment for their developing baby. Every system of the pregnant woman's body. As a pregnant woman's boy changes during baby development, their center of gravity is skewed, altering their posture, placing more pressure on their lower back and pelvis, which may result in pain. A study by MJ Mantle showed that fifty percent of all pregnant women complained of low back pain.

When random people were polled in our community, Sherry Grieco of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania said that "Chiropractic has helped me and my family tremendously. During my last trimester of pregnancy, Chiropractic care made me feel more comfortable. It helped me with my hip and sciatic pain." Traci LaGanke of Wilmington, Delaware has also gotten much relief with her pain during her two pregnancies. "I suggest to anyone with lower back pain to see a Chiropractor. Carrying 30-40lbs. of excess weight and lugging car seats have only added to my pain, and chiropractic care has kept me pain free throughout my pregnancy. Helene Neidig of Hockessin, Delaware is eight months pregnant, and works in an office setting. "Regular Chiropractic adjustments make me feel looser and rid me of acute back pain. I used to have chronic back pain before pregnancy, that would become more aggravated at my desk working ten hours a day. I highly recommend seeing a chiropractor before, during, and after pregnancy. I thought that my chronic back pain would come back and it has not!"

The best time to seek chiropractic adjustments is throughout the entire pregnancy and immediately concluding labor and delivery, a great option if a mother is or wants to help eliminate back and leg pain.

As any doctor or expectant mother will tell you, it's critically important to ensure that you have quality prenatal care during pregnancy. Unfortunately, few women seem to understand the incredible benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, both for themselves and baby.

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes immense change; her musculoskeletal system is continually adapting to the changes wrought by the growth of the child inside her. As a consequence, many women experience pain in their lower back and hips. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help a woman's body to remain aligned, in addition to maintaining optimal nervous system function.

As a woman's belly continues to expand and grow, her center of gravity changes. In many cases, these changes happen too fast for her back and pelvis to accommodate, thus resulting in considerable discomfort and spinal subluxation. This is compounded further, if a woman's back and pelvis were out of alignment before the pregnancy. A subluxated pelvis can negatively affect the position of your growing child.

Spinal / Pelvic subluxation can also interfere with the proper functioning of the uterus. A woman's uterus is connected to the pelvis by ligaments, which help to support the uterus and keep it in it's proper place. Additionally, these ligaments provide support for the uterus as the child inside continues to grow. A pelvic subluxation can cause these ligaments to become strained, directly affecting the position of the uterus. As a consequence, the child is left in a less-than-optimal position and is at an increased risk of becoming breech.

Chiropractic treatment can correct the misaligned pelvis and relieve the strain placed on the pelvic ligaments. But don't take our word for it! Ask your local chiropractor about the benefits of chiropractic treatment during pregnancy. You might also inquire about the "Webster Technique", which is a technique specifically designed to relive intrauterine constraint. A chiropractor can help ensure a faster, safer, easier birth, in addition to helping relive the pain and discomfort associated with childbirth. Best of luck!

Only a healthy mother can deliver a healthy baby. So, parental care and preparation are necessary at the beginning itself. Having nutritious food and health exercise alone will not help a mother to deliver a healthy child. It needs overall care in each minute element that a mother comes across her regular life. Once you know that you are going to have a baby, it is essential that you give your baby a healthy start. Pregnancy is an extremely amazing time for you as well as your partner and future child. As an expectant mother, you must know what is happening to you and the baby growing within you.

Time of changes

Even though in the initial stages you might not notice any major transitions taking place in yourself, you would be able to see the budding evidences of the changes going on inside your body slowly. Most Believe it or not, it would be totally miraculous yet strange for you to wake up every morning to discover that you see a body that is different from what you had yesterday. It is quite normal to experience some common discomforts while you are pregnant. Nausea, dizziness, vomiting, bloated body, fatigue, tiredness, body aches, frequent urination and many other problems are common during this time. All these should be given due care during the effective parental care.

Give care on emotional changes

You would also undergo emotional and physical changes during pregnancy. Maintaining a cool and calm mindset is necessary to keep your baby healthy. The time demands more relaxation techniques to free your body from unnecessary commotions. Try to practice any of your favourite pastimes during pregnancy period. If you come across extra mental pressure and shock, try to get rid of it at the earliest with the help of your better half. Reading is a good habit that any woman can leisurely enjoy during her pregnancy days. Watching comedy movies also can gift you more relaxation.

Consult your doctor in time

You can keep a track of your kid's development by going through various tests. The best way is to visit your gynecologist regularly. These parental care visits are extremely essential for the health of your would be baby and you. A health care provider would also guide you about the things that you must avoid during your nine months of conception. Activities like drinking and smoking would hurt your child. Same is the case with certain medicines. A good doctor would advise you to eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids. Prenatal vitamins also play an essential role in the health of your unborn child.

A lot of controversy surrounds women that are consuming green tea while pregnant. Drinking the tea in large amounts during the time of conception or during pregnancy could result in the body not being able to use folates in the correct way.

However, there has also been studies that say it is okay during pregnancy if it is consumed in moderate amounts. Taking green tea during pregnancy isn't a bad thing if you don't overdo it.

The biggest drawback of drinking green leaf tea while pregnant is due to the caffeine content. Doctors always advise their pregnant patients to limit their intake of caffeine.

While you don't need to cut it out completely, it is for the better if you do. How does this affect those women who enjoy the health benefits and taste of green leaf tea?

Talking to your doctor about the supplements that you should take while pregnant is important. Ask your doctor if there is a certain limit to what kind of multivitamin you should take and ask if it is okay to take a supplement with herbal extracts included in the ingredients. This would include an herbal green tea extract as well.

Many people drink coffee every day. Many of those people are just finding out they are pregnant and have to choose a decaffeinated brand of coffee. This is the same with green tea or any other kind of tea. The best way to get this herbal ingredient without the caffeine, however, is in an herbal extract.

A green leaf tea extract has a lot less caffeine than its counterpart of tea. The antioxidants in green tea may also help in the proper absorption of calcium and iron which is a positive addition during pregnancy.

Take care too watch your intake of any kind of caffeine while pregnant and consult your doctor about the multivitamin you would like to take. Specifically ask how much green tea during pregnancy is okay.

Are you one of the lucky women whose skin glows with pending motherhood? Or are you one of the unlucky ones who has constant pregnancy skin care problems? Whichever one you are the birth of the new baby will overshadow any hormonal changes that take place in your body.

But of course those women who do suffer with skin problems such as acne, pigmentation, you want to know that help is just round the corner - right?

If you find yourself with acne - this being the number one skin problem in pregnancy according to Ellen Marmur, MD, chief of dermatologic and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City - there are things that you can do.

One thing you must remember is that you have to be very careful and choose your pregnancy skin care and beauty products wisely because your hormones are definitely in overdrive during this 9 months of your life hence the reason you most probably are suffering with acne, or dark blotches of skin spattered here and there; or other unsightly spots and bumps.

Marmur states that the most common areas that acne appears is round the chin and mouth area.

Some ladies skin because of the extra hormone activity has excessive amounts of oil and it is partly because of this that you start to get the unforgiving zits on your face which you thought were a thing of the past.

It is as Marmur says important to get it treated as early as you can otherwise you could end up with those dreadful spots after the baby is born.
You can't just use any treatment to fight your acne, as you have to remember that certain products are harmful to the foetus.

An assistant clinical professor of dermatology and microbiology at NYU Medical Center in New York City, Sumayah Jamal, MD, PhD quite categorically says that any skin product that contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or any of the retinoids should be given a wide birth.

At this point you might think that you have been left alone and are worried about how you are going to get rid of your acne. Don't fear!

Jamal has some remedies that you can try which are not dangerous to your unborn baby and that is sulphur-based topical products with ingredients like glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids or any at-home microdermabrasion treatment.

Not all women however, will respond to those treatments but you can also try says Jamal the prescription cream erythromycin cream and azelaic acid which will not harm your baby.

During your pregnancy you may not be able to use the same beauty or skin care products that you did before you became pregnant because hundreds of skin or beauty items are loaded with artificial chemicals.

So for your baby's sake be very careful what you apply to your skin. Whether it is to clear up acne or just to moisturize or cleanse as the porous nature of our skin means that whatever we apply topically to it, it is soaked through the pores and starts on its journey to the blood stream.

Always, always check the label and if you are unsure about a product then ask your mid wife or doctor. It is better to be safe than sorry.

It isn't only the baby that could suffer from these products - some of the ingredients used in skin care are very toxic and have been related to cancer causing. So even after the birth think about your own health and choose your skin creams and lotions just as wisely.