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!

A healthy pregnancy is very essential for a healthy child birth. That does not necessarily mean hiring a midwife to take care of you, for the most part, the health of the fetus depends on the mother's health and lifestyle. So a mother has to give up a lot more than just her figure, all those fancy figure hugging outfits should be replaced with comfortable maternity clothing. Thankfully to the thoughtful labels dedicated to this cause, these clothing do not have to be ugly and outdated now. These stylish maternity clothing can make you look like a hot mama even during the pregnancy.

The key to healthy baby is a healthy fetus and the key to healthy fetus is a healthy pregnancy, and the key to all of that is being happy. Most women, during their pregnancy are more prone to emotional and mental stress and especially in the case of first child, a mother to be can get extra nervous about anything at all. First thing you need to know is that it is a completely natural process and almost every woman is able to do it without much trouble. Avoid listening to the horrible stories about other's pregnancy and try to think of it as a harmless process that your body will automatically learn itself.

As they say, motherhood is all about sacrifice, and this sacrifice starts the day you become aware of your pregnancy. But a good mother knows that the baby is worth all these sacrifices. The moment you hold your newborn for the first time, you will forget about all the months' long hardships of pregnancy. So avoid giving yourself all the stress about looking huge or not being able to do much of the usual stuff. Try to be happy about every new change you experience during pregnancy and stay in touch with your doctor.

For your baby's sake, avoid any kind of unhealthy habits and behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, drugs and too much caffeine. These things might seem quite harmless to a mother who is used to it, but the fetus is too young to be introduced to such habits. The affects of these can be quite severe and life long on your child. Include juices, fruits and vegetables in your pregnancy diet list but avoid meat, seafood and unpasteurized dairy products.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also essential pregnancy care practice but avoid strenuous heavy workout routines if you have any. Normal fitness routines can be carried out as usual but avoid getting too hot or sweaty. Maintaining a moderate body temperature is very essential during this time. While swimming is a good exercise option, saunas and hot bath are highly prohibited. You can consult your doctor or a certified fitness instructor for healthy pregnancy exercises.

Take care of many other things as well such as safety precaution while handling chores around the house; avoid too much stress about work, home or the pregnancy itself. Visit your doctor regularly and inform him about any changes or feeling that you experience. With good prenatal care you will ensure a healthy welcome for your child.