Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy for Safer, Easier Births

Chiropractic care is essential for the pregnant mother.  Her systems and organs are now providing for two and their optimal function is critical for the baby’s healthy development.  The mother’s spine and pelvis undergoes many changes and adaptations to compensate for the growing baby and the risk of interference to her nervous system is increased.  Specific chiropractic care throughout pregnancy works with enhancing the nervous system function providing greater health potential for both the mother and baby while reducing many of the aches and pains commonly experienced during pregnancy.

Another important reason for care throughout pregnancy is to help establish balance in the mother’s pelvis.  Because of a lifetime of stress and trauma to her spine and pelvis, her pelvic opening may be compromised, resulting in a less than optimum passage for the baby.  William’s Obstetrics Text tells us that, “Any contraction of the pelvic diameters that diminish the capacity of the pelvis can create dystocia (difficulty) during labor.”  They further state that the diameter of a woman’s pelvis is decreased when the sacrum is displaced.  Dr. Abraham Towbin, medical researcher on birth tells us that the bony pelvis may become “deformed” this way by trauma.  Chiropractors define this displacement/ deformation as spinal misalignment or subluxation primarily caused by the stress of trauma.

Additionally, these compensations to her spine and pelvis during pregnancy are likely to cause imbalance to her pelvic muscles and ligaments.  The woman’s pelvis supports her growing uterus with specific ligaments.  When the pelvic bones are balanced, the uterus is able to enlarge symmetrically with the growing baby.  If the bones of the pelvis are out of alignment or subluxated, this will directly affect the way the uterus will be supported.  Unequal ligament support of the uterus will torque the uterus reducing the maximum amount of room for the developing baby.  The term used to describe this is uterine constraint.

In some cases, this constraint restricts the baby’s positions during pregnancy adversely affecting his/her developing spine and cranium.  Additionally, these limitations on the baby’s movement during pregnancy may prevent him/her from getting into the best possible position for birth.  Any birth position other than the ideal vertex, occiput anterior position of the baby indicates the inhibiting effects of constraint.  Such positions lead to longer more painful labors with increased medical interventions in birth.  Often c-sections are resorted to and both the mother and baby miss the many benefits of a natural vaginal delivery.

The Webster Technique, discovered by the late Dr. Larry Webster, is a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers.  Working to correct sacral subluxations, this technique balances pelvic muscles and ligaments in the woman’s pelvis, removes constraint and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.  Dr. Webster instructed many Doctor’s of Chiropractic in this technique and their combined results showed a high success rate in allowing babies in the breech position to go into the normal head down or vertex position.  Because of its ability to facilitate easier, safer deliveries for both the mother and baby, many birth care providers recommend chiropractic care to their patients.  Read a testimonial from one of our moms.

Chiropractic care can be safely enjoyed throughout pregnancy and should be included in the care of all expectant mothers for prevention and relief from the discomforts of pregnancy.

- Dr. Jeanne Ohm is a Fellow of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

For more information refer to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s website at www.ICPA4Kids.org