Is Chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?  

     Chirpractic care during pregnancy has been shown to be safe for both mother and fetus and is an essential ingredient to parents' prenatal choices.  A large percentage of all pregnant women experience spinal discomfort during pregnancy.  This maybe due to the rapid growth of the baby, change in the mother's posture, interference with the body's normal structure adaptations, and the significant muscle and ligamentous relaxation that occurs due to an increase in the circulating hormones as the pregnancy progresses.  Pre-existing and often unnoticed imbalances in the spine and pelvis, causing incresaed stress to the mother's nervous system, may lead to discomfort and difficulty performing daily activities.

    As the baby developes, the uterus enlarges to accommodate the rapid growth.  This may compromise the mother's and the child's spinal and nervous system integrity.  If the mother's pelvis is out of balance, the ligaments supporting and suspending the uterus become torqued, causing a condition know as "constraint of the uterus".

     

     Chiropractic makes sense for both mother and child, doesn't it?

    Pregnancy and childbirth are meant to be exceptional experiences.  Unfortunately with the fast pace of life's journey, that is not the case for many new mothers these days.  Chiropractic adjustments at regular intervals are proving to be an integrel part of a women's wellness journey, especially during pregnancy.  Chiropractic is safe for mother and infant and should be considered by everyone.  This constraint limits the space for the developing child.  Any comprimising position for the baby during pregnancy, will effect optimal development.  If the uterus is constrained as birth approaches, the baby is often prevented from moving into ideal presentation for delivery.  This may lead to longer more difficult labor and delivery.  

    Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy helps women get well, stay well, and be their best before, during and after pregnancy.  Specific chiropractic adjustments eliminate nervous system and spinal stresses, affording greater comfort and lifestyle improvements for an expectant mother.  Additionally, regular chiropractic care throughout pergnancy may lead to safer and easier deliveries for both mother and child.

    What are the clinically documented benefits of Chiropractic during and after       pregnancy?

    In his article "Movement in Life", Dr. James Chestnut states: "spines that don't move can't create the motion required for proper joint nutrition, for the activities of daily living, or for the stimulation of the joint pathways required for proper brain and body function...movement (especially the spine) is required for proper brain function for the coordination of activities such as concentration in learning, emotions, motor control, and organ function (including immune organs)".  Keeping an expectant mother's spine moving properly is very important.

    Maintaining good spinal movement will allow expectant mothers to stay active during pregnancy.  One study has shown that ongoing exercise appears to contribute to normal, on-time delivery, while other studies have shown that even a moderate weight-bearing exercise program during early pregnancy appears to improve the likelihood of a mother giving birth to a healthy and heavier baby, and babies of greater weight appear to be more intelligent in adulthood.  

    Dr. Adrian Wenban, in some of writings, has commented on other studies which conclude that women who receive chiropractic care during their third trimester are able to carry and deliver in more comfort, that the need for analgesics (pain medication) during delivery was reduced by half in pregnant patients who received chiropractic care.

    Dr. Joan Fallon reported that women receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy experienced a reduction in the average time spent in labor by 24% for first births, and 39% when delivering the 2nd and 3rd time.

 

    In summary:

-   Movement, especially of the spine, enhances nerve and organ function.

 

-  Chiropractic adjustments helps a mother stay active throughout her                      pregnancy.

 

-  Labor and delivery is easier for mother and child with chiropractic.

 

-  Chiropractic adjustments can be performed on the mother until the day of          delivery and help reduce the need for pain medication.

 

-  Children of mothers who are under chiropractic care, usually experience               reduced birth trauma.

 

References

 

1) Hatch M, Levin et al. Maternal leisure-time exercise and timely delivery. Am J of Public Health 1998; 88: 1528-33.

 

2) Richards M, Hardy R, Kuh D, et. al. Birth Weight and Cognitive Function in British 1946 cohort: longitudinal population based study. British Med Journal 2001; 322: 199-203.

 

3) Henderson I, AMA records released in 1987 Wilke vs AMA, US District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Div, No 76 C 3777, May 1987

 

4) Freitag P. Expert Testimony of P. Freitag MD, PhD, comparing results of two neighboring hospitals, US District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Div. No 76 C 3777, May 1987

 

5) Fallon J, The Effects of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and Labor: A comprehensive study.  World Federation of Chiropracitcs, 1991: 24-31