Chiropractic Care For Pregnant Moms In Franklin, TN
Carrying a baby means the mom’s body is continually adapting to accommodate all the changes necessary to keep the baby healthy and growing! Our bodies are smart and make those changes naturally, yet it can be hard on the mother-to-be for nine months. Yet, despite the challenges, it is exciting and should be celebrated!
One of the most common challenges for pregnant moms is musculoskeletal, meaning many changes are happening in posture, joint mobility, movement, and muscle balance due to the increasing belly size. Because of that, something called a “sway back” increases the curve in the lower back. This shifts the pelvis forward, creating an imbalance in the posture and muscles around the spine. In addition, added pressure on these joints can lead to pain if unaddressed.
Relaxin is a hormone responsible for making rigid pelvic joints more mobile so that the birthing canal can open and a baby can be delivered naturally. When this hormone is released into the bloodstream, it travels to all joints, not just the pelvic ones, creating discomfort in many ligaments throughout the body. Due to the many musculoskeletal changes, there can be numerous pain points. This is where chiropractors can help relieve the discomfort and prepare the mother-to-be for a smooth labor and delivery process.
Pregnancy should be a joyous and exciting experience, so addressing the issues sooner rather than later can give moms ease of mind and provide them with an alternative to harmful pain medications.
How We Treat Pregnant Moms in Franklin, TN
Comprehensive Exam
Regardless of whether you are pregnant or not, one of the first things we do at Mission Health Center is meet with you to discuss your case and get to know your story, and identify the struggles you may experience during pregnancy. This will help us identify the root cause of your condition and help you reach your goals. Once we have reviewed your case, we will determine if an examination is warranted. Our comprehensive examination includes specific chiropractic function, orthopedic, and neurological tests performed to help us understand and get to the root cause. If there is a subluxation (a.k.a. spinal interference) present, we will devise a plan to correct it, allowing your nervous system to communicate with the brain as it needs for a healthy pregnancy.
Specific Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Moms
Due to the release of the relaxin hormone into the bloodstream, many changes are going on in the body, making a pregnant woman’s spine more susceptible to subluxation. When a spinal vertebra jars out of its correct position, it can cause pain and discomfort in the lower back, pelvis, mid-back, upper back, and neck. Chiropractors are experts at finding and correcting those spinal misalignments that can cause nerve irritation and swelling.
Since pregnancy is a constantly evolving process, our doctors create custom recommendations so that you can receive the care you need during your entire pregnancy. Over time, your visits will become more spread out as the muscles around your spine strengthen to support your spine, so you do not have to deal with pain. We will help restore your brain-body communication as it is necessary for optimal function during your pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Despite not feeling like exercising when pregnant, it is surprisingly one of the most beneficial things you can do! It helps to keep the muscles in your low back and pelvis strong and engaged. In addition, staying active helps keep your posture balanced, so you do not suffer as you get further along in your pregnancy. It is imperative to keep moving to help reduce your risk of preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders, and gestational diabetes.
Exercise also increases your happiness and comfort levels and reduces symptoms such as backaches, bloating, constipation, and swelling. It helps to improve your sleep, gives you more endurance for labor, and aids you in bouncing back after you have your baby.
Consistency is key! This will help keep your muscles strong and lay a great foundation for after delivery. Postpartum care is just as vital as prenatal care, and we are here to help you navigate this new life transition in the healthiest, safest way possible.
Webster Technique
The normal position of the head of the baby is head down in the uterus. The baby is in a “breech” or head-up position in about 4% of pregnancies. One of the most common reasons for a c-section is a breeched baby.
The Webster Technique is a gentle technique used by chiropractors to adjust the misalignment in the sacrum and pelvis. By removing the stress of a sacral subluxation on the uterus, the baby can move to the head-down position on its own. It is a wonderful way to have a more natural, smoother delivery!
Nutrition and Supplements for Pregnant Moms
We all know that consuming a diet high in processed foods and excess sugars can cause high levels of inflammation in the body, making your muscles more susceptible to pain and injury. When pregnant, getting the right amount of nutrients is vital, so you and your baby are healthy throughout the whole process!
A pregnant woman needs about 300 more calories a day to meet the necessary energy requirements for staying healthy. Her protein needs alone go up to 75 grams per day. This means there are certain foods she needs to be consuming on a higher level. These include folate-rich foods like dark green, leafy veggies, citrus fruits, dried beans, or peas. Iron-dense foods like lean red meat, fish, beans, poultry, artichokes, and prunes. Iron is best absorbed with vitamin C foods, so eating the above with citrus fruits and tomatoes is a great option. Calcium-rich foods like kefir, goat cheese, sardines, sesame seeds, collard greens, yogurt, and white beans. Vitamin D-dense foods like wild-caught mackerel, whitefish, salmon, sardines, portobello mushrooms, and eggs.
Because a pregnant mom needs higher amounts of these vitamins and minerals, it is important to add high-quality folate (B9 or folic acid), iron, calcium, and vitamin D supplements.
Common Causes of Pregnancy Pain
Lower Back Pain
One of the most common types of pain associated with pregnancy is low back pain. Numerous physiological changes in the body during pregnancy lead to low back pain. First, weight gain and elevated water levels cause a postural shift known as swaying of the lower back (increased bend). This elevates the pressure on the lumbar spine joints, increases pain, and worsens pre-existing subluxations. Second, both muscle and hormonal changes can make the lumbar spine more unstable leading to muscle separation in the abdominal muscles.
Thankfully, at Mission Health Center, we can help you naturally and effectively manage the lumbar pain from pregnancy. A custom exercise plan can ensure your muscles stay active and engaged, providing enough stability in the lumbar spine to keep you comfortable. Receiving chiropractic adjustments can alleviate pain caused by joint misalignments and help keep your spine mobile and functioning properly. There are also several beneficial ways to manage pregnancy-related lower back pain from your home. Alternating ice and heat can allow your muscles to relax and release tension that builds up, leading to pain relief. Doing certain stretches is another great way to get rid of achy, low-back tension.
Sciatica
Sciatica is another condition where pain travels down one or both of your legs. It usually stems from a problem in your spine in which the nerves are compressed either by an out-of-place vertebra (a.k.a. subluxation) or slipped disc irritating the nerve. Sciatica is very prevalent during pregnancy since the extra weight in the belly causes the lumbar spine to sway backward. If left alone, this can either compress the nerves or worsen any pre-existing compression of the nerves.
There are ways to effectively, safely, and naturally treat sciatica for pregnant moms. Of course, chiropractic adjustments are the best for correcting subluxation patterns contributing to sciatic symptoms. A prenatal massage is another great way to lessen the tension of the piriformis muscles, which can easily aggravate the sciatic nerve.
Pelvic Pain
This is yet another very common pain experienced during pregnancy which is totally understandable! Since the pelvis undergoes some of the most drastic changes required for the baby to be delivered. Each side of the pelvis comprises three separate bones, and the joints that connect these bones are usually very rigid and immovable. However, during pregnancy because of the release of the hormone relaxin, these joints become looser to allow the birth canal to widen so the baby can be delivered. While this is super important, it can also be very uncomfortable for the mother-to-be.
From a biomechanical standpoint, chiropractic adjustments can help lessen pelvic pain by ensuring the sacroiliac joints are in the correct alignment. Massage can also aid in easing the tension that can irritate the lumbar spine and upper gluteal muscles around the pelvis. However, there are many other causes of pelvic pain. Occurrences such as constipation, ovarian cysts, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or Braxton Hicks contractions can all lead to pelvic pain. You must address any pain you are dealing with from a holistic perspective to ensure you are receiving the right care to prevent further interventions.
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)
Taking a deeper dive into pelvic pain, another cause of pain in this area is dysfunction at the symphysis pubis. This is a joint where the two pubic bones from either side of the body join together. It is located in the lowest aspect of the abdomen, just above the genitalia. The relaxin hormone makes this otherwise rigid joint feel loose; this is important for opening the birth canal, but it also causes a great deal of discomfort in pregnant women. Other factors that make the pain worse in this region are the baby’s weight and increased water retention since both sit on top of this joint for the duration of pregnancy.
Up to 60% of pregnant women experience SPD, but thankfully it can be addressed. At Mission Health Center, our doctors utilize special adjusting techniques to aid in the alleviation of the built-up pressure and pain in this joint, providing some relief. Receiving treatment for SPD in conjunction with your regular spinal adjustments can aid in helping you function normally in everyday life and achieve all the things you need to!
Headaches
About 39% of pregnant women experience headaches, either prenatal or postpartum. They can be tension, migraine, or even cluster headaches that can happen simultaneously daily. During the first trimester, common causes of headaches in pregnant moms include high blood volume, hormonal changes, nausea, dehydration, stress, a withdrawal from caffeine, and more. It is very easy to get headaches during pregnancy! The second and third trimesters are when headaches can be due to muscle tension or strain because of blood pressure, postural stress, insomnia, or gestational diabetes.
At Mission Health Center, our doctors are well-versed in treating headaches, and we will work with you to address the root cause of your headaches so you can feel your best again. Chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, exercise, and massage are all great options to help eliminate your headaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
Yes! Chiropractic care is highly recommended during pregnancy. A woman’s body undergoes many changes in the spine and pelvis during pregnancy, leading to aches and pains. Chiropractic adjustments can help manage the pain and discomfort of pregnancy so that the expecting mother can enjoy her pregnancy and perform daily living activities with ease.
When should you begin seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy?
The sooner, the better! If you start with better alignment and posture before many of the significant structural changes occur in the spine, you can reduce the amount of discomfort you will experience in a significant way. Chiropractic is totally safe for both you and your baby and can lead to an enjoyable pregnancy experience for everyone.
Can chiropractic adjustments cause a miscarriage?
No! Chiropractic is all-natural and gentle, it is one of the safest ways to manipulate the spine to affect the nervous system. It helps the spine of the mother-to-be to function optimally, keeping her healthier and stronger. There is no risk whatsoever to the baby in the uterus.
How do you reduce lower back pain during pregnancy?
There are numerous ways to relieve pregnancy-related lumbar spinal pain naturally. These include regular chiropractic adjustments, ice and heat, stretching, massage therapy, and acupuncture. Ask us for referrals from the best!
Is it normal for your pelvis to feel achy and hurt during pregnancy?
Most definitely – there are many changes in the pelvis to prepare your body to deliver a baby through the birthing canal. These changes can cause pain and discomfort in the pelvis, but that does not mean you have to deal with the pain for the entire pregnancy! At Mission Health Center, our doctors can help decrease your pelvic pain so you can get back to living your everyday life without any harmful side effects of traditional medications. This will ensure your little one keeps growing and developing each day!