03 Apr Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is highly effective for managing musculoskeletal pain, especially lower back and pelvic girdle pain.
As the body adapts to support a growing baby, many women experience discomfort due to significant changes in posture and weight distribution. Hormonal changes, particularly the increase in relaxin, cause the ligaments and muscles around the pelvis to become more relaxed and stretched. The growing bump also shifts the center of gravity and causes the rib cage to widen. These changes can contribute to increased tension in the upper back, pelvis, and lower back, leading to pelvic misalignment, discomfort, and potentially affecting the baby’s positioning.
Up to 86% of women may experience musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy (1).
In clinic, we frequently see women with pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain, including pelvic girdle pain (PGP), lower back pain, pubic symphysis discomfort, and hip and groin pain. Research has shown that adding chiropractic care to standard obstetric care can provide significant benefits and pain relief, particularly for lower back and pelvic girdle pain (2).
As chiropractors, we use specific, safe, and effective techniques to relieve the tension caused by the body adjusting to a growing baby. One well-known and widely used technique is the Webster technique. This is used to improve the alignment of the spine, pelvis, and surrounding muscles and ligaments, increasing comfort and creating more space for the baby.
Whether you’re seeking relief from pain or aiming to improve your posture and pelvic alignment, chiropractic care can be an invaluable tool for a more comfortable pregnancy.
References:
(1) Bernard-Giglio, M., French, S.D., Myburgh, C. and de Luca, K., 2023. Drivers, barriers, and response to care of Australian pregnant women seeking chiropractic care for low back and pelvic girdle pain: a qualitative case study. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 31(1), p.43.
(2) George, J.W., Skaggs, C.D., Thompson, P.A., Nelson, D.M., Gavard, J.A. and Gross, G.A., 2013. A randomized controlled trial comparing a multimodal intervention and standard obstetrics care for low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 208(4), pp.295-e1.
(3) British Journal of Midwifery: Chiropractic care of the pregnant woman and neonate, 2019.
(4) ICPA (International Chiropractic Paediatric Association).
