Chiropractic During Pregnancy
Women all too often accept back pain as an inevitable part of a pregnancy. We are here to tell you that it does not have to be! Chiropractic care is an effective, drug-free method of relieving pain caused by the increased pressure on the spine during pregancy. And most importantly- it is very gentle and safe for both mother and baby.
Think about the changes in a woman's body as she goes through pregancy- specifically her center of gravity and the way she walks. As her pregnancy progresses to the second and third trimesters, more and more pressure is placed on the lower back. She also is producing hormones that are slowly causing the ligaments of her pelvis to relax in preperation for delivery. These shifts in the low back and pelvis can at times place pressure on the nerves that come out of the spine. Sciatica- a condition many pregnant women experience- is caused by these low back changes which create inflammation and pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain can radiate from the low back down the gluteal region, to the thigh and even past the knee to the foot. It is typically sharp and shooting in nature, and is made worse by certain movements.
Emily, a mommy who was five months pregnant at the time, came to our office with exactly those symptoms. In fact, her pain was so severe that she needed assistance coming to our office. We were able to evaluate her by watching her move and asking her specifically where her pain was- allowing us to identify the location of the nerve irritation. We treated Emily for three weeks. After just two treatments of gentle chiropractic care the first week she began to have good results and the pain was greatly decreasing. By the end of the third week, she was mobile and pain-free. She also chose to continue periodic chiropractic care through the rest of her pregnancy, because she knew it would keep her from regressing back to where she was. The gentle adjustments and soft tissue therapy we use called Active Release Technique (a combination of deep tissue massage and stretching) helped Emily stay pain free and go on to deliver a beautiful baby.
There is no better or safer treatment for back pain during pregancy than chiropractic care. You have enough to worry about! Let us take care of your pain. Feel free to call our office to speak with our doctors about chiropractic care during your pregnancy. We want to work with you and your other health care providers to ensure that you have the best pregnancy that you can.
Want to learn more about our practice and our doctors? Visit us at www.stakerchiropractic.com
