Chiropractic Care For Pregnancy

If you are on this page, you are most likely expecting a baby, so congratulations! It is such an exciting time for parents, but it does come with a lot of new questions and concerns. Every decision you now make affects your future child. The healthcare decisions you now make can have a big bearing on the ultimate outcome of your pregnancy.
Choosing chiropractic care during pregnancy can lead to a faster, easier delivery that is beneficial to both mom and child. If you talk to mothers who have had a child without Chiropractic care and one with prenatal chiropractic care, they will tell you the difference is night and day. The American Pregnancy Association even encourages expecting mothers to find a chiropractor who has prenatal training.

So how does it work? Chiropractors work with the body’s ability to adapt and function the way it is designed to. Chiropractic care in pregnancy is vital to the normal physiological function of both the mother and baby in pregnancy and birth. Here are the potential benefits: 

In The Mother:

  • Prepares the pelvis for an easier pregnancy and birth by creating a state of balance in pelvic bony structures, muscles and ligaments.
  • Removes torsion of the ligaments that support the uterus thus potentially reducing aberrant tension to the woman’s uterus.
  • Reduces interference to the mother’s vital nerve system which controls and co-ordinates all of her systems and functions.
  • By improving maternal function we are decreasing the potential for unnecessary intervention.

To The Infant:

  • Reduces interference to the mother’s nerve system allowing for better baby development.
  • Pelvic balance allows the baby greater room to develop without restrictions to its forming cranium, spine and other skeletal structures.
  • Offers the baby the room to move into the best possible position for birth.
  • With proper fetal positioning, there is a significant decrease in dystocia and the resulting birth trauma caused by intervention.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?

Yes!

There are no known contraindications to chiropractic spinal and pelvic adjustments throughout pregnancy, other than those affecting any non-gravid individual. The American Pregnancy Association even encourages expecting mothers to find a chiropractor who has prenatal training.

Chiropractic adjustments, described as high-velocity, low amplitude thrusts, are frequently applied to sites of spinal or sacroiliac subluxations in the pregnant patient. To date, no reported adverse events have been associated with this type of care in this population.


Dr.Jenkins has additional training with the Webster Technique, which is the most utilized technique performed on expecting patients. The Webster technique is best described as a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is improved. What this means is the goal of the adjustment is to balance your pelvis, thus giving your baby optimal room to move and position themselves.  There are some common misconceptions about this technique, so below are some common questions and answers.


 

  • My OB said if I go to a chiropractor, I will go into early labor...is that true?

    No, if we could cause women to go into labor we would have a line out the door. There is absolutely no data to suggest this.

  • My OB said if I go to a chiropractor and lie on my back that will hurt the baby...is that true?

    No, the adjustment takes less than 5 minutes, which is of no harm to your baby. The better question is why does the doctor have women lie on their back for 24 hours during delivery?

  • My OB wanted to know why a chiropractor was going to turn my breech baby. Isn’t that dangerous without ultrasound?

    Yes that would be dangerous. We don’t turn babies, we adjust moms. Babies will turn themselves, we just give them the optimal environment to do this.

  • My friend asked if the baby turns and you keep doing Webster, won’t that make it turn back again?

    No, quite the opposite. By keeping your pelvis balanced, your baby can get in and stay in the optimal position.

  • My friend said if I get Webster done, the cord may get wrapped around the baby’s neck.

    On the contrary, the Webster technique helps to facilitate normal fetal positioning. We don’t hear this much, but it is entirely untrue.

  • My friend said that I only need to get adjusted until the baby turns...is that true?

    The amount of adjustments you get are up to you. There are more benefits to the adjustments than just proper baby positioning. Getting adjusted throughout pregnancy can make delivery quicker and easier for the mom, as well as reduce pain and suffering during the entire pregnancy. Visit our Prenatal Chiropractic page for more information on this.

  • I heard if the baby doesn’t turn in 4 visits, it’s not going to turn.

    I have no idea where this notion came from but it is completely unsubstantiated.

  • How many visits is it going to take for my baby to move?

    We have no idea. Babies are hard to predict both before and after they are born. Most breech babies do move into the proper position though.

  • I felt movement after yesterday’s adjustment, can you check and see if the baby is head down?

    No, that is outside our scope of practice. Your midwife or OB will have to check for you. We would be opening ourselves up to a lawsuit by telling you this. Some moms can feel the baby has moved, others can’t. Either way, it’s best if your prenatal medical providers confirms.

I hope this page helps clear up any confusion that you may have about the Webster technique. For more information, you can visit http://icpa4kids.com/about/webster_technique.htm


If you are ready to make your pregnancy, labor and delivery safer and more enjoyable, then call our office today! 319-393-4303

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