I’m Pregnant! Now what?
Congratulations! Pregnancy is a beautiful life changing experience. How do you maintain a healthy pregnancy and stay active? Along with the growing belly and other changes that occur during pregnancy, low back pain is one of the most common effects women experience. Pregnancy is extremely hard on the low back, neck, and shoulders. If you have ever observed an expectant mother from the side it is easy to see why they are in pain. Due to the increase in breast tissue, the shoulders become more rounded forward placing an increase of stress in the neck and shoulder region. The increase in stress pulls on the bones and muscles causing an increase in muscle tension and nerve pressure. The increase in nerve pressure causes pain as well as other symptoms.
As the baby increases in size during development, this places a tremendous amount of pressure on the low back and hip regions. Many times muscles and ligaments can become tight in the front of the pelvis. In some cases, the tightening of the ligaments along with misalignment of the pelvis can lead to the baby being stuck in a breech position (the head is in the upright position). In the case of a baby being in the breech position, a specific chiropractic adjusting technique is used to reduce the tension in the pelvic muscles and realign the hips and low back to allow the baby to turn in the proper birthing position on their own. Receiving chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy can reduce tension, pain, and even help with other common pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and acid reflux. Chiropractic is a safe and natural form of health care for both mom and baby. We see many families in our office and help many expectant mothers throughout their entire pregnancy. Consistent chiropractic care before, during, and after the course of pregnancy allows for an easy delivery, faster healing time after delivery and moms to be enjoy the nine months of pregnancy, the way it is meant to be!
Chiropractic care is not limited to expectant mothers. Any woman who has given birth understands the amount of stress that is placed on the newborn neck during the birthing process. The delivery room process is a natural process that causes pressure to the nerves of the spinal cord. Many different methods may be used to deliver a newborn, such as the normal delivery face down head first, use of vacuum suction, forceps, or cesarean delivery. Whichever method is used pressure is placed on various sections of the newborn body, most commonly the neck. When pressure occurs the bones can be misaligned placing damaging pressure on nerves. Nerves come from our brain and spinal cord. Nerves are our pathways from the brain to communicate to all the organs, cells, and tissues of our body telling the body what to do. For example, you don’t tell your heart to beat your brain does that for you through your nerves. You don’t tell your body to digest food for you; your brain does through your nerves. Pressure that is placed on the nerves, known as subluxation, during the birthing process can impair the nerves ability to communicate with the body and dysfunction can occur. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to help relieve colic, constipation, digestive issues, allergies, asthma, ear infections, and much more. We see many newborns experience overall better quality of health from chiropractic care. My job as a Doctor of chiropractic is to remove the nerve interference and allow the body to heal the way it is intended to. Chiropractic adjustments help the body better adapt to stress and improve function.
Evaluation is necessary before chiropractic adjusting to determine your specific health needs. For more information or to set up an appointment contact our office today! 636-887-3400
Dr. Kristin Gaines Porlier
Dynamic Life Chiropractic
109 Church Street
O’Fallon, MO 63366
636-887-3400
