During pregnancy, women undergo lots of physical changes, such as hormonal changes, changes in the appearance of their body, posture and even balance and movement. Some women experience pain in their back or pelvis area, or muscle stiffness and tension.
A prenatal chiropractor focuses on certain musculoskeletal problems that can be experienced by pregnant women. At True Health Chiropractic and Acupuncture, knowledge of the physiological processes that occur during pregnancy can help pregnant women make wise choices regarding their care.
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Chiropractic Treatment During the First Trimester
The first trimester lasts for weeks 1 to 12 and is a period when a lot of physical and hormonal changes happen. Although your baby is tiny at this stage of pregnancy, your body is already adapting to pregnancy. Hormonal changes, tiredness, sickness, and changes in daily activity can affect your feelings physically.
While some women might feel muscle tightness or soreness of their lower back during early pregnancy, some might not even have musculoskeletal symptoms at all. Chiropractic care during this period will take into consideration the symptoms, the health history of the patient, and the pregnancy itself rather than treating every woman for it.
When attending an appointment with the practitioner, he or she can ask questions regarding injuries in the past, existing problems, medication taken, pregnancy history, and concerns raised by obstetricians about the patient.
A prenatal chiropractor that treats many pregnant patients in particular can adjust their techniques to suit pregnancy and avoid extra pressure on the body of a woman. Nevertheless, there is a lack of scientific data about the safety of using spinal manipulation during pregnancy.
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Chiropractic Treatment During the Second Trimester
Mostly, the second trimester starts from week 13 up to week 27. Since the baby is developing, changes occur in relation to posture, balance, and movement of the mother, thus the center of gravity shifts because of the development of the baby’s abdomen.
Due to that, there is pressure in the lower back, hips, or pelvic area of the woman. In addition, there are women who may feel strain in their muscles when they stay standing, walking, or sitting for a while.
When chiropractic treatments are recommended, these treatments can be adjusted during the second trimester to take into account the growth of the abdomen. The purpose of the procedure is not to guarantee the certain result of the pregnancy and childbirth. It is only one of the ways to treat musculoskeletal problems.
A prenatal chiropractor will also talk about various lifestyle measures you can consider to improve your experience, such as maintaining good posture, changing position frequently, using proper support during sleep, and exercising regularly, assuming you have approval for this activity from your maternity care team.
Chiropractic Treatment During the Third Trimester
The third trimester, spanning from week 28 until delivery, marks the time when women often start experiencing physical changes. These changes occur due to the growing baby and their effects on the mother’s musculoskeletal system.
Pain in the lower back, increased pressure in the pelvis, hip joint pain, and overall stiffness might become more pronounced. Activities like getting out of bed, walking, standing for prolonged periods, or trying to find a comfortable position in which to sleep might become more difficult for you.
In case chiropractic care is chosen during the third trimester, the treatment must be personalized and adapted specifically to your needs and situation. Your practitioner will use special positions and techniques that won’t cause any discomfort. Inform your chiropractor if some position causes you discomfort or pain and makes you feel unwell.
A prenatal chiropractor needs to consider the overall condition of your pregnancy when looking at problems like back pain and pelvic pain, rather than dealing with these conditions in isolation. This will be done by consulting with either your obstetrician or midwife who can establish if the symptoms need further investigation.
Effects of Pregnancy on the Spine and Musculoskeletal System
Postural and Balancing Changes
Not only does pregnancy mean a larger abdomen; it means changes in posture and movement patterns, as the body gets ready for labor and adjusts to the developing baby.
The shifting of weight in the body may affect the way that the pregnant mother holds herself while standing and walking. The muscles of the back, the hips, abdomen and pelvis all contribute to balancing. During pregnancy, this becomes increasingly difficult.
Underlying Pregnancy Discomfort
These changes don’t necessarily mean that the spine is “out of alignment.” There are many things that can contribute to pregnancy-related discomforts, from biomechanical changes, to muscle fatigue and different activities and past injuries. Because of this, an appropriate assessment must be carried out first.
Exercise During Pregnancy
Apart from hands-on care, physical activity can prove helpful for many pregnant people. Proper exercises are determined based on a person’s health and pregnancy status and, therefore, should be consulted with one’s maternity care provider.
Choose the Right Approach Throughout Pregnancy
Take into Account Your Specific Needs
There are no standard procedures of chiropractic care that apply to all pregnant women. The course and type of care, in case a person chooses to get it, depend on symptoms, pregnancy stage, medical background, objectives, and response to treatment.
Questions Before Chiropractic Care
When you choose to undergo any treatment, it may be helpful to find out the experience of the practitioner in working with pregnant clients and techniques he or she uses. One can ask how the treatment will be modified during the period of pregnancy and what signs to pay attention to and inform one’s obstetric provider about.
Work Together With Your Maternity Care Provider
It may be extremely helpful to coordinate between different healthcare providers in case pregnancy is accompanied by certain medical complications. Alternative treatments must go along with prenatal care.
Conclusion
Pregnant patients seeking chiropractic care should have their needs treated as unique supportive care instead of general treatment. This is because there is an increased variation in the body’s requirements during the first trimester compared to those in the third trimester. Pregnant women might opt to seek chiropractic care for musculoskeletal problems, although there is little research regarding spinal manipulation during pregnancy.
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