| Pregnancy, Chiropractic and You! |
With pregnancy comes many aches and pains brought on by many biomechanical and hormonal changes. One common problem experienced by more than half of pregnant women is lower and middle back pain. Almost three-quarters also experience back pain during labour.
How can pregnant women benefit from chiropractic care?
84 percent of women with back pain reported gaining relief from chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Although chiropractic care can provide pain relief to any woman with spinal pain, it can be especially helpful to pregnant women. Care usually includes gentle spinal manipulations, soft tissue therapy as well as dietary and exercise recommendations.
Many anecdotes and some medical papers also suggest that receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy may shorten labour by one quarter to one third of the time, ease the pain of pregnancy, and reduce the need for medical interventions.
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In one study that included 400 pregnancies and deliveries, back pain was reported in 42.5% of pregnancies and 44.7% of deliveries. Spinal manipulation was performed on 37 women, and of these women, 84 percent with lower back pain experience relief from chiropractic treatment. They also found that women who were treated were less likely to experience back labour.
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Another study of 12 pregnant women with lower back pain who all received chiropractic treatment that included mild manual axial distraction, trigger point therapy, manipulation/mobilization and a heating pad found that all patients received relief and were satisfied.
These and other studies have concluded that chiropractic is a safe alternative during pregnancy, and afterward for maintenance care.
What you can do to help yourself
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Move as a unit, and walk with your legs together.
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Avoid high heels and standing for long periods of time.
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Be very careful when lifting anything.
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Treat yourself with warm baths.
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Keep up your regular exercise, a healthy diet and proper standing posture.
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Use back support while sitting.
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There will be continued strains on your body after you deliver, therefore proper posture with daily activities is key in preventing strains, including:
- Proper carrying of the baby (ensuring that you change sides that you carry the baby on frequently and keep a straight back with the hips straight up and down and slight pelvic tilt, not swayed to the side to hold up the baby).
- Practice correct lifting technique - squatting and using your legs to do the heave lifting. Bending from the waist puts all the strain on your back.
- When in a car with your baby, sit erectly next to your child and do not lean over the baby.
- Get a stroller with a handle at a comfortable height, to avoid having to bend forward while pushing.
- Use proper feeding/sitting postures (straight spine, not hunched/flexed over, shoulders pulled back and feet in front of the body facing the baby)
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