As your baby grows inside of you, your spine must adapt to the extra weight in your abdomen. Your spine must flex in a certain way so that you don’t fall forward as your belly grows. The inward curve of the spine also referred to as the “lordotic curve”, becomes increasingly curved which then affect the forward movement of the spine. The bones in your spine, the vertebrae, are no longer as flexible as they were before your pregnancy due the changes in the lordotic curve. When you bend forward and then back your spine is more extended. Weak abdominal muscles and a weak spine lead to back pain during pregnancy.

Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy have been shown to:

• Reduce back, neck and sacroiliac pain
• Reduce the occurrence of headaches or migraines
• Control nausea
• Decrease the likelihood of preterm labor
• Lessen the chance of the use of forceps during delivery
• Reduce the likelihood of cesarean section

Is Seeing a Chiropractor Safe During Pregnancy?

The answer is emphatically, “yes!” Chiropractors obtain special training that specifically addresses the needs of pregnant women. The treatment you receive will be personalized to meet your needs. When you first visit us, you will fill out a health questionnaire. This helps us assess how best to treat you. Special pillows and tables will be used to ensure your comfort during your adjustment. Since your joints and ligaments will already be loose, thanks to the hormone “relaxin,” Dr. McGough will use a lighter touch when realigning your joints and spine. Chiropractic care is also used to help balance the pelvis allowing the baby to get into a better position for delivery. The Webster technique, which is used to flip a baby in the breech position, has a 90% success rate according to Larry Webster, the technique’s founder. Breech presentation occurs in around 4% of all pregnancies and can often lead to delivery via cesarean section. The Webster technique offers an alternative to the more invasive and painful external cephalic version that is often performed to correct a breech presentation.