Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to be safe for both mother and foetus. As your pregnancy progresses there will be an increase in circulating hormones which cause significant muscle and ligamentous relaxation. In light of these changes your chiropractor will apply one of a number of adjusting techniques designed to provide maximum comfort and safety for both the expectant mother and foetus. At no time in a women's life is the incredible adaptive capacity of the human body more obvious than during pregnancy. The physiological changes that accompany pregnancy are nothing short of amazing. Those changes are directed towards creating the optimal environment for the developing foetus.
 
Unfortunately, as pregnancy progresses, some of the comforts afforded the foetus can compromise a mother's spinal and nervous system integrity. Furthermore, pregnancy is a dynamic process with numerous changes taking place within a relatively short span of time. These changes mean regular chiropractic check-ups, along with pre-pregnancy planning, proper nutrition and regular exercise should be priorities for a mother to be. Chiropractic helps women to get well, stay well and be their best - before, during, and after pregnancy.

What are the benefits of having chiropractic care during pregnancy?
Clinical studies have now revealed a number of benefits to receiving chiropractic care before, during and after pregnancy. By reducing the effects of spinal subluxation your chiropractor will strive to enable you to remain active throughout your pregnancy. It is now known that during a normal uncomplicated pregnancy, there is no need to restrict vigorous low impact activities (stretching, walking, swimming).

In fact it has been shown that keeping active during pregnancy has both short and long term positive implications for your baby. One study found that on-going exercise seemed to contribute to normal, on-time delivery. We also now know that women who start, and maintain, a moderate weight bearing exercise program during early pregnancy, improve their likelihood of giving birth to a healthy and heavier baby. Moreover, babies of greater birth weight are more intelligent in adulthood. Another important study was conducted by Irvin Henderson MD, a member of the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees. The study concluded that women who received chiropractic care during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver with more comfort. Dr. Per Freitag MD, a well known orthopaedic researcher, studied the effects of chiropractic adjustments on the delivery process. The study concluded that the need for analgesics during delivery was reduced by half in the pregnant patients who received chiropractic care. It has been demonstrated that chiropractic care significantly reduces the average amount of time spent in labour. Research by Dr. Joan Fallon revealed a 24% reduction in the average labour time for those women giving birth for the first time who had received chiropractic care. Dr. Fallon's research also revealed that labour times were 39% shorter in women who were delivering for the 2nd or 3rd time and who were receiving chiropractic care.

How Often Should I Receive Chiropractic Care During My Pregnancy?
The appropriate frequency of care varies from one individual to another for a number of reasons. However, typically, during a non-complicated pregnancy the frequency of chiropractic care will range from once a week to once a month. Chiropractic adjustments are proving to be an integral part of the lifestyle which helps women get well, stay well and be their best throughout and beyond pregnancy.

With the right advice, a healthy lifestyle, and by regularly having your spine adjusted by your chiropractor, the challenges associated with pregnancy can be overcome. Moreover, by optimising your well-being you can better focus on the beautiful experience that pregnancy can be with the anticipation of both a new life, and the formation of an intimate bond between mother and child.
 

In summary, chiropractic adjustments:

• Help you to remain active throughout your pregnancy.
• Helps make delivery more comfortable.
• Helps reduce the need for analgesics during delivery,
• Helps reduce the amount of time spent in labour.
• Can be continued safely until the day of delivery.