The Benefits Of Seeing A Chiropractor During Your Pregnancy
A lot can happen during a pregnancy, especially when it comes to all the physiological effects like back pain, morning sickness, nausea, high blood pressure and shortness of breath. The change in your center of gravity as you progress places more stress on your joints and spinal disks, and the curvature of your upper spine will change to compensate. Though this might sound bad, the hormones in your body change during pregnancy to make this process a little easier.
All the same, pregnancy is not an easy process by any means, but seeing the right chiropractor can help alleviate some of the pain, as well as make childbirth a little easier:
What a Chiropractor Can Prevent
Seeing a chiropractor during your pregnancy can help reduce the lower back pain you'll start to feel as your body starts to shift. Specifically, chiropractors can help detect any spinal and pelvic imbalances that either are occurring now, or may occur later, and help to prevent them. The reason this is important is because if your pelvis is misaligned, this may leave less room for your developing baby, which can also have an impact on childbirth if the baby cannot get into the proper position.
In general, chiropractors can help with lower back pain, sciatica, symptoms of nausea, neck and joint pain. These benefits come from repeated visits, so don't expect to see a chiropractor once and be free of pain for the rest of your pregnancy.
What a Chiropractor Can Help
On top of helping reduce pain, seeing a chiropractor can help your pregnancy go more smoothly from start to finish. A chiropractor's work can help make sure your baby has enough room to develop and position itself for birth, which in turn can result in shorter labor and delivery times. In addition, it can help your body recover after your delivery to help your body heal properly.
Personal Considerations
Though seeing a chiropractor may have its benefits, there isn't necessarily a guarantee that your visits will be effective. This is largely dependent on your personal health and situation; before deciding to see a chiropractor long term, consult your doctor to see if it would have any benefits for you.
There are also certain things you can do yourself in addition to seeing a chiropractor that can further help your pregnancy go smoothly. Wearing the right kinds of shoes, engaging in regular exercise, following a nutritious diet and using ergonomic pillows and chairs can help provide benefits like reduced pain and alleviated symptoms. Your chiropractor may make specific recommendations for your time between visits; if not, be sure to ask what you can do for yourself.
