By Dr. Deanna Barbaro
Should you see a Chiropractor if you are pregnant? Absolutely! Maintaining your spine free from misalignments (subluxation) is one of the most essential things you can do if you are pregnant. Pregnant women have so many things to worry about, carrying to full term, morning sickness, normal baby development, leg and back pain to name a few. In addition, being hopeful for a labor which is swift, safe and easy as possible.
Can chiropractic care assist in these concerns? According to a study in the ACA Journal, Chiropractic care is monumentally effective in maintaining pregnancy, controlling morning sickness, easing birth processes and producing healthier infants. In the Journal of the American Osteopathic Associate, the comments on the effectiveness of chiropractic care for pregnant women included, “Chiropractic care normalizes function of all systems of the body, which shortens labor, lessons medication requirements, and postpartum depression is a rarity in patients receiving chiropractic adjustments.”
Chiropractic care is of course essential during pregnancy because of the many physical and chemical changes a pregnant body encounters. A pregnant woman deals with the changing center of gravity due to added weight as well as increased flexibility in spinal structure due to hormonal changes in a pregnancy. In an already unstable spine, this can result in aggravated spinal problems.
One of the most wonderful reasons for seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy is that it is a drugless health care system. Drugs, whether prescription or over the counter can harm a growing fetus. The safest thing for a pregnant woman to do is to avoid all drugs and seek natural care as much as possible. Chiropractic care is a safe and sensible choice for both expectant mothers and baby.
I myself recently gave birth and here are some of my experiences and personal chiropractic testimonials: no morning sickness, no nausea, no low back pain, extremely healthy pregnancy. I worked and adjusted patients until the day before I gave birth. My labor itself lasted 4 hours at the end of which I gave birth, with the assistance of a midwife, to a 9 lb 10 oz baby boy. All normal, no interventions, no epidurals, no episiotomies, no induction, no medications, all natural, and all beautiful. This was all attributed to the proper functioning spine and nervous system thanks to chiropractic care.