Can I use a chiropractor when I am pregnant?

Are you pregnant but experiencing lower back or hip pain, and asking the question can I use a chiropractor when I am pregnant?? If so, you’re not alone. This is a normal part of pregnancy for many women. Up to 50% of mums to be feeling discomfort at some point before giving birth. During those nine months spent carrying your baby, your body produces higher amounts of relaxin – a hormone which loosens ligaments and joints. This paves the way for baby to exit your body. However, this hormone, combined with your growing belly, can rapidly lower your centre of gravity, affecting spinal health and causing a wide range of aches and pains. Fortunately, relief is possible thanks to chiropractic care. Get in touch with Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic to find out more about the various treatments available. 

Are chiropractic treatments safe during pregnancy?

Chiropractic care involves a practitioner known as a chiropractor using their hands to relieve problems with the muscles, bones, and joints. A type of alternative medicine, it’s not considered conventional medical treatment and doesn’t involve surgery or drugs. Instead, it’s a physical therapy which focuses on maintaining the health of the spinal column and adjusting misaligned joints.  

As well as helping with lower back pain, it can also be useful for neck, shoulder, and elbow pain. It can also be helpful for osteoarthritis pain. Millions of chiropractic treatments are carried out every day all over the world. Complications are very rare, particularly when adjustments are conducted by an experienced chiropractor with a proven track record. 

You should always speak to your doctor before you see a chiropractor when you’re expecting a baby. Chiropractic care in pregnancy is usually safe, however, there are some circumstances in which it may not be advisable. For example, it’s not recommended if you have vaginal bleeding, placenta previa or placental abruption, toxaemia, or ectopic pregnancy. 

Are chiropractors trained to treat pregnant women?

All licenced chiropractors are fully trained to treat lower back pain in pregnancy, with some even specialising in prenatal care. At Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic, we have carried out chiropractic treatments on many pregnant women over the years, helping relieve pain and discomfort at various stages of pregnancy. 

When you attend our clinic for chiropractic care, we’ll make sure you’re as comfortable as possible, adjusting the table to accommodate your growing belly. Our chiropractors will use appropriate techniques without placing any pressure on your abdomen. We can also demonstrate the best stretches to ease discomfort and relieve tension in your lower back and hips. 

Can a chiropractor and their treatments help in pregnancy?

During pregnancy, many physiological and endocrinological changes happen in order to prepare the perfect environment for a developing baby. This can result in the spine or joints becoming misaligned. Changes include a protruding abdomen and increased back curve, pelvic shifts as the body prepares for labour, and postural adaptations. 

Pain and discomfort can result, leaving you feeling very uncomfortable, particularly during the later stages of pregnancy. The good news is that regular visits to chiropractors in Doncaster can help address these issues. Some studies show that up to 75% of pregnant women who sought chiropractic care experienced pain relief.

Are there any benefits to my baby?

Visiting a chiropractor can go some way to easing the lower back and hip pain you’re experiencing in pregnancy, but did you know it can benefit your baby to be too? If your pelvis is misaligned, there’s less space for your baby to develop, which can cause problems. When this happens, it’s known as intrauterine constraint, and it can lead to birth defects if not treated.    

A misaligned pelvis can also result in complications during delivery. This is because a lack of space can make it difficult for your baby to find the right position to be born. Ideally, your baby should be born head-down and rear-facing; however, this isn’t always possible if there isn’t enough room for your baby to move. If the baby ends up in a breech or posterior position, this can make delivery much more complicated, and the chances of having a natural birth and non-invasive birth are lower. 

Evidence clearly shows that outcomes in both labour and delivery are better in women who have been treated by a chiropractor during pregnancy. As well as shortening the time you’re in labour, chiropractic treatment can also help you become more comfortable by relieving back, hip, neck, and join pain. It can also help to lessen the symptoms of nausea. 

Many women have also found that chiropractic treatments can prevent sciatica – that sharp, shooting or tingling pain felt down the back of the leg to the foot. Your growing belly together with a misaligned pelvis, expanding uterus, and the baby’s head in the latest stages of pregnancy can put extra stress on the sciatic nerve, causing these painful symptoms. If you’re experiencing sciatica in pregnancy, don’t hesitate to contact Thorne Chiropractic Clinic. We can help relieve sciatic pain, making you much more comfortable. 

Is chiropractic care right for me? 

Back, hip or joint pain during pregnancy can be very uncomfortable, so don’t just ignore it. Instead, speak to your doctor. They may be able to recommend reputable chiropractic clinics in Doncaster. They’ll also be able to tell you if chiropractic treatments are safe for you and your baby during your pregnancy. If your doctor gives you the green light, it’s time to get in touch with a local chiropractor. At Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic, we’re proud to be one of the most trusted clinics in the area. We provide tailored chiropractic care to ladies at all stages of their pregnancy.    

Contact our team on 01302 969 501 to find out more about our chiropractic treatments for expectant mums. We have a wealth of experience at hand and can provide expert advice and guidance to help you become pain-free during pregnancy.