Answering Common Pregnancy Questions | Prenatal Chiropractor in Columbus, OH
Hi, I’m Dr. Marisa Marquis with Restore Family Chiropractic. Today, I want to address some common questions I receive about chiropractic care during pregnancy. The first question is always: Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy? The answer is 100% yes. Before any adjustments, we conduct a thorough history, examination, orthopedic testing, and chiropractic neurological exam to ensure you are a suitable candidate for chiropractic care. We ensure you warm up your body and spine to promote optimal blood flow, enhancing your adjustment and alignment experience.
Chiropractic Techniques and Pregnancy
We use specific chiropractic techniques, like the Webster technique, tailored for adjusting the spine, pelvis, sacrum, and the supporting ligaments and muscles, primarily during pregnancy. This technique is non-invasive—it doesn’t add or remove anything from your body but works with it to reduce nervous system interference and stress. This holistic approach allows your body to function optimally, improving your comfort, mobility, sleep, and overall pregnancy and labor experience. If chiropractic care weren’t safe, I would not have used it myself during my pregnancies, which allowed me to work comfortably up until labor.
Chiropractic Impact on Pregnancy-related Discomfort
How does chiropractic help with pregnancy-related discomforts like back pain or sciatica? Chiropractic care doesn’t treat these conditions directly. Instead, it reduces interferences in the nervous system, which may impede your body’s natural function and healing. The spine encases the nervous system, and misalignments can irritate nerves, disrupting communication within the body. Pain might be the last symptom to appear and the first to disappear, which can be misleading as the underlying issue may persist.
The Role of Relaxin in Chiropractic Pregnancy Care
Pregnancy releases the hormone relaxin, which loosens ligaments to aid in childbirth but also leads to joint instability. Starting chiropractic care early in pregnancy—or ideally, before conception—helps prepare your body for the physical changes to come and maintains alignment and balance as your pregnancy progresses. This preparation is akin to training for a marathon: you wouldn’t run a marathon without prior preparation, so why not prepare your body in the best way possible for pregnancy?
When to Start Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
The best time to start chiropractic care is as early as possible in your pregnancy journey. Early care helps set a strong foundation for your body to handle the changes during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. For those new to chiropractic, it’s common to seek care in the third trimester when discomfort increases due to the baby’s growth and your changing posture. We focus on supporting these changes to improve your comfort and overall health.
If you have any questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to reach out. We are here to support you through this incredible journey!
