How can chiropractic help?

Chiropractors work with the body’s ability to adapt and function the way it is designed to. Chiropractic care in pregnancy is vital to the normal physiological function of both the mother and baby in pregnancy and birth.

Here are the potential benefits for the mother:

1. Prepares the pelvis for an easier pregnancy and birth by creating a state of balance in the pelvic bony structures, muscles and ligaments
   
2. Removes torsion to the ligaments that support the uterus, potentially -reducing aberrant tension to the mothers uterus
   
3. Reduces interference to the mothers vital nerve system which controls and co-ordinates all of her systems and functions.
   
4. By improving maternal function we are decreasing the potential for unnecessary intervention

Here are the potential benefits for the infant:

1.Pelvic balance allows baby greater room to develop without restrictions to its forming cranium, spine and other skeletal structures.

2.Offers the baby the room to move into the best possible position for birth.

3.With optimal fetal positioning, there is significant decrease in dystocia and the resulting birth trauma caused by intervention.

Changes To The Spine And Pelvis During Pregnancy

Ohm Hypothesis on Sacral Subluxation and Dystocia :“The theoretical and clinical framework of chiropractic in the care of pregnant women is that sacral subluxation many contribute to difficult labor for the mother ( i.e. dystocia). Dystocia is caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby mal-presentation. The correction of sacral subluxation may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia. In this clinical framework, it is proposed that sacral misalignments may contribute to these 3 primary causes of dystocia via uterine nerve interference, pelvic misalignment and the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. The resulting tense muscles and ligaments and ther aberrant effect on the uterus may prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth.” – Jeanne Ohm

A women’s body is under a tremendous amount of change throughout pregnancy. Forward head posture can lead to neck and shoulder pain, headaches, tension, radiating pain down arms and into hands. The
growing abdomen alters center of gravity, tilts pelvis forward, increases the lumbar curve which can cause hip, lower back, pubic pain, and sciatica.
Widening of the rib cage can cause mid back pain, rib pain, shortness of breath, sharp shooting pain along rib cage and heartburn.

There are 3 very important ligaments during pregnancy; the round ligament, uteroscaral ligament and the broad ligament. These three ligaments have important relationships with the position of the uterus and the pelvis. Because these ligaments have attachments to both the uterus and the bony structures of the pelvis, when the pelvis is out of balance, the ligaments that attach to the pelvis become