Many pregnant women fail to consider visiting the chiropractor for back and hip pain during pregnancy because they are used to being adjusted lying on their stomachs – something that seems like a no-no with a bulging belly. However, chiropractic care can definitely benefit pregnant women, and chiropractors have special tables to compensate for a pregnant woman’s growing abdomen.
Throughout pregnancy, the body undergoes a host of changes ranging from the obvious – the growing abdomen and stretching uterus – to the not-so obvious changes in the pelvic area.
As a pregnancy progresses, a woman’s pelvic joints loosen with the help of hormones so the baby has more room to descend into the birth canal. These changes can cause pelvic imbalance, lower back pain and even sciatica.
A few visits to a chiropractor can make all the difference to an aching woman heading into her ninth month of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, pelvic adjustments done by a chiropractor can help to correctly align the pelvis, leaving the maximum amount of room for the developing baby.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can also ease symptoms of back, neck and joint pain – all of which are prevalent in pregnancy due to weight gain, posture changes, pressure on the lower back and loosening joints.