Pregnancy Chiropractor

During your pregnancy, there are many physiological and hormonal changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing fetus. Some of the changes will have an impact on your comfort and posture. As your belly grows and your baby becomes heavier, your center of gravity shifts, and your posture adjusts in response.

These physical changes could result in a misaligned spine and joints. There are also other uncomfortable changes that may include:

• Increased curvature in your lower back as the result of your protruding abdomen  

• Pelvic changes as your body begins to prepare for labor

• Adaptation to your posture

These issues can be addressed by regular visits to your chiropractor in Athens during your pregnancy.

Chiropractic treatment is a type of health maintenance of the spinal column which relies on the adjustment of misaligned joints to effectively reduce the intensity of low back pain during pregnancy.

When your pelvis is misaligned, it may reduce the amount of room available for your baby, and it might also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery.

Both of these affect your comfort during pregnancy and may also affect your ability to have a natural birth and avoid a C-section.

Most expectant mothers during their pregnancy experience not only back pain, but pain in the hips or joints, and morning sickness.

Chiropractic adjustments seek to align the spine, which in turn keeps your nervous system working without interference. A healthy nervous system means a healthier body. In practice, this leads to certain pregnancy-specific benefits:

• Optimal baby positioning

• Healthier pregnancy

• Reduced/alleviated pain in the neck, back or joints

• Reduced nausea symptoms

• Quicker, safer labor and delivery

• Prevention of Caesarean section delivery

Of all these benefits, optimal baby positioning may be the most important. When a baby is in the right position, the potential for dystocia (or difficult labor) is removed, granting an easier and safer delivery for both you and your baby.

Based on medical publications and reports, chiropractic care during pregnancy is considered a safe and effective way of treating common musculoskeletal symptoms that affect pregnant patients. There are no negative or harmful effects of therapy, as it doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. That means you don’t have to be worried that the treatment might affect you or your baby. Instead, the chiropractic treatment will help boost your and your baby’s immune systems and also can help position the baby correctly for birth.

Chiropractic care is safe to perform during pregnancy although caution should be exercised if you are experiencing the following:

• Vaginal bleeding

• Ruptured amniotic membranes

• Sudden onset of pelvic pain

• Premature labor

• Placenta previa or placental abruption

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Moderate to severe toxemia

You might be wondering if is it safe to visit the chiropractor during your entire pregnancy or only after the first trimester. The answer is, yes, it is safe to see your pregnancy chiropractor in Athens during your entire pregnancy. Please be advised that before getting pregnancy chiropractic treatment, we invite you to our office to discuss what the best course of action is.

Dr. McClelland is trained to work with pregnant women. We have special tables specifically designed for performing chiropractic adjustments on pregnant women and have gentle techniques that avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the abdomen.

An especially important technique we employ is the Webster Technique, which was designed to help remove subluxations in pregnant women and bring balance back to the pelvic area through adjustments and relaxation of special ligaments in the pelvic girdle. This helps to relieve the pressure and stress that can be found in the pelvic area during pregnancy and childbirth and it helps with optimal baby positioning, as well.

Additionally, we offer you safe prenatal exercises and stretches that will compliment any adjustments to your spine and body.