Chiropractor care
Chiropractic is a medical or health care profession that focuses on the problems of muscoskeletal system, and nervous system, and its effects on general health of the body.
It maintains the health of the spinal column, discs, joints and bone geometry through non invasive methods. It is an art and science of adjusting misaligned joints, to reduce pain and stress and promote general health throughout the body.
Changes in the body during pregnancy
During pregnancy many physiological and endocrinological changes occur in the body in preparation for creating the appropriate environment for the developing fetus. In an expecting mother, the centre of gravity shifts forward as the baby develops, and the pelvis tilts anteriorly, causing the lower back muscles to shorten and tighten. The round ligaments attached to the uterus are stretched and put under a lot of pressure, thus causing a great deal of pain in lower back. The increasing weight puts pressure on joints, and thus causes pain. The hormonal changes throughout the course of pregnancy cause the ligaments to become looser, thus making the joints less stable. These and many other changes during pregnancy cause a great deal of discomfort to the expecting mother.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy
No one likes to be in pain, and if the expecting mother is in constant pain, it can cause her anxiety and stress, and affect the well being of the child. Chiropractics use gentle, soft tissue techniques to relax the aching muscles, and reduce pain. Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to consult a chiropractor during pregnancy. If the pelvis is not properly aligned, it may reduce the room available for the developing baby. A misaligned pelvis may also hinder the movement of baby to the best position for pregnancy. This may affect the natural and non-invasive delivery. The nervous system is the chief communicator for the whole body, including reproductive system. If the spine is properly aligned, everything falls in place, and the whole body works more effectively.
It is advisable for expecting mothers to consult those chiropractors who have been especially trained to practice on pregnant women. Chiropractic practice is quite safe for women during pregnancy. Trained chiropractors use special tables and pillows so that pregnant women can lie in the face down position while being adjusted. They also use techniques that avoid unnecessary pressure on the abdomen. Such chiropractors also provide pregnant women with stretches and exercises that are safe during pregnancy.
Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy help put motion into joints that have become stiff and are not functioning as well as they should. Chiropractic care also relaxes the joints in front of the pelvis that are put under enormous amount of pressure during pregnancy. Soft tissue techniques are used to relax tension in the round ligaments. Chiropractic care offers a wide variety of safe techniques to relieve pain, without using invasive methods or medicine.
Chiropractic care has many benefits for the expecting mother and baby. To sum up, some of the potential benefits of chiropractic in pregnant women include:
- Maintaining good overall health throughout pregnancy.
- Controlling symptoms of morning sickness and nausea.
- Reducing the duration and pain of labor.
- Relieving back pain, neck pain and joints pain.
- Preventing a potential caesarian delivery.
The ICPA or International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends that women should receive chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy, to maintain pelvic balance and optimize the room a baby has for development. A balanced pelvis maximizes the chances of a baby to move into a correct position for birth. This reduces the anxiety associated with a breech or posterior birth. Optimal baby positioning at the time of birth eliminates the chances of difficult labor, and results in an easier and safer delivery for both mother and baby.
As more women are seeking chiropractic care during pregnancy, more doctors are looking for reputed chiropractors to refer their patients to. So if you want to take chiropractic care during pregnancy, discuss the option with your primary health care provider.
Dr. Peter Ferraro, DC, located in Saddlebrook, Bergen County, is one of the New Jersey’s leading chiropractic experts. Dr. Ferraro, has over 12 years of experience in the chiropractic field and has become nationally recognized for his extensive work using non-surgical decompression technology along with being certified in Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA). Visit Drpferraro.com for more details
Michelle Tyler is a freelance healthcare writer with more than 10 years experience in the healthcare communications field. A Certified Medical Assistant, she works with the Local Media group to research and report on the latest medical breakthroughs.