Pregnancy free of pain with chiropractic care

Western society might seem terribly modern, but it continues to perpetuate a lot of myths about pregnancy. From the old wives tales about ‘eating for two’, right through to the inevitability of swollen ankles, morning sickness and back pain.

Despite the surfeit of myths, there are other real conditions such as diastasis pubis symphosis (variously known as DPS, SPD or even PSD!) that many GPs (including my own) fail to acknowledge. There’s a common expectation that mothers must anticipate pain and discomfort if they want the joy of a baby.

There’s no doubt though, that while it is special, pregnancy is a natural state and it is a job that women’s bodies are designed to do well. They might need a little help to get there, but given the right support their bodies can achieve natural childbirth without wild hormonal swings, high blood pressure, sickness or medical interventions.

Chiropractic care provided in the context of a healthy lifestyle, is ideally suited to the drug-free needs of mothers to be.

Posture and pregnancy

Being pregnant is exciting, but as a woman’s body adjusts to the changes involved in creating a new life, it’s easy to become distracted from the postural habits that keep their central nervous system healthy.

Ever noticed the way some pregnant women ‘sway’ as they walk? It’s a typical compromise that women make as their pregnancy progresses. For others, it may be a way to slow down and, subconsciously at least, protect their growing baby.

Even small postural changes, however, can affect the natural healthy, curves and ‘springiness’ of the spine. A typical result is that the pelvis begins to tilt, causing one leg to appear shorter than the other. This uneven weight distribution can cause stress on the joints, which some women experience as lower back pain, sciatica or SPD. Not only can this be very painful, it can make it difficult for the baby to move into the correct birthing position.

Along with the misalignment of the spine (a subluxation), muscles can begin to tighten, creating inflammatory effects around individual vertebrae. It’s easy to see how at this stage a pinched nerve may develop, creating further symptoms and difficulties in the future, due to an obstructed central nervous system.

Remember: the central nervous system controls all the organs and functions in our body – interference produces symptoms and pain.

Breech position – it’s problems and risks

A misaligned spine (subluxation) can lead to a distorted pelvic position  and this can make it difficult for a baby to move into the correct birthing position. That might mean not moving and staying into a breech position. Breech deliveries have an increased risk of a prolapsed umbilical cord, so it’s well worth creating the optimal space for your baby to get into the right position.

Spinal misalignment combined with a growing breech baby create  a number of risks:

• Increased pressure on pelvic veins and the vena cava (the vein that carries blood from the legs back up to the heart). This pressure could slow down the flow of blood back up to the heart, causing the blood to pool in your legs, adding to the risk of swollen ankles and preeclampsia in the last trimester.
• Decreased function of the heart and/or lungs due to spinal compensations in your upper body (upper thoracic). This can lead to a greater shortness of breath (it is inevitable that a growing baby will take up some lung space!). It can also lead to high blood pressure, again adding to that risk of preeclampsia.
• decreased blood flow to organs such as your kidney and liver due to pressure in the lower thoracic, lumbar and sacral nerves. This can produce symptoms of decreased organ function causing protein to leak into the urine – yep, you’ve guessed it, that’s another sign of preeclampsia.
• Nerve tension in these lower spinal areas may result in a tight uterus. The impact of this becomes apparent during labour, making it difficult for the mother to relax between the pain of each contraction. This can inhibit the body’s ability to dilate the cervix and lead to a greater likelihood of a cesarean section.
• Tension in the area of the brain stem can interfere with the proper distribution of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. This can result in complications with the placenta and subsequently with the growing baby in the womb.

Positive steps to a healthy pregnancy

Good spinal health is good for us at all stages of life. For pregnant women, the benefits become ever more critical, as a misalignment can create difficulties beyond a swaying gait.

Pain in pregnancy is not inevitable and all women have the potential to enjoy a successful pregnancy and a good birth experience by working with a chiropractor or spinal specialist to support a free-flowing central nervous system, a strong spine and a healthy lifestyle.