Pregnancy is an exciting, but also a challenging time in a woman’s life. A woman’s body undergoes a drastic transformation during pregnancy. Many of these changes, over time, can cause discomfort or pain and may even lead to health problems.
Many women experience mental health issues during the different stages of their pregnancy. There are several pain and stress medications available on the market that are often marketed as wonder drugs without discussing the side effects.
Many pain and stress medications can cause side effects and can be extremely addictive. If a pregnant woman is overly dependent on these drugs stops taking them, she may experience a number of problems that can interfere with her daily life.
Many pregnant women who want to avoid medication-related problems seek chiropractic care for discomfort, pain, stress, and many other concerns that come with pregnancy.
Chiropractic care can promote a healthy pregnancy in several different ways. On average, women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy have 25-31 percent shorter labor times.
Many people wrongly believe that chiropractic care is unsafe during pregnancy. However, when performed by a trained chiropractor, it is 100% safe. To avoid any complications, consult your doctor before seeing a chiropractor if you experience any of the following symptoms.
- Vaginal bleeding
- An ectopic pregnancy
- Toxemia symptoms such as swelling of hands, feet, face, headaches, and visual changes
- Placental abruption or placenta previa
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Sudden, severe headaches
Here are some notable benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy in Santa Rosa.
Alleviate Aches and Pains During Pregnancy
Chiropractic care can ease many different aches and pains during pregnancy. The following are several examples of what can be treated by chiropractic care for pregnancy.
Back Pain
Most women experience back pain during their pregnancy. During pregnancy, the ligaments in a woman’s body become softer and stretch to prepare the body for childbirth. This puts a strain on the joints of the lower back and pelvis, causing back pain.
Severe back pain during pregnancy can make performing even everyday tasks seem like an uphill struggle, preventing expecting mothers from getting recommended levels of physical activity, which in turn, can impact their quality of life.
Back pain during pregnancy ranges from mild to severe, depending on a woman’s activity level and daily activity.
Chiropractors for pregnancy in Santa Rosa use a range of techniques to alleviate back pain. Routine adjustments throughout pregnancy can keep the spine naturally aligned which helps prevent problems that result from spinal instability and loosened ligaments.
An experienced chiropractor takes a holistic approach to health and well-being. Your chiropractor will get to the root cause of your back pain and treat it, instead of solely treating its symptoms.
Pubic Symphysis Pain
Pubic symphysis dysfunction is characterized by pain and discomfort in the pelvic area. These occur when the ligaments are allowed to relax.
Chiropractic care can help with pubic symphysis dysfunction. Chiropractors use ice therapy, pubic bone adjustments, ligament release, and activator techniques to alleviate pubic symphysis pain. They may also recommend exercises and different techniques to release stress on your soft tissues.
Sciatic Nerve Pain
During pregnancy, the uterus expands, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Another common cause of sciatica nerve pain during pregnancy is weight gain. Statistically, most women will experience at least one sciatic nerve pain episode during their pregnancy.
If episodes of sciatic nerve pain occur regularly, your chiropractor for pregnancy in Santa Rosa, will use hands-on spinal manipulations and other treatments to take the pressure off your sciatic nerve and alleviate sciatica symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and inflammation.
Round Ligament Pain
Round ligament pain is another common complaint during pregnancy. It is characterized by a sharp pain in the lower belly or groin area. Women usually experience round ligament pain during the second trimester of their pregnancy.
Round ligament pain occurs when the round ligaments tighten or become soft and stretch. A chiropractor trained in massage techniques uses techniques to align the sacrum and pelvis to address soft tissue imbalances.
Beneficial for Your Baby
When your pelvis slips out of alignment, the amount of space available for your developing baby drastically reduces. A pelvis that is out of alignment may also make it difficult for your baby to move into the best position for labor and birth.
A misaligned pelvis can affect your chances of having a natural and non-invasive birth. Your chiropractor will use different techniques to maintain or re-establish pelvic balance and alignment.
Help Improve Posture
Pregnant women carry a lot of weight in the front of their bodies. The protruding belly during pregnancy can cause stress on the back, resulting in posture problems. Chiropractic care can help maintain proper posture, reducing stress on the body.
Are you having a difficult pregnancy? Toth Chiropractic can help. Dr. Toth uses chiropractic techniques to prevent and alleviate back pain and other pains during pregnancy. He also helps his patients with postpartum back pain management. To schedule an appointment, call (707) 355-6535.