Chiropractic care can help a pregnant woman get relief as her body changes and adapts to a growing fetus. Up to 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses, misalignments can develop in your spine, due to changes in your pelvis, postural adaptations to your new center of gravity, and the exaggeration of your lower back curve paired with a bulging belly.
Low back pain during pregnancy can be alleviated with chiropractic manipulation. Muscle spasms, tight muscles, anterior pelvic tilt, and stress to the sacroiliac joints are other pregnancy-related problems that cause back pain and can be treated, too.
Women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy report easier and faster deliveries. A correlation between back pain during pregnancy and longer, more painful labor exists; research suggests chiropractic care reduces this correlation. Getting adjusted regularly while you’re pregnant can help ease or eliminate pain and make the process of having a baby much easier. And, if you’re a woman who regularly visited a chiropractor before you were expecting, you can continue to reap the benefits of care during pregnancy.
Chiropractic care is absolutely safe throughout your pregnancy. Dr. Zimmerman, like all chiropractors, has training that’s specific to treating pregnant women. He’ll use techniques that avoid putting too much pressure on your belly and can offer guidance about how to stretch and exercise during pregnancy to alleviate pain and support delivery.
Dr. Zimmerman is certified in the Webster pregnancy technique, which reduces excessive stress on the uterus. It’s a hands-on way to help reduce uterine torsion and relax the round ligament, while at the same time aligning the pelvic bones for a safe, less painful delivery. The technique is often performed during the 8th month of pregnancy when the baby is presenting in the breech position. A balanced pelvis encourages a baby to get into an optimal birth position.
Another treatment Dr. Zimmerman uses for pregnant women is the KST technique, also known as the Koren Specific Technique. It’s a gentle, effective technique involving very specific corrections to the spine as well as other structures, and is known to have long-lasting results.
