5 Proven Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women

For many pregnant women, aches and various pains in the hips and lower back zone are part of the course. In fact, according to a study conducted by researchers Jonathan N. Grauer and Jennifer Sabino, the incidence of lower back pain in pregnant women is between 50% and 80%. One-third of pregnant women even claim that low back pain is a problem that alters their quality of life.¹ Another study reported that 76% of women have some variation of back pains during pregnancy.² Luckily, one of the ways for pregnant women to enjoy pain relief and many other health benefits is chiropractic care.

How Safe Is Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women?

Essentially, chiropractic care involves maintaining the health of the spinal column and adjusting misaligned joints by massaging key pressure points. The practice is based on physical therapy and doesn’t involve surgery or the use of drugs. All chiropractors train to work with pregnant women, but some specialize in prenatal and postnatal care.⁶

Even though chiropractic care is safe, pregnant women should always get a doctor’s approval before seeing a chiropractor.^4,7 This treatment is especially not recommended if you’re experiencing the following issues:⁷

• Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia
• Placenta abruption or placenta previa
• Vaginal bleeding
• Ectopic pregnancy

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women

Let’s take a look at the benefits that pregnant women can experience by seeing a chiropractor:

1. Reduces In-Utero Constraints

One of the many changes your body experiences during pregnancy is an increased production of the hormone relaxin.³ Its main role is to help relax the body’s ligaments so that mom’s body is more flexible and can accommodate the growing baby throughout pregnancy.⁸

In some cases, pregnant women may experience a subluxation, which restricts the motions of the pelvis.⁹ This can cause in-utero constraint — when the stress placed on the ligaments is so great that they’re unable to relax or allow the baby to change position.^10,11 You can prevent this condition and treat it with chiropractic care, as it reduces the stress on your frame and allows your baby to move freely.¹¹ Another benefit of this practice is that it helps baby turn their head down, priming them for the day of delivery.⁹

2. Leads to Shorter Labor Times

This is arguably the benefit you’ll be grateful for the most! Shorter labor times may be possible because chiropractic care prepares the mom’s body for giving birth by ensuring the joints and spine are in proper alignment. Correcting their posture establishes the nervous system link between the mother and her body. This helps facilitate a smoother birth transit.⁶

A retrospective review of statistics showed that pregnant patients seeking chiropractic care experienced 31% shorter labor times (on average).⁴ Furthermore, according to Joan M. Fallon’s “Textbook on Chiropractic & Pregnancy,” women who sought chiropractic care enjoyed 25% shorter labor times.^4,5 Reducing labor times even by a little is a blessing, especially for first-time mothers!

3. Reduces Lower Back Pain

As stated, lower back pain is one of the most common symptoms that pregnant women experience.^1,2 This is due to the extra weight you have to carry, causing the spine to undergo a series of transformations to accommodate the baby.^1,12 More often than not, this results in lower back pain. As your baby grows in size, the pains get worse.¹² Chiropractic care can help correct the posture of the spine as the baby is developing, keeping your spine in its natural, intended curve.¹³

4. Eases Pregnancy Symptoms

Besides lower back pains and disjointed pelvic areas, other common symptoms that pregnant women experience are nausea and vomiting.¹⁴ Chiropractic care may provide some relief from morning sickness.^6,7,13 If your nausea and vomiting are due to pinched nerves or the vertebrae being out of place, chiropractic care can solve these issues.¹³ The adjustments and gentle physical care will put everything where it should be.

5. Improves Postpartum Recovery

The benefits of chiropractic care extend way beyond pregnancy into the postpartum period. Having your body adjusted before (and especially after delivering your baby) will help your body recover faster from the delivery process. Physical therapy enhances the alignment and flexibility of your spine and stimulates your nervous system, helping it stay functional, balanced, and healthy.^6,13

The Bottom Line

Chiropractic care is not only safe for pregnant women but also recommended to treat some of the more common symptoms associated with this phase, such as lower back pains and morning sickness.¹³ It may also shorten your delivery time by a whopping 31% and speed up the postpartum recovery process.^4,5 All in all, seeking chiropractic care has many benefits and is a great way of making your pregnancy much more enjoyable. However, make sure to consult with your doctor before seeing a chiropractor.