Chiropractic to Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy can be a safe and effective way to relieve back pain for a pregnant woman who finds herself joining the other 70% of women who experience back pain during pregnancy. Most indicated a serious disruption of lifestyle including time off work, or lost sleep, due to the back pain but only one quarter of these women received any recommendations from their obstetrician. Unfortunately all too often what you hear from your doctor when complaining about low back pain during pregnancy is a simple "that's normal" comment and nothing further.

So what can you do if you are pregnant and experiencing pain? Is there relief to be found? Absolutely! A study in Sweden (Hammar, 1988) proved that spinal adjustments, especially of the sacroiliac joint (the hips) provided long-term pain relief in 70% of the subjects and temporary relief (one or two days pain free) in the other 30%. This confirmed what midwives and chiropractors have long been saying; chiropractic care during pregnancy can effect a relief of low back pain. According to

Sheilagh Weymouth, a chiropractic doctor in New York, the most common complaints treated during pregnancy are "headaches; lower- and upper-back pain; sacroiliac (hip and low back) pain, which starts in the lower back and often radiates down the leg; pubic-bone pain; and rib misplacement."

What exactly IS a chiropractic adjustment? A trip to the chiropractic clinic will involved diagnostic time evaluating your present physical condition, finding any areas of misalignment or malfunction in your spine, hips and pelvis; then correcting those misalignments by using hands on pressure to gentle adjust the areas of imbalance.

Are chiropractic adjustments safe during pregnancy? Yes! Adjustments can be safely performed on pregnant women until they deliver. (Penna, 1989) In fact, with the labor of my second child I asked my chiropractor to swing by the house on his way to the office at 7:30 that morning when I first realized I was in labor. It is easier for a chiropractor to do an adjustment on a pregnant woman because her hormones have softened and relaxed the joints so less pressure is needed.

While all chiropractors receive training in specifically caring for pregnant women you may feel more comfortable finding one with lots of experience. If you suffer from low back pain and want to try chiropractor consider speaking with a midwife, or birthing center if you have one near you, as they can often recommend chiropractic doctors familiar with the issues of pregnancy. Some doctors of chiropractic also have advanced training in non-force techniques that might be more comfortable for you if you've never experienced an adjustment before.

As Dr. Sears said, "If you cannot exercise without pain, consult your doctor. He or she may be able to recommend a chiropractor experienced in working on pregnant bodies, who may be able to give you some gentle pelvic adjustments to get your hips back in the balance. It is our personal theory that chiropractic care in pregnancy can help to avoid or relieve back pain…"