07 Sep 2018

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, your body will undergo many amazing changes both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, aches and pains in the lower back and hips are also very common in pregnant women. In fact, approximately 50% to 80% of pregnant women will experience back pain at some point during pregnancy¹.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy aims to restore balance and soothe any irritation to muscles and joints that may be caused by the many physical changes that occur within a pregnant woman’s body.

The Webster Technique is a special chiropractic technique designed specifically for use on pregnant women to promote the alignment and balance of the pelvis during pregnancy. Back To Front Chiropractic is one of only four Brisbane chiropractors listed as a Webster Practitioner with the ICPA.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care aims to adjust your spine to remove pressure or interferences to the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body. Chiropractic care is a drug-free, surgery-free treatment method that uses spinal adjustments to facilitate the body’s natural ability to heal itself and promote health throughout the entire body.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is designed to help relieve tension, ease discomfort and realign the pelvis. During pregnancy your body will undergo many hormonal and physical changes that may cause discomfort or pain, including adaptations to your posture and an increased curve in your back.

Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy along with suggested exercises and stretches that are safe for pregnant women will help to address these changes. Your pregnancy chiropractor will use techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen.

Not only can chiropractic care be used to help reduce discomfort for pregnant women, correcting a misaligned spine will also help the baby as a properly aligned pelvis will allow more room for the baby to turn freely and move into the optimal position for birthing, due to the even pressure on the uterus.

Alternatively, a misaligned pelvis reduces the room available for the baby to move around increasing the chances of a breech or posterior positioned baby.

What is The Webster Technique?

According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), the Webster Technique is a “specific chiropractic assessment and diversified adjustment for all weight bearing individuals.” This technique was developed over 30 years ago by Larry Webster, who also founded the ICPA to both promote and defend the chiropractic care of children, pregnant women, and general family wellness care.

The Webster technique is a gentle chiropractic adjusting technique that aims to restore movement and alignment in the sacrum (a triangular bone that sits between the two hip bones of the pelvis). This aims to balance the pelvis to reduce muscle and joint irritation. It has been clinically observed that the Webster technique has been associated with improved pregnancy outcomes.

Chiropractors who have been trained in the Webster technique can assess for pelvic balance. If a Webster practitioner identifies that the pelvis is misaligned, they can use gentle adjustments to assist in restoring optimal positioning and joint function. This, in turn, can even out the pressure on the uterus to reduce discomfort.

When the pelvis is balanced it also allows the baby to move and turn more freely due to the more even pressure on the uterus. Although the Webster technique is not a baby turning technique and does not involve the use of direct external forces on the baby, it has also been observed that after the Webster technique has been used, that babies would regularly turn to the vertex position on their own³.

Back To Front Chiropractic – How Can We Help You?

If you’re suffering from pain in your lower back or hips during pregnancy visit your local pregnancy chiropractor to see how chiropractic care could help you. As one of only four Webster Practitioners listed with the ICPA, we are trained specifically to work with pelvic balance in pregnancy. Call Back To Front Chiropractic today on 07 3393 2201 and take advantage of our new patient offer.