During pregnancy, your body goes through some incredible changes. Your spine, pelvis and internal organs move and shift during each stage, and this can result in misalignment that affects nerves, muscles, tendons and ligaments. These changes often lead to aches, pains, numbness and discomfort. At Tulsa Spine and Rehab, we offer chiropractic care that helps reduce pain, aches and soreness and helps you feel more relaxed as you approach the delivery of your baby.
How Pregnancy Causes Misalignment
As your uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby, the pelvis and spinal column must compensate. They shift, which leads to misalignment. As your pregnancy continues, weight gain adds to the stress on the spine, nerves, ligaments and tendons. When the ligaments supporting the uterus are misaligned, this makes childbirth more difficult. The changes also affect the spinal cord and communication between your body and brain, so pushing during labor may be more painful and less effective than it would be if the ligaments and spine were in proper alignment. Chiropractic treatments for soon-to-be-moms in Tulsa restore proper alignment in soft tissues, joints and the spinal column.
Common Pregnancy Complaints Helped By Chiropractic Care
While pregnant, you could experience a variety of annoying, painful or debilitating symptoms that interfere with household tasks, exercise, work and the other things you need to do. Visiting our chiropractors for prenatal sessions helps with these common issues.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a common complaint during pregnancy. It involves pain radiating from your lower back down one leg. It often results from a misalignment of the spine. It can get worse after pregnancy, especially when you’re bending to change diapers, carrying your baby and lugging a heavy car seat. Our chiropractors offer treatments for sciatica relief.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is another common complaint in pregnant women. The growing baby and large uterus put pressure on your nerves. The spine shifts, and pelvic bones spread, resulting in a change in your center of gravity. You may walk differently, which also throws off the alignment of your spine. Visiting a chiropractor helps get your spine back into proper alignment.
Swollen Hands, Feet and Ankles
Many pregnant women are plagued by swollen hands, feet and ankles. The swelling results from fluid buildup and blood volume, which increases by 50% by the ninth month of being pregnant. Swollen feet and ankles combined with a large belly and lower back pain get in the way of putting on your shoes and staying active. Prenatal visits with our chiropractors reduce pressure on the soft tissues and ligaments, promote better circulation and help your body eliminate extra fluid that causes swelling.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Regular prenatal chiropractic care offers many benefits, including
- Less nausea
- Prevention of constipation
- Reduction in headaches
- Less lower extremity swelling
- Reduction in nerve pain, including sciatica
- Less lower back pain
- Less inflammation and pain in joints
- Shorter labor time
- Reduction in need for pain medication during labor
- Faster postpartum recovery
How Often to Schedule Prenatal Chiropractor Visits
Regular visits to our Tulsa chiropractors may help you keep back pain, sciatica, muscle cramps, Braxton-Hicks contractions and constipation to a minimum. We recommend weekly visits. Some women find that more frequent visits with a chiropractor close to their delivery time helps them with an easier birthing process. After childbirth, many women return for several sessions with our chiropractors to fix misalignment caused by the birthing process.
If you’re wondering how prenatal visits with a chiropractor can help with your pregnancy aches and pains, contact us at Tulsa Spine and Rehab today. We offer convenient appointment times and easy scheduling options. Also, once your little one grows up, we offer pediatric chiropractic services should any issues arise.
