There are many myths and misconceptions still floating around about chiropractic care and, in particular, with chiropractic adjustments and pregnant women. It’s common during pregnancy to experience back pain, and chiropractic adjustments often relieve this with a simple and safe procedure.
However, many worry that chiropractic treatments may somehow induce labor unexpectedly. While there’s no evidence that an adjustment can start contractions, it’s possible for chiropractic care to help you have shorter labor with increased comfort.
The team at Active Care Chiropractic and Rehabilitation can help you develop a treatment plan to make the most of your pregnancy, whether it’s your first child or another. Ask us about how our approach benefits both mother and child.
The short answer is no, a chiropractic adjustment can’t induce labor, at least not directly. Women undergoing long pregnancies can’t choose to have labor induced through chiropractic care.
There is, however, a connection between back pain and the duration of labor that chiropractic treatments seem to influence. As well, the condition known as back labor, pain in the lower back that starts during labor, is less common for those receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy.
There’s surprisingly little clinical research into the effects of chiropractic care on pregnancy, but there’s been no indication of negative effects. Chiropractic adjustments are considered safe and effective for the treatment of musculoskeletal lower back pain during pregnancy.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) includes a review of 20 years of studies between 1987 and 2006 that noted there may be a statistical relationship connecting back pain during pregnancy with longer pregnancy durations.
First-time mothers who had chiropractic care through pregnancy had an average labor time that was 25% shorter than those who didn’t. Women who had previously given birth averaged 31% shorter periods of labor.
The effects of chiropractic care on pregnancy are consistent with the goals of chiropractic treatment in general. Recognizing that your body is the best healer, our chiropractors seek to support its natural healing systems by optimizing and balancing your musculoskeletal system.
When your spine and skeleton are in alignment, you’re likely to experience better circulation, fewer nerve compressions, and less muscle tension. It’s these targets of treatment that create pain relief naturally.
It follows, then, that chiropractic care and its natural benefits are a natural match for pregnancy. The hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy make ligaments and other connective tissue more pliable to aid delivery. In turn, this laxity makes chiropractic adjustments easy with the gentlest of manipulations.
When your body works with elevated efficiency, pain is more easily managed and delivery tends to proceed more smoothly.
Talk to the spinal manipulation specialists at Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation if chiropractic care is right for you and your baby. Call or click to request an appointment at the nearest of our six locations today.
