Chiropractic & Pregnancy: You Curvy Minx, You

I don't know what is in the water lately but everywhere I turn I have a new pregnant patient.  Squee!!

I am seriously struggling to keep my prenatal vitamin kits in stock! Nonetheless, I am always giddy and uber excited for such great news - whether it is baby 1 or 5.  And even more excited when I get to meet the little bunnies. :)


I think it makes such a huge difference if a mother is educated on what kind of changes are going to happen to her through her pregnancy.  Specifically from my perspective, changes in the spine, pelvis, muscles, joints and ligaments.  If ya know what's gonna happen, it isn't so foreign when it does.


So, all my preggies, and preggies-to-be, or if you are just flirting with the idea - my next couple of blog posts are going to discuss some common chiropractic pregnancy issues I deal with in my office :

1. Increased Curves

So, yes, increased curves is usually a good thing. Pregnancy is an awesome time for celebrating new curves!   As it relates to the spine, however, it can cause some discomfort through the supporting muscles and joints of the spine. 


The lumbar spine (or low back) will generally increase its curve as baby grows in size.  Now, every mama is different, but usually we can start to see these curve changes towards the end of the 2nd trimester.  As baby grows, we see an increase in the lumbar curve to support the increased weight through the belly.

Just a FYI (which is so beyond interesting) - the shape of the bones in our lumbar spine are totally cool with these changes, and they easily accomodate these new curves. In fact, their shape are the primary reason women don't tip over when pregnant! 





And just because our spines are so dang smart, it is not just the lumbar spine that gets curvy...the thoracic spine (or mid-back) will usually increase its curve as well.  This is to accomodate the increase in breast size, and to balance out the lumbar curves, too. 



Sometimes, this can translate to aches and pains, and possibly a general feeling of instability and irritation in the back overall.   This is where your chiropractor comes in. 

There are gentle, specific, and effective techniques we use that ease some of the joint irritation, and help the yummy mummy feel more comfortable and give her some symptom relief in the meantime. 

Because my focus is prevention, I always prefer to have the woman seeing me as the baby is growing - and ideally even before she is preg - so that we can really reduce some of the discomfort before they get out of hand.  


So, working on things like muscle tension, joint alignment, and making sure the spine is not stuck are key focuses for me.  This can be achieved in many ways, and usually is tailored for each woman and her needs.  But, to give you an idea, I can usually implement any of the following:

*deep breath*

Muscle Lengthening
Trigger Point Work, 
Holding Ligament Work

Gentle Adjusting
Specific Joint Pulsing
Postural Adjusting
Postural Exercises

Passive or Active Stretching
Hip Opening / Pre Natal Yoga
Fitness Routines
Supplements
Sleeping Tips and Tricks



All-natural, gentle, safe, and most importantly effective approaches to making the bun, and the oven (read: you!) happy.



Dr.S
xo