Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care – Is it Safe?

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When I was pregnant with Cole (my first child) I remember feeling the strain on my back from the pregnancy and wondered about how safe it was to seek chiropractic care. The thought of lying on my stomach and having someone press on my back conjured up images of squeezing a fat tick. I was afraid. I was very afraid.

If I didn’t know my chiropractors and feel comfortable enough to ask and trust them enough to know I would get a safe answer, I probably would have just suffered through it. But they explained the benefits and eased my fears, and assured me that I would most certainly not “pop like a tick”. So I went ahead and scheduled my appointment. The very first time I went in there, they adjusted my back and diagnosed me with,….wait for it….

HEARTBURN!

Yes, I’m totally embarrassed to admit that. But it’s true. They did adjust my back and then a few weeks later I did go in there because I was experiencing some pain associated with my sciatic nerve. In fact, on the day of my first real non-heartburn appointment, I walked in to find The Monitor there doing a story on Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care! The journalist was pregnant too and asked if it was ok for her to photograph Dr. Jana Hendrick treating me. I scoured the internet for the article but I had no luck. If you find it please let me know. I’d love to share it!.

When I was pregnant with Ellie, I showed a lot sooner and the back pain (and the heartburn) came on much earlier in the pregnancy. I think I was on a pretty regular treatment plan but in addition to the in-office treatments, they were able to find me a belt that looks similar to a weight belt but it is made for pregnant bellies. I cannot tell you how helpful that was for everyday use. It looks silly but the comfort it brings far outweighs the way I look.

 

I was 26 weeks pregnant here and I was wearing the belt again. The morning before I woke up in quite a bit more pain and discomfort than usual. By 10 am it hadn’t subsided so I went ahead and scheduled an appointment with them. I have to mention that if you are pregnant and you are in need of chiropractic care, that you do make sure to ask if they have received any specialized training or certifications in prenatal and postnatal care. Most Chiropractors will have their certifications and diplomas proudly displayed on their wall. Make sure to check for them!

A chiropractor who is trained and certified to treat pregnant women will have special tables and techniques that will avoid unnecessary pressure on your growing belly. They will also be able to provide you with exercises and stretches that are safe to use during pregnancy and will help reduce the stress on your back and alleviate pain on a day to day basis.

That’s me in the photo below being treated by Dr. Jana Hendrick of Hendrick Chiropractic and Wellness Center and my belly is safely snuggled into the cavities of these specialized “pillows”. Pretty neat, huh?

 

Are there any Mommas out there who also experienced some back pain during pregnancy? Did you seek care from a family physician, a chiropractor, or did you decide to just take it easy? Do you think that with each new pregnancy the back pain comes on quicker and is worse?

 

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