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During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity shifts
forward to the front of her pelvis. This additional
weight in front, causes stress to the joints of the
pelvis and low back. As the baby grows in size, the
added weight causes the curvature of her lower back to
increase, placing extra stress on the fragile facet
joints on the back side of the spine. Any pre-existing
problems in a woman's spine tend to be exacerbated as
the spine and pelvis become overtaxed, often leading to
pain and difficulty performing normal daily activities.
Studies have found that about half of all expectant
mothers develop low-back pain at some point during their
pregnancies. This is especially true during the third
trimester when the baby's body gains the most weight.
Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and
even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently
experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment for
an easier, safer delivery. It is one safe and effective
way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid
increase in physical stress by restoring a state of
balance. In fact, most women have found that
chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain
medications during their pregnancy, and studies have
shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time
in labor. Your chiropractor should be your partner for
a healthy pregnancy. They can provide adjustments, as
well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice
to help address your special needs.
Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:
Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care
is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal
structure and nervous system function throughout a
pregnancy and childbirth.
Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming,
or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular
exercises for pregnant women. Avoid any activities that
involve jerking or bouncing movements. Stop exercise
immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as
nausea, dizziness or weakness.
Wear flat shoes with arch supports. Your feet become
more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially
due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also
because the ligaments that support the feet become more
lax.
When picking up children, bend from the knees, not
the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury
during pregnancy.
When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between
your knees to take pressure off your lower back.
Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" are
very popular and can be helpful.
Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours,
rather than three large meals per day. This will help
alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your
body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the
foods that you eat.
Call us at (215)340-9949 to receive
relief now. |