CONNECTIONS – VOLUME 1
BY Dr. Kayla Ambert, D.C., R.D.
Family Chiropractor & Dietitian
Prenatal Chiropractic Care can be an essential component to your pregnancy. Chiropractic Care is often utilized solely for pain relief, however, this article breaks down the range of benefits of care for both mom and baby.
The main goal of Chiropractic Care is to ensure that there’s 100% communication between the brain & body. Your brain is the control center for the development and growth of your baby. Your nervous system, which includes, the brain, spinal cord, and nerves control everything from muscle movement to organ function. Therefore, it is critical that your brain and nervous system are able to send any and all messages to and from the fetus.
Pregnancy brings about many hormonal and structural changes. This includes changes to the spine and pelvis, which are the bony protecting components of our vital nervous system. These changes can lead to spinal and pelvic dysfunction, aka Subluxations, which can distort those critical neurological messages. Not only can a Subluxation interfere with nerve function, but it can irritate the surrounding soft tissue resulting in pain, muscle spasms, sciatica, headaches, & additional ailments.
A Prenatal Chiropractor detects and corrects these Subluxations with gentle adjustments in order to remove interference between the brain and body and restore proper function. Proper nervous system function is essential for the growth & development of the baby. It is also a critical component to the initiation of the natural birthing process.
In addition to proper nervous system function, aligning the pelvis and spine helps provide adequate space for baby to grow, develop, and turn into the ideal birthing position. Pelvic and spinal dysfunction reduce the maximum amount of physical space within the uterus. This diminishes the baby’s ability to move and find the necessary position for birth. By restoring proper alignment, the baby can innately move into the proper position for a smooth birth. Increased space also benefits mom by providing more breathing room, increasing range of motion, and more pelvic stability for carrying the belly.
Increased joint and ligament laxity, change in weight distribution, and other prenatal physiological changes can result in Subluxations and the consequent “band of low back pain”, commonly seen in pregnancy. As previously mentioned these Subluxations can cause stress and strain on surrounding muscles, ligaments & tendons. A Prenatal adjustment facilitates the alignment of these irritated joints to alleviate pain, muscle spasms, numbness/weakness, & other common ailments.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care is gentle, safe and effective. Its purpose is to restore nervous system function for proper growth and development, create adequate space for baby to grow and position themselves, as well as to reduce physical pain and tension. There are many amazing Chiropractic techniques available, however, during pregnancy, it’s recommended to locate a Webster Certified Chiropractor. A Webster Certified Chiropractor has adaptive tables and pillows to provide a comfortable space for Prenatal Care. These Doctors are trained in a protocol, Webster Technique, composed of a series of specific adjustments to help facilitate the mother’s pelvic alignment and nervous system function. This balances pelvic muscles and ligaments, reduces torsion to the uterus, and stress on the baby. To find a Webster Certified Chiropractor near you, go to www.icpa4kids.org/findadoctor.