Can You Go to the Chiropractor While Pregnant?
Pregnancy is exciting, but it can also be a pain in the neck—and back, and hips. While aches and discomfort are par for the course, you certainly don’t have to suffer in silence for the next few months. With that in mind, you may be wondering: Can you go to the chiropractor while pregnant? Rest assured that, yes, you can seek prenatal chiropractic care—and there are plenty of potential benefits to consider. Of course, there are some potential factors to be aware of too. Read on for the 411 on visiting a chiropractor while pregnant.
A pregnancy chiropractor is a licensed professional with a doctorate of chiropractic (DC) degree specializing in caring for pregnant and postpartum people, says Stacey Pereira, MD, an ob-gyn and founder of Women’s Integrative Ob-Gyn in Atlanta. Chiropractors care for the neuromusculoskeletal system by adjusting the spine and realigning the joints. That said, every chiropractor is equipped to work with pregnant people, says Elissa Diamond-Fields, DC, director and founder of the Prenatal & Pediatric Holistic Health Center of Stamford and owner of the Stamford Family Chiropractic Center in Connecticut.
Yes, you can go to the chiropractor while pregnant, assures Pereira. Because pregnancy hormones tend to loosen the ligaments, the spine and pelvis move differently than before, she explains. “This can lead to gait changes, difficulty with some movements and even chronic pain.” In fact, more than half of pregnant people experience back pain—with research showing that most cases can be alleviated with chiropractic care, says Pereira.
During which trimester should you visit a pregnancy chiropractor?
Chiropractic care can offer benefits throughout pregnancy, from relieving nausea in the first trimester to helping with carpal tunnel, constipation and reflux in the second and third trimesters, says Eden Fromberg, DO, an ob-gyn board-certified in integrative holistic medicine, and the founder and director of Holistic Gynecology New York. Chiropractic care can also help transition the body to labor or turn a breech baby, she says.
Should you see a prenatal chiropractor, specifically?
Most chiropractors are comfortable caring for pregnant people—although some might have more experience than others, says Pereira. Look for one who is “knowledgeable, trained and experienced” in prenatal positioning, modifications and special techniques, encourages Fromberg. For example, Diamond-Fields, who frequently works with pregnant people, says she uses supportive tables and special pillows to accommodate pregnant bellies and tender breasts.
Are there differences in treatments when it comes to prenatal chiropractic care?
Along with different equipment, a pregnancy chiropractor often uses gentler methods, explains Diamond-Fields. For instance, she employs the Webster technique to help balance the pelvis and uses a rebozo (traditional Mexican shawl or wrap) to encourage the ligaments around the pelvis to move freely. This improves mobility and can coax baby into a better position for labor and delivery.
Visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy can help minimize pain and increase mobility and range of motion, says Pereira. With chiropractic care, pregnant people can potentially “avoid the risks and side effects that many prescription and over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies may pose in pregnancy,” says Fromberg.
Pereira recommends avoiding cervical spine adjustments during pregnancy; since the neck can be hyper-mobile, they can be dangerous, she explains. Diamond-Fields also urges pregnant people with certain symptoms and risk factors, such as high blood pressure, excessive dizziness, bleeding or pain, to check in with their ob-gyn before heading to the chiropractor while pregnant.
According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), there are no known contraindications to visiting a chiropractor while pregnant. Research suggests, however, that chiropractic care can help shorten labor. “Some studies have shown a decrease in labor time; however, there are no known direct effects on the fetus itself,” says Pereira.
There are a variety of reasons to see a chiropractor postpartum. “We’re so focused on pregnancy, but after childbirth, the body goes through a whole other set of issues,” says Diamond-Fields. After a vaginal birth, manual therapy techniques can help restore alignment of the pelvic bones and hips, says Fromberg. Plus, post-delivery, you might need a chiropractor because your center of gravity has shifted now that you weigh less, explains Diamond-Fields. Further, “if you’re not using pillows and props to bring baby forward while nursing, or are bending down a lot to pick up the baby, you can create imbalances and experience overuse irritation all over the body.”
Fromberg and Pereira suggest chiropractic care as early as two to six weeks postpartum. “Timing should be individualized to address the postpartum recovery and healing process, with bonding with the baby, breastfeeding and healing during the first two weeks a priority,” says Fromberg. Check in with your doctor before making an appointment.
A pregnancy chiropractor can help you navigate the intense changes happening to your body, says Diamond-Fields. Visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy could not only increase freedom of movement, but also boost comfort—and help make your labor and delivery process smoother, she adds.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Elissa Diamond-Fields, DC, is the director and founder of the Prenatal & Pediatric Holistic Health Center of Stamford and the owner of the Stamford Family Chiropractic Center in Connecticut.
Eden Fromberg, DO, is an ob-gyn who is board-certified in integrative holistic medicine, and the founder and director of Holistic Gynecology New York.
Stacey Pereira, MD, is an ob-gyn and the founder of Women’s Integrative OB/GYN in Atlanta. She earned her medical degree from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Back Pain During Pregnancy
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Pregnancy and Chiropractic: A Narrative Review of the Literature, 2007
American Pregnancy Association, Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, Rebozo Technique for Fetal Malposition in Labor, August 2015
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