Pregnant? A Visit to the Chiropractor May Help

Thankfully, a chiropractor can often offer relief for some of the more comment pregnancy complaints. Here are two conditions that may warrant a prenatal visit to the chiropractor.

Nausea and vomiting are not uncommon, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, up to 85 percent of expecting women experience nausea alone and another 60-70 percent vomit as well.

The exact cause of morning sickness — which can actually occur any time of day — can vary. Changing hormones, such as elevated progesterone levels, may be largely to blame, but other factors, such as stress, fatigue, low blood sugar, and multiple fetuses can also exacerbate morning sickness.

Morning sickness typically stops by the third or fourth month of pregnancy. Most women experience mild nausea and vomiting that only poses an occasional inconvenience. If morning sickness is persistent or severe, doctors may prescribe prescription and over-the-counter medications to help control excessive nausea and vomiting.

However, many women are reluctant to take any drugs other than prenatal vitamins while they are pregnant, preferring to look for natural remedies instead.  Unfortunately, so-called natural remedies can be just as potentially dangerous or even more so than prescribed medications.

If you are experiencing morning sickness that is interfering with your daily activities and are hesitant to take medication, ask your obstetrician about chiropractic care. Regular adjustments from a chiropractor offer a safe, drug-free alternative that may provide relief.

Most pregnant women expect to experience some back pain during pregnancy. In fact, anywhere from 50-80 percent of women experience back pain during pregnancy. After all, you are growing another human being and the added weight and pressure on your joints, ligaments, and bones is bound to cause occasional aches and pain.

The sciatic nerve largely controls the lower half of the human body. When it becomes compressed, pain can radiate down one side of your body from your upper buttock and down the back of your leg to your foot. This can cause considerable pain when you move. The pain may also cause a burning sensation or even weakness and numbness that can make sitting, standing, and walking difficult.

This is called sciatica. Sciatica is normally seen in people with lumbar spine problems, like a herniated disc, or bones changes in the spine like degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis. Different pregnancy hormones can also result in sciatica. For example, relaxin is the hormone responsible for widening the hips and relaxing the pelvic bones and ligaments to allow a woman to deliver a baby vaginally.

Because the sciatic nerve passes under the uterus, the weight of the baby and the posture and other changes that occur during pregnancy can cause irritation to the nerve. Most obstetricians allow the use of acetaminophen, but if you are hesitant to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, consider alternative methods for dealing with your pain. Yoga, stretching, and physical therapy can be useful alternatives.

Another great option is chiropractic care and therapeutic massage. Repeated visits to the chiropractor as your pregnancy progresses and the baby grows can help reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve and lessen or even eliminate sciatica pain.

If you are pregnant and experiencing morning sickness, sciatic, or other issues you normally treat with medication, contact Davison Chiropractic today to schedule an appointment.