Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy and Childhood

Some people are surprised when they hear about a pregnant woman receiving chiropractic care. What they don’t know is that it is very beneficial for both mom and the growing baby! Here are a few things to consider.

Chiropractic for Pregnancy and Post-partum

During pregnancy the mother’s spine and pelvis undergo significant postural changes caused by the growing baby and the hormonal shifts related to its development. These changes create postural stress on the mother that unfortunately for many women cause discomfort and pain.

Pelvic misalignment may also cause the baby to have less room available to grow causing what researchers call “intrauterine constraint”. This has been implicated in increased risk of Breech presentation and subsequent difficulties for a healthy, natural delivery. Many chiropractors, myself included, have been trained to use the Webster Technique which uses gentle adjustments to help the baby to assume the best possible position for safe delivery and many women have been able to avoid Cesarean section births because of this technique.

Chiropractors are specially trained to address the physical challenges brought on by pregnancy and getting chiropractic care is one of the most effective ways to decrease pain and improve mobility.

In addition, since chiropractic adjustments improve the function of the nervous system it often allows for shorter and easier labors and deliveries.

Chiropractic care should not stop after the baby arrives. After the delivery, the mother’s body continues to go through dramatic changes both physically and hormonally. This is a critical time to utilize chiropractic to restore proper pelvic alignment and encourage a return to normal postural balance and movement.

Chiropractic for Children

“What can a chiropractor do for my child?” One of the biggest myths about chiropractic is that it is only good for adults.

However, millions of parents who are bringing their children to chiropractors are noticing an improvement in their child’s overall health and well-being. Spinal nerve stress can easily go undetected in most children. It may weaken organs and organ systems, decrease resistance, reduce the healing potential and result in various sickness, disorders or diseases.

Every day I care for children suffering from colds, allergies, and asthma, bed-wetting, and stomach aches, fevers, colic, ADD/ADHD and much more that are a direct result from hidden nerve stress.

Parents often remark that their children experience the most dramatic improvements in their health and performance while under chiropractic care. Colicky babies seem to miraculously get well within days of beginning chiropractic treatment. Children with ADD/ADHD improve focus and attention and start earning better grades in school. Many asthmatic children are able to discontinue their medications. The list of conditions that respond to natural adjustments is very impressive.

As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.

The purpose of pediatric chiropractic is not just to treat back problems. We are really trying to monitor and track the spinal development of children throughout their early years so that we can prevent significant health problems from developing.

Helping to correct problems when the child is young and still developing is much easier than trying to correct a spine that has been dysfunctional for decades. I just love it when I help a mom or dad with their problem and then they bring in their children to be evaluated so that they don’t develop the same problems that they themselves had to treat.

We strongly advocate that all children get their spine checked for misalignments. Give your child the opportunity for optimal well-being with chiropractic care by calling the office and scheduling an appointment to talk to Dr. Duggar.