During pregnancy, most women experience a multitude of musculoskeletal and biochemical changes.
Some common examples of these are:
• Back pain
• Headaches
• Change in weight distribution
• Change in posture
• Pelvic and groin pain or discomfort
• Leg cramps
• Nausea
• Fatigue

BACK PAIN & DISCOMFORT

During pregnancy a woman’s center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift to the front of her pelvis and this relocated weight increases stress on the joints and muscles. Additionally, as the baby grows, the woman’s weight is displaced even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back increases in order to support it. As a result, the spine in the upper back area must try to compensate for this extra stress. This in turn increases the load and stress of her upper spine, which leads to pain and discomfort, typically right in-between the shoulder blades.

This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs and buttocks, putting pressure on her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low back pain, the problem can become even worse.

Like a domino effect, once one minor change in the body occurs it filters down and the rest of the body is affected and has to compensate in some way shape or form.
Using regular chiropractic adjustments, stretches and exercises specified for the ever changing female body will decrease this discomfort and keep the joints and muscles moving with more fluidity and ease.

PELVIS OR PUBIC JOINT PAIN

The “Waddle”
As mom progresses through her pregnancy, changes are seen in her gait pattern, or walk, more famously referred to as the "waddle." A hormone called relaxin is released into the body from early on in the pregnancy to soften ligaments as the baby grows, in this case specifically the pelvis, to allow better passage of the baby during labor and birth. What commonly happens later on in the pregnancy is that the ligaments stretch to the point of over stretching. The “waddle" is noticeable at this point because the pelvic joints move too much and the body locks the sacrum into place, causing the woman’s feet to turn out and for her to lock her knees. With Chiropractic adjustments, the sacroiliac joints are able to move in a more normally and the pregnant woman can walk with much more ease.

MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS

Soft tissue (stretching & massage) work can keep the muscles flexible and strong, and reduce the effects of muscle aches and pains. Most pregnant women are more susceptible to muscular aches and pains while pregnant, and even commonly experience the dreaded leg cramp. Chiropractors can aid muscle aches and pains providing much needed relief and most likely a great nights’ sleep!

The above changes can be a terrible nuisance, making a woman’s journey to becoming a mother a challenging one. The increased muscle strains and back pain of pregnancy are very real and can be more than just a disruption in your daily schedule. The prenatal weight gain, combined with increased stress placed on the body by the baby, can lead to severe discomfort.

Chiropractic care in pregnancy is an essential ingredient to your prenatal care choices.
Receiving chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy can relieve and even prevent these common discomforts experienced during pregnancy.