Pregnancy Chiropractic Care in Apex, NC
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also places incredible new demands on your body!
As your baby grows, your center of gravity changes, your abdominal muscles stretch, your posture adapts, and the joints and muscles of your back and pelvis are required to handle stresses they aren't normally exposed to. These changes are a normal part of pregnancy, but that doesn't mean you have to simply accept being uncomfortable for nine months.
At Performance Family Chiropractic in Apex, NC, we regularly care for pregnant patients throughout different stages of pregnancy. Our goal is simple: help you stay comfortable, active, and moving as well as possible while your body takes on the remarkable job of growing a baby.
Pregnancy chiropractic care at our office is always adapted to the individual patient, her stage of pregnancy, and the changes taking place in her body.
Why Is Back and Pelvic Pain So Common During Pregnancy?
Back pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy.
As your uterus grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. Your abdominal muscles also stretch and provide less support to your spine, while pregnancy-related hormonal changes increase the mobility of certain joints and ligaments.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), these changes can increase stress on the muscles and joints of the back. ACOG also notes that more than 60% of pregnant women experience low back pain.
That combination can contribute to discomfort in several areas of the body.
Common Pregnancy Complaints We See
Every pregnancy is different, but some of the most common musculoskeletal complaints we evaluate include:
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Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
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Pelvic and hip pain
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Sciatic-type pain
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Mid-back pain
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Rib and upper-back discomfort
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Muscle tightness and soreness
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Difficulty getting comfortable while sleeping
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Discomfort associated with prolonged sitting, standing, or walking
Sometimes the problem is a specific painful area. Other times, patients simply feel increasingly stiff, tight, or uncomfortable as their pregnancy progresses.
Our goal is to determine why you are hurting and what we can safely do to help.
Chiropractic Care Changes as Your Pregnancy Changes
A pregnant patient should not be treated exactly like every other chiropractic patient.
As pregnancy progresses, we modify treatment based on your comfort, symptoms, stage of pregnancy, and physical changes.
That can include modifying positioning and the amount or type of force used during treatment. Later in pregnancy, lying flat on your stomach obviously becomes uncomfortable without appropriate accommodations, and prolonged flat-on-the-back positioning may also need to be avoided.
The goal is never to force your body into a position that is uncomfortable.
We want your treatment to be comfortable, appropriate, and individualized to you.
More Than Just an Adjustment
One thing that makes care at Performance Family Chiropractic different is that our appointments aren't built around getting you in and out of the office after a quick generic adjustment.
Pregnancy-related discomfort often involves more than the joints.
Muscles of the back, hips, pelvis, and surrounding areas can become tight or overworked as your body adapts. For that reason, depending on your individual needs, treatment may include:
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Chiropractic adjustments or gentle joint mobilization
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Soft-tissue and muscle work
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Stretching
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Mobility exercises
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Appropriate strengthening and rehabilitation
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Postural recommendations
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Advice about sleeping, sitting, lifting, and daily activities
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Exercises you can safely perform at home
We want to address the entire musculoskeletal problem rather than simply adjusting the painful area and sending you on your way.
Keeping Your Body Moving During Pregnancy
One of our biggest goals during pregnancy is simply to keep you moving.
Movement and physical activity are important parts of a healthy pregnancy for most women. ACOG recommends regular physical activity during uncomplicated pregnancies and notes that staying active can reduce back pain and improve the ability to perform normal daily activities.
Pregnancy can become increasingly physically demanding as you approach your due date.
Our goal isn't to make your body "perfectly aligned." The human body doesn't work that way.
Instead, we want your spine, hips, pelvis, muscles, and joints functioning as comfortably and normally as possible so you can continue walking, exercising, working, sleeping, caring for your family, and doing the things that are important to you.
A body that moves well generally handles physical demands better than one that hurts every time you move.
What About Chiropractic Care and Labor?
This is something many of our pregnant patients ask about.
Over the years, we have had many patients tell us that they felt chiropractic care helped them remain mobile and comfortable late in pregnancy and that they felt well prepared physically going into labor. We also hear from patients who report relatively smooth or easier labor experiences.
It is certainly reasonable to want the hips, pelvis, back, and surrounding muscles moving comfortably as you approach delivery.
The research may still be vague on this topic, but we have gotten great feedback from our pregnant patients on the topic.
You should still be cautious of anyone making outrageous birth outcome guarantees.
Our goal is to help your musculoskeletal system function as comfortably as possible throughout pregnancy and as you approach labor.
Are OB-GYNs Comfortable With Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy?
We are increasingly seeing pregnant patients who come to our office after discussing their musculoskeletal pain with their OB-GYN, midwife, or other prenatal healthcare provider.
This makes sense because back and pelvic pain are so common during pregnancy and treatment options can sometimes feel limited.
We are happy to be one part of your prenatal healthcare team.
Chiropractic care does not replace your OB-GYN, midwife, or prenatal medical care. If symptoms suggest something outside of our scope of practice, we will recommend that you contact your obstetric provider or another appropriate healthcare professional.
Do I Need to Be in Pain to See a Chiropractor While Pregnant?
Not necessarily.
Some patients first visit us because pregnancy has caused significant back, hip, pelvic, or neck pain. Others already receive chiropractic care and simply want to continue taking care of their musculoskeletal system as their body changes.
Treatment frequency should depend on the individual patient.
We don't believe every pregnant patient automatically needs to be adjusted multiple times per week throughout her pregnancy.
We evaluate how you are feeling, how you are moving, what your goals are, and what we find during your examination. From there, we can recommend an appropriate plan that fits your needs.
When Should I Contact My OB-GYN Instead?
Although back, hip, and pelvic discomfort are common during pregnancy, not every pain during pregnancy is musculoskeletal.
Contact your OB-GYN or other prenatal healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, regular painful contractions, fever, burning with urination, significant abdominal pain, or other unusual or concerning pregnancy-related symptoms.
ACOG specifically recommends contacting your obstetric provider when back pain is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, burning during urination, or vaginal bleeding.
If something about your symptoms concerns us during your chiropractic evaluation, we will also recommend appropriate medical evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy Chiropractic Care
Is chiropractic care different when you're pregnant?
Yes. Treatment should be modified according to the patient's stage of pregnancy, comfort, symptoms, and physical changes. Positioning and treatment techniques can be changed throughout pregnancy to keep treatment comfortable and appropriate.
Can a chiropractor help with low back pain during pregnancy?
Pregnancy-related low back pain is one of the most common reasons pregnant patients seek musculoskeletal care. Your growing abdomen changes your center of gravity and increases the demands placed on the muscles and joints of your back and pelvis.
We evaluate the joints, muscles, movement patterns, and other factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan.
Can chiropractic help with hip and pelvic pain during pregnancy?
It may help when the pain has a musculoskeletal cause. Pregnancy places significant new demands on the hips, pelvis, SI joints, and surrounding muscles.
Because pelvic pain can also have non-musculoskeletal causes, we first want to understand your symptoms and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Can chiropractic care help with sciatica during pregnancy?
Pain traveling into the buttock or leg during pregnancy is often described as "sciatica," although not every case of radiating leg pain is caused by the sciatic nerve.
A chiropractic examination can help determine whether the symptoms appear to be related to the low back, pelvis, muscles, or nerves and whether conservative treatment is appropriate.
How far into pregnancy can I receive chiropractic care?
Treatment can generally be adapted throughout pregnancy when chiropractic care is appropriate for the individual patient.
As your belly grows and your body changes, we modify positioning and treatment to keep you comfortable.
Will chiropractic care make labor easier?
We have had many patients tell us that they felt good going into labor and believed staying active and receiving chiropractic care throughout pregnancy helped them.
However, we cannot promise a shorter or easier labor. There is not currently enough high-quality evidence to claim that chiropractic treatment produces a particular labor or delivery outcome.
Our focus is helping you remain comfortable, mobile, and physically active as you prepare for childbirth. Avoid providers that make guaranteed claims.
Should I tell my OB-GYN that I'm seeing a chiropractor?
Absolutely. We encourage open communication between you and all of your healthcare providers.
Your chiropractor should complement your prenatal healthcare — not replace it.
Chiropractic Care Throughout Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy asks an extraordinary amount from your body.
Your weight changes. Your center of gravity changes. Your muscles work differently. Your joints experience new stresses. Even simple things like rolling over in bed, getting out of a chair, putting on shoes, or carrying another child can suddenly become difficult.
We want to help your body handle those changes as comfortably as possible.
At Performance Family Chiropractic in Apex, NC, we have extensive experience working with pregnant patients and understand that their needs change throughout pregnancy.
We'll take the time to listen to what you're experiencing, evaluate how your body is functioning, and develop a treatment approach appropriate for you and your pregnancy.
Pregnancy may be physically challenging, but it's also an incredibly exciting adventure. Our goal is to help you keep moving and feeling your best along the way.
Looking for a Pregnancy Chiropractor in Apex, NC?
If you're experiencing back pain, hip pain, pelvic discomfort, sciatica, or simply want help keeping your body moving comfortably during pregnancy, we'd be happy to meet you.
Schedule an appointment with Performance Family Chiropractic in Apex, NC and let us help you stay comfortable and active throughout your pregnancy.