Healthy Body.... Healthy Pregnancy

By Dr Orly Zuker, Chiropractor
(B.Appl.Sci: Comp Med, Clin Chiro: Masters, B.Nursing)

Pregnancy and parenthood is an exciting time of life, however for many women the 9-months can bring with it; morning sickness, lower back pain, pelvic instability, insomnia, reflux, constipation and general body discomfort. If you are contemplating starting a family or are currently pregnant there is no need to worry as there is treatment out there to help you overcome these common ailments of pregnancy. Don’t be fooled though, childbirth is called ‘labour’ for a reason; it is hard work, but can be made easier if your body is prepared
. A helpful tip; try not to listen to everyone’s opinions, experiences and ideas, rather find a health practitioner that can guide you with balanced and unbiased information. Avoiding pain medications such as an epidural during labour is a good idea. After an epidural you are in most cases laying flat on your back and a 'cascade of events' commonly follows leading to interventions such as a C-section (major abdominal surgery!). Many women go through labour and childbirth without any pain relieving medications and rather use TENS, water submersion, breathing techniques, fit-balls and 'calmbirth' practises as natural alternatives.
What causes pregnancy related back and pelvic pain?

If you experience back pain during pregnancy, you share this inconvenience with almost half of all pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time of constant change as the maternal body adapts to the baby’s growth (mechanical/postural shifts that cause muscle tension & ligament laxity). Of all of the physical changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy, majority are caused by the hormones of pregnancy; progesterone & relaxin. These hormones cause the breasts to enlarge as well as secondary weight gain (normally up to 15kg). In some woman these normal changes can trigger old injuries to resurface, augmenting pregnancy related spinal issues. This can cause discomfort. 

The hormone relaxin is a remarkable hormone that enables the pelvic joints to loosen and expand in preparation for labour. Relaxin causes softening and laxity of the ligaments and joints, creating increased mobility that can commonly lead to “waddling” in the later stages of pregnancy. This can makes pregnant women more susceptible to injury; especially sacroiliac joint (SIJ) sprains. In saying this, it is important to make changes to your daily activities. For instance, gardening may never have caused you discomfort until you were pregnant (prolonged squatting can stretch pelvic ligaments) and care has to be taken when lowering into the car seat in the third trimester.It is important to keep in mind that every woman’s body is different and there is generally no single cause which can explain the common ailments of pregnancy. In an attempt to ensure a more pleasant and less difficult pregnancy and labour/birth, many women all around the world visit a chiropractor for a natural approach to their pregnancy care.

Chiropractic and Pregnancy...

From a biomechanical perspective, chiropractors are concerned with the issues caused by the growth of the abdomen, for instance swaying of the lumber spine as it is drawn forward/ anterior. This type of posture causes a woman’s shoulders to roll forward. This may result in the back and pelvic pain, jaw pain and tension headaches.

Doctors of Chiropractic focus on correcting vertebral subluxation (including the pelvis and cranium/ skull). When the spine is misaligned (subluxated), imbalance occurs, causing surrounding muscles and ligaments to dysfunction as well as creating tension in the nervous system. The 9 months of pregnancy is a perfect time to learn about the body and to become educated about pregnancy, labour, care of a new born, health and holistic parenting. As well as becoming educated, mothers-to-be need to physically prepare for labour, so get active!

The body is so intelligently designed, and it knows exactly how to breath, pump blood, digest, heal and of course when to go into labour. In an attempt to assist body function during pregnancy, health practitioners recommend that women lead a healthy lifestyle (have plenty of sleep, eat well, consume healthy fats, drink filtered water, have increased levels of vitamin D, exercise, maintain good posture and stay relaxed) and reduce toxic exposure. In the early months of life, bubs will also benefit from a healthy family home and environment.

How the Webster Technique may be beneficial during pregnancy...

During pregnancy, the pelvic floor & pelvic basin is the baby’s home and also the passage into life outside of the mother’s womb. As mentioned previously, vertebral, sacral and pelvic misalignments can cause tightening of the pelvic muscles, tension in the round ligament and tightness in the iliopsoas muscle that are all involved in pregnancy and labour. This may cause aberrant effects on the uterus leading the foetus to adopt an incorrect position for birth and can lead to prolonged and difficult labour (dystocia) and this is where Webster Technique becomes helpful and essential.

The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment technique that has one goal; to improve and restore optimal pelvic function [specifically by correcting sacral and sacroiliac joint subluxations], which as a result will improve pelvic function overall. 

“Webster” is a safe, gentle and scientific chiropractic technique that prepares a woman for birth, ensuring optimal in-utero positioning of the baby and improved comfort in the mother. A Chiropractor trained in Webster technique may make your pregnancy journey & baby’s delivery an even easier and more natural one!