Chiropractic During Pregnancy: Managing Back and Pelvic Discomfort
Pregnancy is an incredible journey, but as your baby grows, your body goes through some remarkable changes. While these changes are natural, they can sometimes cause back pain, pelvic discomfort, hip pain and difficulty sleeping.
The good news? You don't necessarily have to put up with these aches and pains! Gentle chiropractic care may help you move more comfortably and feel supported throughout your pregnancy.
Why Does Pregnancy Cause Back and Pelvic Pain?
During pregnancy, your growing baby changes how weight is distributed through your body. Hormonal changes also affect the tissues supporting your joints, while your muscles and nervous system continually adapt.
These changes can contribute to:
Lower back pain and stiffness
Pelvic girdle and pubic symphysis pain
Hip and buttock discomfort
Difficulty walking, sleeping or rolling over in bed
How Can Chiropractic Help? 🌸
Chiropractors assess how your spine, pelvis, muscles and nervous system work together.
Pregnancy-specific chiropractic care may include gentle manual therapy, soft tissue techniques and exercises tailored to your changing body.
Research provides encouraging findings!
A 2013 randomised controlled trial involving 169 pregnant women found that those receiving a chiropractic-led combination of manual therapy, exercises and education experienced greater improvements in pain and disability than women receiving standard obstetric care alone.
A 2014 study also reported improvements in pregnant women receiving chiropractic treatment for lower back and pelvic pain.
These findings suggest chiropractic care may be a helpful option for managing pregnancy-related musculoskeletal discomfort.
Can Chiropractic Help With Baby's Position? 👶
As your baby grows, your pelvis, muscles and ligaments continually adapt to accommodate your changing body.
Pregnancy-trained chiropractors may use gentle approaches, including the Webster Technique, which focuses on pelvic joint function and surrounding muscular tension.
A 2002 study by Pistolese explored chiropractors' experiences using the Webster Technique with pregnant women whose babies were in a breech position. Practitioners reported encouraging outcomes, with many babies subsequently moving into a head-down position.
Although these observations came from a survey rather than a controlled clinical trial, they generated interest in the relationship between maternal pelvic function and fetal positioning.
Chiropractic care focuses on maternal comfort and musculoskeletal function rather than physically turning the baby. Baby positioning should continue to be monitored by your maternity care team.
Can Chiropractic Care Contribute to a Shorter Labour?
This is an interesting area of chiropractic research!
Early observational reports suggested that women receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy experienced shorter labours, with reported differences of approximately 25% for first-time mothers and 31% for mothers who had previously given birth.
While these historical findings are encouraging, they have not been confirmed in high-quality clinical trials.
What we do know is that helping expectant mothers stay comfortable, mobile and confident throughout pregnancy is a worthwhile goal.
Supporting You Throughout Your Pregnancy 💕
At Burpengary Chiropractic Centre, we understand that every pregnancy is different.
Our experienced chiropractic team provides gentle, individualised care, adapting techniques and positioning to suit your stage of pregnancy.
Whether you're experiencing back pain, pelvic discomfort or difficulty moving comfortably, we're here to support you alongside your regular maternity care.
🌷 Ready to feel more comfortable during pregnancy?
Contact Burpengary Chiropractic Centre to book an appointment and discover how pregnancy-appropriate chiropractic care may help you.
References
George JW, et al. (2013). A randomized controlled trial comparing a multimodal intervention and standard obstetrics care for low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 208(4), 295.e1–7.
Peterson CK, Mühlemann D, Humphreys BK. (2014). Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: A prospective cohort study. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 22, 15.
Pistolese RA. (2002). The Webster Technique: A chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 25(6), E1–E9.
Fallon JM. (1991). The effect of chiropractic treatment on pregnancy and labour: A comprehensive study. Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic, Toronto. Historical conference report; labour-duration findings not established by controlled trials.
