Are you pregnant? Do you have nausea? Does that back pain seem to not ease? Have you tried all possible things and nothing works? Experts believe that visiting a chiropractor could be relief therapy to some pregnancy symptoms that bother many women every day.
According to Mayo Clinic, chiropractic adjustment, or chiropractic care, is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve the body’s physical function. A chiropractic adjustment is effective for lower back pain, but it can also be useful for spinal manipulation, headaches, and other spine-related conditions.
Dr Noella Kanyabutembo, a chiropractor at Legacy Clinics, says that chiropractic care is completely safe for a pregnant woman and has several benefits for her and the baby.
"Regular chiropractic is a safe, gentle, and drug-free method to assist women during pregnancy with back pain, misalignment and joint pain associated with the transformation of the body during pregnancy. From the first semester to last semester, chiropractic care is safe after a check-up with your gynaecologist and knowing your status,” she explains.
Robert Mugabe, a reflexologist, says that chiropractic care is based mostly on the physical side of the body.
"A woman experiences a lot of changes during the pregnancy period, hormonal and physical changes, we use chiropractic care as a massage method to ease some pain a carrying woman might have, it is beneficial because it helps her to have a comfortable and safe pregnancy,” says Mugabe.
"Chiropractic care helps the woman’s spinal cord get back in shape because when pregnant, the spinal cord bends itself as the baby grows, and disc holding it might get displaced which causes back pain. Chiropractic relieves neck pain too, and it also expands the pelvis which is good for labour. It also helps a woman not exceed her due date,” says Mugabe.
According to Healthline, a medical study revealed that 75 per cent of pregnant chiropractic care patients reported pain relief.
Dr Kanyabutembo says that there are other benefits like:
• controlled urinary incontinence
• reduced pregnancy-related nausea
• aligned pelvis for easier delivery
• eased sciatic nerve pain
• eliminated need for pain meds
• reduced labour and delivery time
Not only does this type of care benefit the mother but also the baby.
"Biomechanically, it provides more space for the baby during the course of the pregnancy and reduces foetal distress,” says Dr Kanyabutembo.
However, chiropractic care is also not ideal for some people, Mugabe says.
"Women that have had too many abortions; this is because their pelvis has been expanded a lot in the process, so chiropractic care risks are that they might have a miscarriage. People that have a heavy flow during their periods are also not allowed to get chiropractic care,” he explains.
How is it done for pregnant women?
"There is the Webster technique; a gentle chiropractic adjustment that aligns the pelvis and includes a soft tissue release of associated muscle groups. It allows the pelvis to function properly during pregnancy. There is another soft technique that does not cause pressure on the growing belly that uses tables that adjust to the belly,” says Dr Kanyabutembo. Anyone can get chiropractic care, from new-borns to the geriatric population.