Chiropractic Care During Your Pregnancy: Here’s What You Should Know

When people think of chiropractic care, they may visualize a knee on the back or someone cracking their neck. Can chiropractic care actually be safe during pregnancy? The answer is yes, because chiropractic care is whole-body care.

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, our expert chiropractors provide customizable care to patients at all stages of life, including during pregnancy. 

Here’s what they want you to know about receiving chiropractic care while pregnant.

The basics of chiropractic care

Chiropractic practitioners apply gentle but firm pressure to the spine to correct misalignment. These corrections don’t just relieve pain, but can also treat other conditions, such as hypertension, low energy levels, and even gastrointestinal issues.

Chiropractic care can benefit the old and the young (even babies), men and women, including pregnant women. The safety of most chiropractic procedures for pregnant women hasn’t been disputed, but women who are expecting should avoid certain procedures during pregnancy.

Safe chiropractic care during pregnancy

About 50% of women experience back pain during pregnancy. However, over 20% of these women don’t talk to their doctor about their pain; they expect their back to hurt and assume they should avoid chiropractic care. 

Living in pain is unnecessary. Your back and pelvis change shape during pregnancy and are subject to additional stress. Our chiropractors are trained to work safely with pregnant women, using positions and techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen.

The main chiropractic measure to avoid during pregnancy is traditional machine-assisted spinal decompression therapy. 

This procedure often involves an inverted (upside-down) table to allow gravity to pull your spine into proper alignment using the weight of your body. This practice can be unsafe for pregnant women.

At Advantage Spinal Dynamics, we offer spinal decompression therapy using a computer-controlled table that applies a modest amount of pressure to targeted areas of your spine, rather than stretching your entire spine. 

Your practitioner discusses with you when it’s time to stop these treatments if you’re receiving care for a herniated disc. We can substitute pregnancy-safe techniques and exercises for you to use instead, safeguarding and strengthening your spine for the day you go into labor.

Our goal is for you to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery with as little pain as possible.

To learn more about chiropractic care during pregnancy, schedule a consultation at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine. Call us at 208-213-7963, or request an appointment online today.