How Does Prenatal Chiropractic Care Affect Labor & Delivery Outcomes?

Pregnancy is such an exciting time – the progression of the fetus week by week, the shopping for tiny onesies and socks, the announcements that bring happy tears to friends’ and families’ faces. It all can feel so surreal that you want to pause time just to soak it all in. 

However, it can also feel isolating if the mother has a less-than-positive experience. It’s easy to compare yourself to others who claim to “glow” throughout pregnancy and have nothing but wonderful things to say about their nine months of growing another human. The reality that women deserve to know is that many mothers experience challenges due to the way a woman’s body changes. 

So, if there was a non-invasive way to make the pregnancy and delivery easier, wouldn’t most women want to take it? 

At Credence Chiropractic, we provide prenatal chiropractic care for expecting mothers, so we understand the highs and lows. It’s part of what makes us passionate about providing holistic and natural remedies for women at all stages of pregnancy. 

Prenatal chiropractic care is a natural approach to improving spinal alignment and pelvic balance during pregnancy. Many expecting mothers seek chiropractic adjustments to relieve discomfort, but some research suggests that it may also positively impact labor and delivery outcomes. 

Credence Chiropractic explains some benefits of chiropractic care for labor and delivery. 

But First: Is Prenatal Chiropractic Care Safe?

Yes, prenatal chiropractic care is safe. 

When performed by a trained prenatal chiropractor, like the ones at Credence Chiropractic, the mother and the baby can benefit. Gentle techniques tailored for pregnancy ensure comfort and effectiveness. 

Our experienced team knows several techniques to help pregnant women feel more comfortable – before, during, and after your child is born.

Promotes Proper Pelvic Alignment

A woman’s pelvis can become misaligned due to factors such as tight hip flexors, weak core muscles, poor posture, pregnancy, childbirth, and injuries to the pelvis or lower back. A misaligned pelvis can restrict fetal positioning, potentially leading to a breech presentation or prolonged labor. 

Chiropractic adjustments help maintain pelvic balance, giving the baby more space to move into an optimal head-down position for birth. 

May Reduce Labor Time

Studies about the relationship between chiropractic care and labor times have shown that women who receive regular chiropractic care during pregnancy may experience shorter labor times. 

First-time mothers see about a 24% reduction in labor time, while experienced mothers can see a 39% reduction. This is likely due to improved nerve function and pelvic mobility, which make contractions more effective. 

Helps Reduce the Need for Medical Interventions

Dystocia is the term used to describe a difficult or obstructed labor, where the mother is unable to deliver the baby vaginally due to various factors. Some causes of dystocia include a small pelvis, uterine weakness, the size of the baby, prolonged labor, and more. 

Proper spinal and pelvic alignment can decrease the chances of dystocia, reducing the likelihood of interventions such as forceps, vacuum extraction, or C-sections. A balanced pelvis allows the baby to descend properly, improving the body’s natural ability to progress through labor. 

Alleviates Pregnancy-Related Discomfort

Almost every expectant mother experiences pregnancy-related discomfort. Chiropractic care can help relieve back pain, pelvic pain, and sciatica, making movement and exercise during pregnancy easier. 

Staying active during pregnancy can improve overall endurance and flexibility, which may contribute to a smoother labor experience. 

Enhances Nervous System Function

Spinal misalignments can interfere with the nervous system, which controls uterine contractions and overall labor progression. 

By keeping up with chiropractic care during pregnancy, expectant mothers can ensure their nervous system functions optimally, and the nerves can communicate properly. This helps the body work efficiently during labor. 

Encourages Optimal Fetal Positioning

The Webster Technique is a specialized chiropractic method designed to align the pelvis and reduce intrauterine constraint. It encourages the baby to move into the head-down position naturally. 

It may help prevent breech or transverse presentations, reducing the need for external cephalic versions (ECV) or C-sections. 
 

Schedule Your Prenatal Chiropractic Care in Georgetown, TX

Prenatal chiropractic care offers several potential benefits for labor and delivery outcomes. When you or a family member need expert prenatal chiropractic care in Georgetown, Texas, contact Credence Chiropractic. 

Our prenatal care includes: 

• Webster-certified chiropractors

• Pregnancy support team

• Enhanced pelvic alignment

• Postpartum transition preparation

• Pediatric chiropractic care

For more information about how we can help pregnant women or to schedule an assessment, call 512-887-1477 or contact us online.