for a Natural Pregnancy & Birth Chiropractic Care for a Natural Pregnancy & Birth © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Why Pregnancy Causes Back Pain Over half of pregnant women experience back pain. Why?   During pregnancy, a woman gains 25-35 pounds (11-16 kg). This pushes the pelvis out, increasing the curvature of the lower back.  In the third trimester, the baby’s head may press down on a major nerve. Hormones produced to relax pelvic joints in preparation for delivery weaken other joints. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Painkillers: Not Worth the Risk Researchers have discovered a clear association between prenatal analgesic use and undescended testicles in infant boys.   Another investigation of prenatal exposure to NSAIDs such as ibuprofen revealed that the medications increased likelihood of physical deformities in rats.   © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Chiropractic Relieves Pain Naturally Back pain is often rooted in misalignments in the spinal bones, called vertebral subluxations. Chiropractic adjustments are gentle maneuvers that put the spine back in alignment and relieve pain. Since the physical changes of pregnancy can cause or exacerbate a vertebral subluxation, chiropractic care is an ideal and safe therapy for mothers-to-be. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Chiropractic Relieves Pain Naturally Researchers confirm that chiropractic effectively relieves pregnancy-related back pain. In one trial, 16 of 17 pregnant patients experienced significant improvement in back pain after an average of two sessions with a chiropractor, and none displayed adverse side effects. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

A Safe Respite From Headaches Some women experience chronic headaches for the first time while they are expecting. Chiropractic care relieves migraines and other headaches, letting you enjoy your pregnancy without relying on painkillers. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

A Solution for Breech Babies Breech presentation occurs in about one in 25 pregnancies and often prompts a Caesarean section. A chiropractic adjustment called the Webster technique balances the alignment of bones in the pelvis, reducing constraint on the uterus and giving the baby space to turn naturally. The Webster technique has an impressive 82 percent success rate! © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Plan Ahead for a Natural Birth Interview care providers and visit birth facilities early to find a good fit. Consider a midwife — their philosophy is a good match for women seeking a natural birth. Take a class taught by a certified childbirth instructor who emphasizes drug-free birth. Prepare a birth plan to communicate your preferences. Choose a support person(s): partner, family member, close friend, and/or doula. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Drug-Free Labor Pain Management Chiropractic adjustment during pregnancy may actually make childbirth more comfortable. Of 170 women who had experienced back pain during pregnancy, those who had received chiropractic care had less pain during labor. These women were also less likely to have back labor. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Drug-Free Labor Pain Management Other useful methods for natural pain relief during labor include: birthing tubs massage hypnosis visualization affirmations © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Post-Partum Chiropractic Care Chiropractic adjustments help a new mom regain strength and mobility in her back, pelvis, and shoulder. This halts troublesome headaches and back pain and allows you to focus on caring for your newborn. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing

Pick Up a Copy of the OHUs For more on chiropractic care for a natural pregnancy and birth, please pick up a copy of the corresponding OHU handouts. Look to the OHUs for citations to research on this topic. Share the OHU handouts with friends, family, co-workers, etc. Just let us know how many you need. © Copyright 2016 Preventicare® Publishing