Pregnancy and chiropractic

It’s common for women who are expecting to experience some level of back pain. While many people with back pain turn to chiropractic, do pregnant women have that same option? According to chiropractors from the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island, one of the oldest chiropractic societies in the US, the answer is a resounding yes.

“Chiropractic adjustments can benefit pregnant women in a number of ways,” said Dr. Kristin Kolesar Fabris, president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and a chiropractor at Be Well Chiropractic in Providence, Rhode Island. 

During pregnancy, women experience a number of physiological and endocrinal changes the body creates in preparation for the developing baby. Those changes can result in a protruding abdomen and increased back curve and pelvic changes. Often women will adjust their posture to accommodate these changes and that can cause issues.

All can be improved by periodic chiropractic adjustments. 

Additionally, chiropractic during pregnancy offers a number of other benefits, including: 
Controlling symptoms of nausea; reducing the time of labor and delivery; relieving back, neck or joint pain; and preventing a potential cesarean delivery.

“I recommend seeing a Doctor of Chiropractic who is certified in the Webster technique for pregnancy,” said Dr. Kolesar Fabris. “These doctors will address the biomechanics of the ligaments and tissues connecting the female organs to the pelvic structures. This minimizes intrauterine constraint, allowing baby to get into the best possible position for the birthing process. It can also really make a difference in the mother’s general well-being and comfort during pregnancy.”

While Webster-Certified chiropractors are preferred, there are a number of other chiropractors who specialize in chiropractic during pregnancy. For those doctors, you will see any of the following acronyms in their title: DACCP; CACCP; and ICPA.

If you’re expecting and would like to find a chiropractor, you can utilize the “Find A Doctor” feature on the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island’s website, www.richiro.org.