PRENATAL CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Dr. Patterson has advanced training in prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. 

Pregnancy Pains

Why am I in pain? Low back, pelvis and hip pain during pregnancy is caused by a perfect storm of mechanical, hormonal and circulatory changes that put stress on your musculoskeletal (MSK) system. 

Mechanical Changes
With a normal weight gain of 20-40 lbs., most pregnant women experience a shift in their centre of gravity that puts stress on their lower backs. Your expanding belly can increase the curvature (“lordosis”) of your lower spine which, in turn, affects your posture when your body overcompensates to regain balance. If that weren’t enough, your core abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate the baby, and your back is left to support your increasing weight.

Hormonal & Circulatory Changes
The concentration of the hormone “relaxin” increases 10 times during pregnancy to help soften your pelvic region and allow it to stretch, but your newly relaxed muscles can also contribute to low back pain and joint discomfort. Plus, blood volume can increase 50%, which can lead to inflammation and water retention (edema). This can also contribute to your pelvic, low back and hip discomfort.

Pregnancy Pain:
Low Back, Pelvis & HipsMSK pain is very common during pregnancy. In fact, of pregnant women:

• 20% have pelvic girdle pain
• 50-85% have low back pain

Many women also feel pain in their sacroiliac joint in their hips that can cause pain and discomfort in the whole region of the hips and buttocks, and run down the legs into the feet.

Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy Pain

Chiropractors help relieve pregnancy-related back, hip and pelvic pain by realigning the spine and balancing the pelvis.
​Prenatal chiropractic treatment involves safe and gentle adjustments, massage, exercise and stretching.
Throughout pregnancy, chiropractic techniques are adapted for belly growth and modified using props like pregnancy pillows and customized tables. The chiropractor can assess your pelvis, sacrum and vertebrae for any misalignments that could be responsible for pain.

Canadian Chiropractic Association website 2018