Chiropractic & Pregnancy

[Laranna]

Has anyone seen a chiropractor during pregnancy and if so what was your experience? Did it help much at all and did it help prepare you for labour?

I've just recently started getting some lower back pain and it hurts when I roll over in bed so am considering seeing a chiropractor. I've never been to one before and usually see a physio for my aches and pains.

TIA

[Lulu]

Yes, yes, yes!! It was fantastic. I was referred to a fantastic chiro after my back was a nightmare after the birth of my DS. I saw her all the way through my 3rd preg, I always walked tall when I left. I had an adjustment a few hours before labour started and one after the birth.

This chiro specialised in preg and children and was very gentle. There was no need (and there shouldn't be anyway) for cracking my bones. DS went for colic (didn't work though) and to get his neck/shoulder realigned after he was born.

[Trillian]

I have been seeing my chiro for nearly 11yrs and continued to see him through my 4pgs. It really does help ease some of the discomfort of pg as your centre of gravity changes as your baby grows and it can help get things back where they should be again. I would also recommend you use massage in conjunction with the chiro as the bones wont stay in place if the muscles are tight and the muscles wont stay where they should be if the spine is out of alignment. Although if you haven't seen one before pg I don't know if they would be able to do much without a full set of x-rays first. If that is the case, go and have some bowen therapy from a Bowtech Practicioner - I highly recommend that in pg too.

[briggsy's girl]

i've been seeing my chiro for about the same time as Sherie and we've already discussed chiro care during pregnancy - hell, i was there the other day in the tww, and he spent time making sure my "incubator" was straight!! due to my history with him, i'm sure i'll be more than confident in going back to see him - he also has a myotherapist working with him, but i think i'll stick to my own masseuse - just for the confidence factor!

[belfie]

Has anyone heard anything about physio in first trimester? I've read different opinions on massage in first trimester, and my normal massage guy wasn't keen to massage me - preferring to be on the safe side which is fair enough.... but I've got a cricky neck/shoulder at present, so not sure whether to wait it out till 2nd Trimester, or try physio/chiro/osteo?

Thanks,
Belfie

[Candy Jay]

I had been put of going to a Chiro in my last pregnancy. I get really bad lower back aches & had seen my normal chiro to get it snapped back. Because I was PG he decided not to lean on my side/back to crack it but to have me sit while he stretched it up with a support. He actually made it worse and caused several spasms & I had to see a physio to get it corrected again.

Of course not all Chiro's are a risk, I would just suggest you see one who has dealt with PG women before & everything will be fine

belfie, I see a physio & i'm just heading out of my 1st trimester, they are great & really no harm can be done as your bub is for far down. I had a massage at 5 weeks & the lady was concerned too, so I laid on my side & she did the massage that way... I felt so good after it, so I wouldn't worry

[Lulu]

Why do people think "cracking" bones back into place will do anything?? Gggrrrrrrr!

It always pays to see someone who is experienced with pregnancy. I went to a new yoga class, the guy thought I should be fine etc etc. Well I ended up with my pelvis totally unstable as a result - and that's how I ended up seeing the chiro in the first place!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Lulu i guess it's because at the time it provides some simple instant release.
I find that a better chiro is one that does a lot more work with the more recent 'technologies'.
'Cracking' is so old-school and considering the Chiro philosophies of working with the nervous system i don't understand how cracking was ever beneficial. Nor can i figure out how there are so many chiro's that still 'crack' and not just work on adjustment...
Anyway...

Laranna i think chiro's are fantastic in pregnancy. The only thing you might miss out on is that a lot of clinics so an 'alignment scan' kind of thing and you obviously won't be able to have the xray-type one.

ETA - and as Lulu said - see a pregnancy specialist - they have more experience dealing with the differences and changes in your shape/body etc.

[Laranna]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I actually spoke to a chiro last week at a lifestyle expo and they did a basic scan with 2 little thingies either side of my neck and the details came up on the computer screen. This is what prompted me to find out more about seeing a chiro. I've had a few people recommend a chiro near me that is familiar with pregnancy so I might check it out.

Belfie - I did a relaxation massage course about 5 years ago (so things may have changed since then) but I learnt that massage stimulates circulation of the lymphatic system which means the toxins in your body are getting the push along. This is why some therapists prefer not to massage in the first trimester because your baby is going through all the major developments and may be affected. This theory works if you massage someone with a cold - their symptoms will appear more quickly and feel worse because the lymphatic system is stimulated and the toxins are moving out.

[MummyTummy]

Another thought for the mix is an Osteopath. I see one who specialises in obstetric osteopathy and it is great. I would kind of describe it as a cross between a chiro and a physio. He does a really gentle technique so I never feel uncomfortable about it all.

All I will say though is that no matter which path you take do some research on the practitioner as there are some dodgy ones out there....

[belfie]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the suggestions - I think I'll try and find a PG-specialising osteo, because I'd like to have someone I can continue to see if needed throughout the PG. I've already been on reduced activity for 5 weeks so I think my body is slowly rusting in place hahah!

I have also used all three disciplines quite happily in the past, but I think I feel like the osteo approach is what i need right now. I guess I always feel like physios and chiros each look at one side of the coin... but obviously it depends on what you need too. But from what you've all said, seeing someone who is experience with PG seems to be the key.

Re the massage thing, what i read was that (according to some points of view) the stimulation that results in moving the toxins out can cause the body to move the pregnancy out! Given I've had a previous miscarriage, I think that's why my massage guy was particularly careful in my case.

Thanks again

Belfie