Pain Relief During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is both a wondrous and physically challenging experience for the expectant mother. Many women experience pain and discomfort throughout pregnancy and following the birth of a child. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment provides relief for many expectant mothers.

The most common symptom reported during pregnancy is low back pain. In fact, in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology one study indicated that over one-half of all pregnant women experience significant low back pain. Other symptoms that tend to occur during pregnancy and respond well to chiropractic care include:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Headaches
• Sciatica
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Tendonitis

The most common cause of low back pain during pregnancy is a condition known as “sacroiliac joint dysfunction” or “sacroiliac subluxation”. Subluxation is a Latin term meaning “partial dislocation”. The pelvis consists of three bones that move thanks to 3 separate joints. Two of these joints are located at the rear of the pelvis (left and right sacroiliac joints) while the 3rd is located at the front of the pelvis called the pubic symphysis (a symphysis is a type of joint). Without the movement provided by these joints it would be difficult to walk and nearly impossible to run.

As the pregnancy progresses more weight is transferred to the front of the abdomen. The mother must often lean backwards to counter this if she doesn’t wish to topple over! This constant, abnormal pressure on the joints of the pelvis can lead to significant dysfunction and pain.

The most effective way to alleviate this pain is to restore healthy motion and alignment to the pelvic joints. Chiropractic treatment is the method of choice to naturally correct sacroiliac joint function without the need for potentially harmful medication. In fact, studies show that 90% of pregnant patients experience relief for their low back pain following chiropractic treatment.

Dr. Donath can identify the proper areas involved and provide the necessary treatment based on your specific needs.

Chiropractic has been a safe and effective treatment option for pregnant patients for over 100 years.

Call Dr. Donath at (914) 421-1502 to arrange for a free consultation either by phone or in person.

Faster, Less Painful Labor

During a “natural” vaginal delivery, the pelvis must be able to expand and allow the baby passage through the pelvis and birth canal. Stiff or dysfunctional pelvic joints (sacroiliac joints and the pubic symphysis mentioned above) hinder this process causing unnecessary pain and prolonging labor. Increased risk to the baby can also occur if the hindrance is severe enough. This hindrance can also increase the likelihood that a Cesarean section will become necessary. 

Chiropractic treatment can greatly reduce pain and delivery time. Also, research has found that chiropractic treatment can significantly reduce the likelihood of back labor if administered during pregnancy. This is achieved by improving pelvic joint function and flexibility to prepare the body for the eventual delivery.

Dr. Donath can identify the proper areas involved and provide the necessary treatment based on your specific needs.

Chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective treatment option for pregnant patients that has been practiced for over 100 years.

Contact Dr. Donath at (914) 421-1502 to arrange for a free consultation either by phone or in person.

Postpartum Recovery

Nine months of pregnancy involving rapid weight gain, severely altered biomechanics, rapid emotional swings and severe hormonal changes can take a great toll on even the healthiest of bodies. This recovery process can take up to one full year and involves nearly every system of the body.

Many of the most irritating symptoms involve the joints, muscles and nerves of the body. Dr. Donath as a Chiropractic doctor specializes in returning dysfunctional bodies to their natural, healthy state through chiropractic adjustments, muscle therapy and nutritional coaching. Many of these treatment can be found elsewhere on this website. A recovery program would involve a complete history and examination to determine which treatment methods would best aid in the recovery during this turbulent time.

Research Studies

There are numerous medical research studies demonstrating the benefits of chiropractic for expectant mothers:

In one study 11 women meeting the criteria for sacroiliac joint dysfunction were treated with chiropractic treatment of the sacroiliac joints. After chiropractic therapy, 10 of the 11 women (91%) had relief of pain and no longer exhibited signs of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. ("Sacroiliac subluxation: a common, treatable cause of low-back pain in pregnancy". Daly JM, et al. Family Practice Research Journal, 1991: 11(2) 149-159.)

In another study 84% of patients receiving chiropractic manipulation reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy. ("Back pain during pregnancy and labor". Diakow PR, et al. Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, 1991: 14(2): 116-118.)

In a study of 500 women during labor, 352 experienced pain in the low back during labor, an incidence of 70.4%. Low back pain during was associated with baby presentation. Application of pressure to the low back area during labor reduced the need for major narcotic pain medication and minor tranquilizing medication. ("Effect of pressure…for inhibition of lumbar myalgia during labor". Guthrie RA, Martin RH. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 1982: 82(4): 247-251.)

Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:

Be sure to get adjusted regularly.  Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth.

Do some gentle exercise each day, such as walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women. Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements.  Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness.

Wear flat shoes with arch supports.  Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments the support the feet become more lax.

When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist.  Your low back is much more prone to injury during preganancy.

When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" are very popular and can be helpful.

Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours, rather than three large meals per day.  This will help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods that you eat.

Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better.  Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus.  Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it's safety for you and the baby.