Pregnancy and Chiropractic

Pregnancy is an exciting time for a family; however, low back pain can make it miserable.  In this video, Dr. Behrend discusses pregnancy and how to keep a healthy spine throughout!

1. Pregnancy brings lots of biomechanical changes to spine.
   • Relaxin
     • This hormone relaxes all the ligaments of the pelvis and lower back to allow for normal delivery; however, it often leads to instability of the joints during pregnancy.
   • The "baby bump" changes the center of gravity for the spine and pelvis and affects load distribution throughout the spine.
2. Intra-uterine constraint can present with cramping and tightness across the belly.
   • This is usually a result of having tight round ligaments because of the biomechanical changes that we've already mentioned.
   • Reducing this hypertonicity can relive discomfort during the pregnancy.
3. How can chiropractic help?
   • A chiropractor helps by assessing the joints within the pelvis and lower spine in order to allow for better function of those joints.
   • This can reduce stressful loads on the pelvis and spine that are creating pain.
   • Exercises specific to your condition can help relieve round ligament pain and intra-uterine constraint.