Did you know that recent studies indicate that almost 80% of women experience lower back and/or pelvic problems (and pain) during pregnancy?  In addition, the inability to do much about it has led many women to feel that they could not enjoy their pregnancy due to such discomfort.  For this very reason, Dr. Eric Alvarado felt a strong need to offer these women his services.

Dr. Eric Alvarado is trained to provide the most advanced treatment available to help you get out of pain, enjoy your pregnancy, and prepare for an easier birth and recovery. Chiropractic care not only provides natural and effective pain relief, but also improves spinal function, strengthens vital core musculature, and improves birth-related outcomes. Please read below to find out answers to many common questions about prenatal chiropractic care.

Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?

Chiropractic is absolutely safe during pregnancy!! There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. All chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant, and some specialize in working with women who are trying to conceive.  Chiropractors that have been trained to work with pregnant women may use tables that adjust for a pregnant woman's body, and they will use techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen. 

Dr. Eric Alvarado uses a combination of gentle, safe methods and specialized equipment to help make the adjustment process easy and painless. He will provide you with exercises and stretches that are safe to use during pregnancy and compliment any adjustments made to your spine.

Why should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?

Awaiting arrival of your new baby will be a time of change for you and your body. Studies show that women are able to carry and deliver their babies with more comfort when receiving chiropractic care. Over the course of pregnancy, expectant mothers’ weight gain will reach somewhere between 30 and 40 pounds. The increase in weight can create spinal misalignment and/or postural distortions, which in turn affect nerves, muscles, and mobility of joints. In addition, many women experience heartburn, rib pain, pubic pain, headaches, sinus congestion and low back pain because of the spinal changes that occur during pregnancy, many of which that were not there prior to becoming pregnant. Chiropractic care has been known to help all of these conditions.

During pregnancy, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing baby. The following changes could result in a misaligned spine or joint:

Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to obtain chiropractic care during pregnancy. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. This restriction is called intrauterine constraint. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery.

Receiving chiropractic adjustments during your pregnancy can help ensure that the expectant mother’s pelvic bones are properly aligned, facilitating a quicker, easier delivery. In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24% shorter labor times than the group not receiving chiropractic care.

The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and labor?

Many women have been told that their pelvis was “too small” or the baby “too big” when it was really the baby’s position that was interfering with the normal birth process.  Even if the baby is head down, intrauterine constraint can affect the baby’s head from moving into the ideal presentation for delivery.  Any baby position even slightly off during birth will slow down labor, and add pain to both the mother and baby.  Specialized chiropractic care can help.

Studies show that 84% of patients receiving spinal adjustments reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. The increase in weight can create spinal misalignment and/or postural distortions which in turn affect nerves, muscles and mobility of joints.  The natural curves of the spine, particularly in the lumbar region, become exaggerated causing "low back pain".

This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby's head presses down on a woman's back, legs and buttocks, irritating her sciatic nerve. This painful “pins and needles” sensation can travel down the back of leg, often causing sharp pain and making it difficult to walk.  Chiropractic adjustments are specifically tailored for the pregnant woman to correct these imbalances leading to greater comfort.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy may provide benefits for women who are pregnant. Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:

• Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
• Eliminating sciatica, back pain, and pelvic pain
• Relieving round ligament pain
• Strengthening core musculature
• Controlling symptoms of nausea
• Reducing the time of labor and delivery
• Prevent a potential cesarean section