Pregnancy is one of the most incredible transformations a woman’s body will ever experience, but if you’ve ever been pregnant before, you know that it can also bring about some unexpected aches and pains. Chiropractic care for pregnancy is not uncommon, because when you have 9-months of body changing magic taking place within you, comfort and safety are key for a healthy pregnancy!

Did you know that Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a top family chiropractor in Plantation, has years of training and experience in working with pregnant patients?

For those of you new to chiropractic care, you may be wondering why chiropractic care is helpful for pregnancy.

Here are the top complaints and stressors that our pregnant chiropractic clients face, and how chiropractic care helps to ease these common pregnancy ailments:

Sciatica & Lower Back Pain
This very well might be the most common complaint of expectant Mamas - and who can blame them?! We said pregnancy was amazing, not easy on the back! Pregnant moms who seek chiropractic care for sciatica or lower back pain typically do not want to take any over-the-counter pain relievers while they’re pregnant. Therefore, pregnant chiropractic care at Dr. Gena Chiropractic becomes an obvious choice, since we offer natural, drug-free solutions for these pains, which is why so many local obstetricians and gynecologists refer patients to our office.

Heartburn
Regardless of whether the old wives tale about heartburn is true, heartburn in pregnancy does not just mean a baby with a lot of hair - it means endless discomfort, especially at night.

“Heartburn plagues most moms-to-be at some point because progesterone, the hormone that relaxes muscles in pregnancy, also relaxes the stomach valve that keeps acid out of the esophagus. In addition, the growing uterus crowds the stomach, forcing acid into the esophagus, ” according to Health.com.

Chiropractic care at Dr. Gena Chiropractic helps relieve the symptoms of heartburn and GERD by taking the pressure off of the nerves and helping to eliminate nerve interference.
Breech Baby
Once an expectant mother is told that her baby is breech, her doctor may want to schedule a c-section. Many mothers who are still hoping for a natural birth will visit a chiropractor, especially one like Dr. Gena who is certified in the Webster Technique.

The Webster Technique, was discovered by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), in 1978. He developed it as a specific pelvic adjustment for pregnant women to help balance pelvic muscles and ligaments and potentially improve birth outcome. The first woman who came into his practice and had this technique applied, was pregnant with a breech baby. Shortly after beginning care, the baby turned to a head down position. Although Dr. Webster continued to offer this adjustment for all pregnant mothers in his practice, for those presenting breech, he claimed a 95% rate of these babies assuming a more optimal positioning for birth. This led to great interest by chiropractors, birth providers and mothers seeking options for safer, easier births.

Headaches
Often due to the chemical and hormonal changes that the body goes through, it's not uncommon for expectant mothers to experience headaches during pregnancy. Our pregnant patients often report reduction in both frequency, intensity, and duration of headaches, while under chiropractic care.

Insomnia
Tossing and turning doesn’t seem like it would be a significant side effect of pregnancy, but as an expectant mama gets closer to her due date, she may report sleeping less and less. Chiropractic care can also help improve sleep! The greater the quality of sleep, the better their body can adapt and heal and therefore feel as they welcome baby into the world!

And here’s the kicker: Our pregnant patients love coming to our office because it’s one of the first times in their pregnancy that they’re able to comfortably and safely lie face down!  We use pregnancy pillows and special positions on the table that allow for this position. Mom's always request to spend extra time in the office to enjoy laying on their bellies and relaxing a bit.

It’s no wonder that eight of our pregnant patients have all delivered healthy babies within the last month, and we are so excited to continue helping pregnant patients with chiropractic care for a very healthy 2018!

Remember, your health is in your hands, but Dr. Gena’s hands are here to help!