Are you expecting and feeling a little reserved about continuing your chiropractic care during your pregnancy? Do not worry at all — chiropractic care is safe, gentle and effective throughout your entire pregnancy. Yes, that means all three trimesters as well as during preconception. In fact, chiropractic care is known to be beneficial to those who are trying to conceive (TTC) too. 

Feeling comfortable, both physically and mentally, during your pregnancy is important not only for your own health, but for your baby’s as well. At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, your favorite chiropractor in Plantation, we take every possible step to ensure that our expecting patients are cared for in the best, most safe and effective way. Our doctors have extra training in chiropractic care for pregnancy and pediatrics, and are also Webster Technique certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Having a well aligned/adjusted body can also help you have more ease during labor and delivery too! 

From the ICPA’s website: The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/SI joint dysfunction. In doing so, neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated. An easier, more straightforward explanation, this is a specific type of chiropractic technique that is performed so that when it comes time for a pregnant woman to go into labor, the body has been adjusted in a way that supports a more comfortable, safer, and easier birth. 

For many expecting mothers, going to a family chiropractor where all of the doctors hold a Webster Technique certification brings a huge sigh of relief, and a major sense of trust. This is a well dignified and well recognized organization, and we are proud to be a part of it.

Many expectant mothers come to our chiropractic office in Plantation because of a variety of conditions — things like sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), neck and/or back pain, headaches and/or migraines, baby is in a breech position, round ligament pain, etc., but the most common reason that these soon-to-be mamas come to see us is for general wellness and care throughout their pregnancy. Regardless of what their birth plan may be — and every woman is different in that sense — they do share one commonality, and that is they are looking for birth with ease.

Chiropractic care is important for pregnant women because it helps maintain healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout the entire pregnancy, as well as during childbirth. In addition to getting regular adjustments, Dr. Gena and her team also provide advice and support to their pregnant patients on the following:

• Engage in some form of gentle exercise every day, such as walking, swimming, and stationary cycling. If you start to feel nauseous, dizzy or weak, stop immediately and rest. Most expectant moms can continue to workout as they had prior to pregnancy. They do not encourage you to start a new exercise regimen (especially one that is intense) when you’re pregnant. 

• Wear flat shoes with good arch supports.

• When picking anything up — children included — bend at the knees, not at the waist.

• Sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off the lower back. There are body pillows and pregnancy wedges that are specifically made to help with this.

• Eat small meals throughout the day, instead of three larger meals, in order to help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar, and allow your body to absorb all of the nutrients it needs for both you and baby.

• Take a good prenatal vitamin. Our office offers various wellness products from Designs For Health and Thorne, which can be found on our website here.

Many mothers continue their chiropractic care during the fourth trimester, which is the first three months following childbirth. At this time, the body is going through the healing process and you are adjusting to having a newborn. That means you may have more sleepless nights and experience discomfort getting into position for breast or bottle feeding. Caring for this new little bundle of joy in your life is beautiful, but can also bring about increased stress levels and tension in the body as you navigate your way into parenthood.

Even if you already have children and have been through this time and time again, each experience is vastly different. Mamas, this is a fragile time in your life and it’s critical that you do not set your own health on the back burner. 

There is no shortage of bellies and bumps in our office — and we mean on both the patient and the doctor side! There is even a running joke that goes around the office, “Don’t drink the water here…this pregnancy stuff is contagious!” Because of this, we can relate to all of our soon-to-be and new mamas, and are here to make things as comfortable as possible for you. Remember, your health is in your hands; our hands are here to help. Call our office today at 954-417-5815 to schedule an appointment.