Why a Chiropractor is Essential for Any Birth Team

 Why a Chiropractor is Essential for Any Birth Team

Written by Dr. Marilyn Jackson, DC

Congratulations, you're expecting! ...now what?

Pregnancy and birth are beautiful, complex milestones in a woman's life. If you're a first time mom, or this is your fifth/sixth/tenth child, each pregnancy & delivery is unique in its

own way- and your team should be too!

Usually the first step after a positive test is establishing care with an OBGYN or midwife. Throughout pregnancy, your team may grow with the addition of a doula, lactation consultant, pelvic floor physical therapist, maybe more! A perinatal chiropractor is an amazing addition to your birth team to provide improved comfort, reduced symptoms like nausea or constipation, & ensure optimal labor times.

Gentle prenatal chiropractic helps keep the nervous system balanced, allowing the body to exist in the “rest and digest,” or parasympathetic, state. This is where the body is functioning with ease, and the brain is able to communicate clearly with the rest of the body. The opposite state is called the sympathetic mode, and this is where the body is defensive, guarded, and stressed. This is also known as "fight or flight." While this is beneficial for fending off illness, injuries, or getting out of danger, the body should be able to adapt back to "rest and digest" easily.

Throughout pregnancy, the levels of the hormone relaxin increase, softening ligaments and the cervix. This is great for allowing room for a growing baby & shifting the pelvic structures during delivery, but can cause discomfort & pain as pregnancy progresses. Prenatal chiropractors are trained in a pregnancy-specific adjusting technique, called Webster Technique, to restore movement in the sacrum & pelvis, and balance ligaments and muscles nearby. 

A chiropractor on your birth team can even provide relief in early stages of labor! At Milestone, Drs. Marilyn and Wyatt offer home visits to help balance the pelvic structures & optimize contraction progress for moms before transition. This can help restart stalled labor, or improve strength of contractions.

The doctors at Milestone know that expecting moms deserve the best care. This is why they continue to seek out new techniques & methods to support women during pregnancy. They are Webster Certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and Dr. Marilyn is pursuing her Perinatal Certification presently. If you are located in Middle Tennessee & are in need of pregnancy care, give our office a call at 615-396-8482 or book an appointment online here.

If you are not located in Middle TN, find a Webster Certified chiropractor in your area here.