The demands on a mother’s body starts immediately with pregnancy. With the release of hormones, the body goes through amazing changes to prepare for the growing child. One of the most impactful changes these hormones can affect is the mother’s pelvis. As the baby grows and develops it will put added stress upon the mother’s skeletal system, especially the pelvis. This stress can create rotation in the pelvic bones and increase intrauterine constraint. In this article we will discuss the importance of a balanced pelvis during pregnancy.
When it comes to providing chiropractic care for an expectant mother, we have to think beyond just a typical spinal alignment. Expectant mothers may or may not experience discomfort through the duration of their pregnancy. Hormones help to reduce the strain and pull on the mother’s body as the child grows. As it allows the mother’s body to relax, it also allows for the mother’s pelvis to become imbalanced and rotated.
The pelvis is composed of the two ilium bones and the sacrum in the middle that connects them. An imbalanced pelvis is when one or both of the iliums of the spine become rotated and causes an associated sacral shift posterior or rotation.
When the mother has spinal or pelvic misalignment it can lead to intrauterine constraint.
The mother’s pelvis has some key ligaments that attach to the uterus. If the mother’s pelvis is balanced and aligned it will allow for a symmetrically supported uterus and optimum room for the baby to grow and develop. Alternatively, if the mother’s pelvis, especially her sacrum (triangular bone at the base of the spine), is misaligned it will cause uneven pulling on the mother’s supporting ligaments. The resulting torsion of the uterus leads to intrauterine constraint and limits the potential room for the baby to grow, develop, and get in the proper birthing position.1
Studies have shown that approximately one out of five women experience dystocia (difficult labor). The great news is there are numerous studies that also show that women who have chiropractic care through their pregnancy have easier pregnancies and easier births.2
As pregnancy progresses, the chiropractic techniques used by your chiropractor may change or be modified for the comfort of the mother. The Webster Technique is one technique that chiropractors use for expectant mothers. The Webster Technique is defined as “a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system, facilitates balance in the pelvic and abdominal muscles and ligaments, which in turn reduces constraint to the woman’s uterus allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.”3
Keeping a balanced pelvis is one of the best things you can do while you are pregnant.
A balanced pelvis results in less stress on the mother’s spine, sacro-iliac joints, and pelvis. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of a difficult labor and help ensure a quicker, easier delivery. If you are expecting, I hope you will seek chiropractic care and congratulations on your growing family!
-by Dr. Brandon Crouch
About the author: Dr. Brandon Crouch is a Chiropractor with Crouch Family Chiropractic. He is an advocate for being proactive when it comes to your health and encourages people to make healthy, informed decisions. For more information you can go online at: www.crouchfamilychiro.com.
Sources:
1. Ohm, Jeanne, D.C., Chiropractic Care for an Easier Pregnancy and Safer Birth, Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #24, Dec 09
2. Rosenberg, Stacy, An Expecting Parent’s Guide to Chiropractic, Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #20, Dec 08
3. The Webster Technique Defined, International Chiropractic Pediatric Assoc., www.icpa4kids.com/webster_technique.htm
