Can Chiropractic Care Help Me Recover From My Pregnancy?

By Martha Michael

A baby’s first cry is a real attention-getter causing most people to instinctively spring into action to solve the problem. As a new mom, your body may be screaming for attention as well, but many women overlook their own needs as they adapt to life with a new person in the family. Reaching out to a chiropractor is a way to address pain and discomfort in the process of recovery, which can range from big, debilitating health problems to subtle, less noticeable issues.

Body Changes With Pregnancy

Your body changes during pregnancy and when you carry a baby to term, not everything returns to the way it was, according to an article on Health.com. Even if your obstetrician says you’re “fully recovered,” there are subtle and not-so-subtle differences in the way your body functions.

Body size - It’s obvious that a person’s body has to expand to carry another human inside it, but even women who jump into a fitness program to “lose the baby fat” aren’t necessarily the same shape they once were. Your rib cage expands during pregnancy and, after it widens to create space for the birth canal, it often remains broader in size.

Swollen feet and fingers - Your belly isn’t the only thing that swells. Many women claim they barely fit into their shoes after recovering from pregnancy. Your arches tend to fall and the length of your foot may increase, which changes your shoe size. Your hands are affected too, though there’s no data to prove that changes such as swollen knuckles are permanent. Weight fluctuation is typically the reason your rings no longer fit, but there are women who drop the pregnancy pounds and still find they have to get their rings resized.

Discoloration - The linea nigra is the vertical line that appears down the belly of a pregnant female. It’s a dark stripe caused by hormonal changes in the body and may go away postpartum, but it’s also normal for the discoloration to become permanent.

Speeding Up Recovery After Pregnancy

Your muscles and ligaments have been stressed for nine months, and the nerves affecting your bladder and bowel control have been challenged. If you read the “What to Expect” books, you may be ready for many of the physical changes, but everyone’s unique, so there may be some surprises.

Because your pelvis and spine are most affected by pregnancy, your body needs postpartum attention to heal. Starting the recovery process early gives you the greatest advantage, so you can make an appointment with your chiropractor as soon as you’re comfortable leaving the house.

Your round ligaments hold the uterus in place within your pelvic region and they change during pregnancy and delivery, says an article by the Cleveland Clinic. They are each approximately 10 to 12 centimeters long and can become painful during the second trimester when the ligaments are stretching. You may feel achy or you may have a sharp, stabbing sensation, which can be treated during your pregnancy and afterwards with postpartum chiropractic care. Adjustments to the pelvis can reduce painful symptoms and help your ligaments return to their proper placement.

Some women complain of headaches after they deliver. If you never had head pain during pregnancy but develop symptoms later, you may be suffering from postpartum migraines, according to an article by the American Migraine Foundation. They’re relatively common -- approximately 25 percent of new mothers have a migraine headache within two weeks of giving birth though about 5 percent of them have never had a migraine in the past. They’re often the result of changes in hormone levels, specifically the drop in estrogen and progesterone. A chiropractor can treat the symptoms of postpartum migraines through spinal manipulation, massage, or other therapies.

Recovery Through Postpartum Corrective Exercises

Rest certainly tops the list for recovering from childbirth, but there are helpful exercises you can try at home to ease symptoms and accelerate healing. Your chiropractor can offer you instructions and show you how to safely proceed.

The website Mind Body Green Movement has a list of postpartum exercises (with video) for pain relief to improve your range of motion after you give birth.

Spine bridges - Lie on your back with your knees bent and the soles of your feet on the floor. After a full inhalation, exhale as you lift your hips and squeeze your gluteus muscles while keeping your back straight. Hold until you inhale again, then slowly lower your hips to the floor as you exhale. Do 15 spine bridges if possible.

Side plank - To ease your body into this exercise after labor and delivery, keep your knees on the floor. Start by kneeling and leaning over to one side, placing the palm of one hand on the floor and placing the upper hand on your hip. Hold in position while you engage your core. Then do the same exercise on the other side. Repeat up to 10 times in each direction.

Bird dog reach - Get down on all fours with palms flat below your shoulders and knees below your hips. Reach your left leg back and your right arm forward simultaneously. Kick toward the back wall while you reach toward the front wall. Return your hand and knee to the floor and lift the right leg while reaching with your left arm. Repeat the exercise 5 to 10 times.

Emotional Recovery After Childbirth

Getting support while you heal from the body’s dramatic experience of pregnancy and childbirth has benefits beyond physical recovery. While a new mother is coping with the pain of experiences from breastfeeding to stitches, she’s also adapting to social and lifestyle changes.

An article on VeryWellFamily.com talks about various types of emotions a new mom may be experiencing. Some women worry about their level of bonding with the baby or whether it will affect their relationship with a partner. Mood swings due to hormonal changes can cause postpartum depression, sometimes referred to as “baby blues.”

It’s not always easy to recognize other feelings at play, such as the loss of freedom when you have a new person who needs your attention. The added financial responsibility of a child can be stressful as well.

The first few months are often overwhelming, particularly for parents who don’t have the support of family members or a caring community. Feeling isolated and alone is a common complaint and a reminder that connection to others can help.

Returning to routine chiropractic care is one way to feel some normalcy, as well as introducing your baby to the preventive care you experience as an adult. Infants and children benefit from chiropractic adjustments as they grow while your chiropractor can monitor changes as they occur. Share your health concerns with your chiropractor so you can regain balance and maximize your overall wellness.

The robust cry of your infant may be deafening, but you don’t want it to overshadow your own need for wellness. Maintaining your health is a necessary part of becoming a parent who is ready for the many changes ahead. Self-care and visits to the chiropractor will give you the postpartum support you need and help keep your health challenges to a dull roar.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.