How can Chiropractic Care help During Pregnancy?

Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to prenatal care, looking at the entire body's alignment and function. By addressing imbalances in your musculoskeletal and nervous system, chiropractic adjustments can help you have a more comfortable and enjoyable pregnancy and possibly a quicker and easier birth as well! I hope this Q&A will help you can gain a better understanding of how chiropractic care can benefit you during pregnancy and make an informed decision about whether it's right for you.

This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your Midwife or Doctor.

Q&A with Dr. Meghan Dowling

Is it safe to get chiropractic care while pregnant?

In general, chiropractic has a substantial safety record and getting adjusted when you are pregnant has also been proven to be very safe as well as effective. The most common, yet rare in my experience, side effect of chiropractic adjustments is mild soreness that resolves within a day or two. Before your visit, make sure to talk with your chiropractor if you’ve had any recent bleeding or cramping, in which case they may refer you back to your midwife or OBGYN.

Why might someone want to see a chiropractor during pregnancy?

Due to the changes in the pregnant body such as hormones that influence joint laxity and certain postural compensations to accommodate the weight of the growing baby, musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy is very common. However, even though a complaint is “common” does not mean that it is normal. Pain is our body’s way of telling us that something isn’t right and always means that there is a source that needs to be addressed. During pregnancy, malpositioned joints under strain are a frequent cause of pain. Perinatal chiropractors frequently treat pregnant people during any stage of their pregnancy for a variety of symptoms including low back pain, sciatica, pubic symphysis pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, leg cramps, neck pain, etc. In fact, studies show that 75-84% of women who sought chiropractic care during their pregnancies experience pain relief, and that generally relief is experienced in two visits. Another common reason why pregnant people find me is that their first birth had complications due to fetal positional issues and they are looking for a better experience the second (third, fourth, etc) time around.

Is there a benefit to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy that can be measured during labor?

Yes! Research has shown that first time mothers receiving chiropractic care starting in their 10th week of pregnancy had a 25% reduction in labor times. For second or third births, chiropractic care resulted in a reduction of labor times by 39%. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is also associated with a 24% decrease in cesarean rates and a 14% reduction in delivery via forceps. In a hospital study in which pregnant women received chiropractic care, there was a 50% reduction in the need for pain meds. When we address joint misalignments within the pelvis, we can reduce soft tissue strain within the uterus, giving space for babies to get into the most ideal positions, leading to births with more ease.

What does it mean if a chiropractor is certified in the Webster Technique?

Training in Webster technique involves a rigorous education in pelvic analysis and biomechanics through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Being seen by a certified Webster chiropractor ensures that the doctor is competent in treating and correcting subluxations or joint misalignments within the pelvis due to biomechanical strain of pregnancy.

Can chiropractic care help turn a breech baby?

Frequently, babies end up in a breech position due to intrauterine constraint, which is defined as any force external to the developing fetus that obstructs the normal fetal movement. Chiropractors who are trained in Webster analysis and treatment are focused on creating balance within the bony structures of the pelvis that leads to more room for baby to get into the best position for birth. Due to uterine ligament attachment to the sacrum, correcting misalignments within the pelvis can lead to less tension within the uterine muscle, which very often leads to the removal of the biomechanical reasons why babies end up breech. This allows baby to explore more space within the uterus and get comfortable in an ideal head down position. At no time do chiropractors attempt to manually “turn” the baby, the focus is on creating space in mom’s pelvis so that baby can assume a better position without force. Studies show that chiropractors report a 92% success rate in resolving the breech position, which is very significant due to the fact that only 9% of babies will spontaneously turn head down after 34 weeks of gestation.

How often should you go to the chiropractor during pregnancy?

If you are experiencing pain, you maybe seen a few times per week to stabilize the pelvis and reduce pain, but once pain is resolved, the frequency of chiropractic treatment usually follows the frequency of OBGYN visits, ie: one time per month until 20 weeks, every two weeks until 28 weeks and then weekly thereafter. If a baby is breech or posterior, frequency may be as often as three times a week until baby turns head down.

What can a prospective client expect from a visit with a chiropractor like you during their pregnancy?

At your first visit, a complete history of your complaint and overall pregnancy will be performed, followed by a comprehensive exam to determine the pattern of pelvic strain that may be contributing to pain, discomfort or fetal malpositions. Most Webster-certified chiropractors should have a comfortable way for you to lay face down on the table. In my office, I use a pregnancy pillow that has a hole in the middle, as well as a piece on the table that drops down to accommodate the pregnant belly. Many pregnant people are excited to get to lay face down for the first time in several months! Treatment of subluxations in pregnancy usually involve using gentle drop table assisted adjustments to the sacrum and pelvis, as well as soft tissue myofascial release to ligaments and muscles that may be leading to or a consequence of the misalignments within the pelvis. Generally, a Webster-certified chiropractor will also address subluxations found within the cervical spine, which if left unresolved can be a source of stress to the body which can impact the fetus as well. Some qualified chiropractors who have had training with Spinning Babies Exercises may also demonstrate and assign these to do at home, which further support optimal fetal positioning.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Without a doubt, my favorite part of my job is hearing my patient’s birth stories! Whether it’s a quick text or email to let me know how things went or a thorough, sit-down heart-to-heart at their first postpartum visit, I’m always excited to hear that a patient’s birth went much quicker or smoother than the first, that a patient achieved a successful VBAC, or that a baby flipped just in time for a vaginal birth. More often than not, my pregnant patients tend to be second or third time moms looking for a better birth experience than they had before. When they get the birth that they have always wanted, the healing process from previous birth trauma can begin. I am honored to be a part of that journey.

Dr. Meghan Dowling is a fifth generation chiropractor located in San Jose, CA. She has received extensive education, training and experience in the care of pregnant women and newborns. She is well known in the Bay Area birthing community and co-cares with midwives, obstetricians, doulas and other pregnancy professionals. She is certified in the Webster Technique, Spinning Babies Body Balancing and the Body Ready Method. Dr. Dowling has also undergone extensive training in chiropractic pediatrics through the ICPA and various other continuing education resources. She is trained in infant cranial adjusting, as well as lip and tongue tie rehabilitation. In her free time, she can be found mountain biking, camping, shuttling her kids to their sporting events, knitting and spending time with her family at their Santa Cruz mountain home.

To learn more about Dr. Meghan or explore working with her, check out her website:

www.austinfamilychiropractic.com/