Benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy with Dr. Claire

Dr. Claire's Background?

Dr. Claire O’Neill DC, FICPA, FICCT, BCCT, DCTSI, your Woman of Wellness, has been a chiropractor for over 25 years. She has two fellowships: one in Pregnancy and Pediatrics, the other in Clinical Thermography. She lectures for the California State Board of Chiropractic Examiners on Pregnancy, Pediatrics, and Family Care, as well as Clinical Thermography and Women’s Health. Dr. Claire is published in The Journal of Neuromusculoskeletal and is the co-author of World’s Best Kept Health Secret Revealed. Dr. Claire provides 'forensic chiropractic', looking at the whole person from one's birth to present day, all aspects of life, to treat her patients. She is a dedicated wife and mother of two wonderful children and believes in your family’s Health and Wellness.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care during Pregnancy?

While seeing a chiropractor can relieve pain, seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy can have these added benefits:

• Help with nausea
• Reduce time of labor and delivery
• Reduce lower back pain, neck pain, and joint pain
• Help prevent a C-section
• Reduce need for pain medication during delivery and pregnancy
• Faster recovery time

During pregnancy the body goes through an incredible amount of biomechanical & hormonal changes that can alter spinal curvature, balance and gait patterns by affecting key areas of the human body.

Prenatal chiropractic care can help the body adapt to changes and to maintain a healthier pregnancy.

Chiropractic care can help with forward head posture that can lead to neck pain, headaches and tightness. During pregnancy women experience increased stress on their lower back which leads to lower back pain. Prenatal chiropractic care can help relieve lower back pain.

The first thing I do when starting with my pregnant clients is to understand environmental factors like are you smoking or drinking alcohol, how many ultrasounds have you had, etc.

The next thing we do is we look at the pelvis. While a woman’s body is growing during pregnancy the pelvis can get tweaked and misalign which may affect your baby’s development. Sometimes the baby can become breach, or lie transverse before birth, because the baby doesn’t have enough space to turn. That’s why it is so important to be in chiropractic care before prenatally.

Most people do not realize that when it comes to labor, your uterus is actually supposed to push the baby out and you wouldn’t even have to physically push yourself.

Prenatal chiropractic care can also help with other pregnancy symptoms like: heartburn, forward head posture, neck pain, headaches, arm & wrist pain, tingling and numbness.

Chiropractic care should be a part of maintaining wellness, because every time we fall and just “suck it up” – something in our body gets tweaked or misaligns and then it will heal that way. A chiropractor can help bring your whole body back into alignment.

A lot of women do not know that chiropractic care can help relieve morning sickness. Morning sickness is usually due to the gallbladder. The gallbladder is important, especially during pregnancy, as it aids in fat digestion, and we need lots of healthy fats for our hormonal system to work properly. Women undergo severe hormonal changes during pregnancy, so we want to do our best and support the body. It will help decrease the probability of medical intervention during labor greatly.

At what point should a soon to be mother seek chiropractic care?

The sooner the better. Chiropractic care starts before pregnancy, because chiropractic care can even be useful if you have trouble conceiving.

And if you’re worried about labor and your baby’s position before birth, look for chiropractors who also specialize in the Webster technique. The Webster Technique is a method within the field of chiropractic care that can assist in rotating a breech baby.

How can I be adjusted while pregnant? Is it safe?

We have special equipment, and the table raises up to make space for your belly. It does not hurt the mommy or the baby. Chiropractic care is definitely safe during pregnancy and very beneficial. If you’re hesitant, find yourself a chiropractor that specializes in chiropractic care during pregnancy.