Harbor Bay Clinic of Chiropractic, LLC
23620 Three Notch Road
Suite #104
Hollywood, MD 20636
How Does Chiropractic Impact Birthing Time?
Chiropractic care is an important part of birth preparation for many pregnant women. Moms are realizing the benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments as they prepare for a safer, easier birthing time for both themselves and their babies.
Chiropractors have cared for pregnant women for decades. Recently, however, with the increased interest in natural birthing, and in an effort to avoid having a C-section or other unwanted interventions, a growing number of mothers have incorporated chiropractic into their prenatal care routines.
To understand how chiropractic care can contribute to a better birthing time, it is important to understand that a woman's center of gravity and biomechanics are changing constantly throughout pregnancy. Not to mention all the changes the hormone relaxin brings as well.
Obstetric literature recognizes that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affects birth outcomes and decreases the potential for undue stress to the baby's developing spine and nervous system. Obstetric literature has also determined the importance of normal pelvic neuro-biomechanics including uterine function and pelvic alignment for the prevention of dystocia (abnormal, slow, or difficult birth). Chiropractic literature has determined the significance of sacral adjustments in normalizing pelvic neuro-biomechanics therefore positively affecting the developing baby, uterine function, and improving birth outcomes.
A study conducted by Irvin Henderson, MD, a trustee of the American Medical Association, concluded that pregnant women who received chiropractic care during their third trimester were able to carry and deliver with more comfort than mothers who took other comfort measures. Chiropractic researcher Dr. Joan Fallon conducted studies that showed a 24% reduction in average labor time for first-time mothers who received chiropractic care, and 39% reduction for women who were delivering for the second or third time. Other studies conducted by orthopedic researcher Per Freitag, MD showed that analgesics during delivery was reduced by half in pregnant patients under regular chiropractic care.
If you are interested in chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy, you can visit the http //icpa4kids.org/Find-a-Chiropractor/ website to find a Webster certified practitioner that is available in your area.
