Pregnancy can have a profound effect on a woman’s body. The body changes due to the added weight of a child; which can induce back pain, loose ligaments and a poor center of gravity. Chiropractic care and comfortable, supportive footwear can benefit women in all stages of maternity.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, “During pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis…. As the baby grows in size, the woman’s weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well.

During pregnancy, misalignment of the spine and pelvis are common changes that women may experience. This will put stress on the lower back and midsection. Chiropractic manipulation to these areas of the body can help reduce discomfort and prepare women for childbirth. For mothers that are wary about consuming temporary pain-relievers during pregnancy, chiropractic adjustments can provide a solution.

As the baby grows inside the mother’s belly, more weight is added to her body, meaning more pressure on her feet. As a result, the medial longitudinal arches will drop, making the feet look bigger. Dropped or flat arches can be detrimental for other parts of the body. The knees, low back, and spine can become misaligned, inducing stress to these parts of the body.

Aside from receiving routine adjustments, pregnant women with fallen arches can help relieve pain by wearing comfortable and supportive shoes. Tennis shoes with a high medial arch support that can absorb shock help alleviate pain for pregnant women.

High heels are not recommended for pregnant women, as the potential for injury can be heightened when their center of gravity is off balance. According to a BBC News Health article, “High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees. In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain – which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls.”

High heels and ill-fitted shoes add stress to the body and disrupt the normal gait pattern even for women who are not pregnant. These types of shoes should be worn in moderation to avoid injury. Having a pair of comfortable shoes handy to slip into can prevent a night out from ending early.

Ill fitted shoes can have a harmful effect on women’s feet. According to Larry Keller, “Nine times more women develop problems from improperly fitting shoes than men, and nine out of 10 women wear shoes too small for their feet.”  Shoes that are too small can be rough on pressure points in the feet, creating calluses or painful bunions. Tight shoes disturb the gait pattern and can have a formidable effect on joints throughout the body.

Properly fitted shoes should leave space (around ½ inch) for the toes to have wiggle room. Women should shop for shoes during the afternoon, as the feet naturally expand during the day. Above all, shoes should be comfortable and supportive.

A chiropractor’s systematic approach and expertise of spinal manipulations provide an option for pain relief. This is especially beneficial for pregnant women seeking pain relief without risking harm to their baby.

Routinely visiting a chiropractor and making simple lifestyle adjustments can help relive pain from pregnancy. It can also help alleviate stress from everyday life. This could be as simple as opting for more supportive footwear. On your next visit with your chiropractor, ask how you can make changes to start living a more stress-free life!

1 American Chiropractic Association. (2011). Chiropractic Advice for Moms-to-Be. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=85

2 BBC News Health. (2010). Stiletto warning for pregnant women. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10309086

3 Keller, Larry. (2011). How to Stop Tight Shoes From Hurting. http://www.ehow.com/how_7718116_stop-tight-shoes-hurting.html

Chiropractic Care for Children is Safe and Effective

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s (ICPA) ground breaking study, “The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network,” was published in October 2009 in the prestigious, biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

 The results of the study determined that the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care of children was “wellness care.” The most common reasons for parents seeking symptom relief care were muscles conditions, ear, nose, throat, respiratory and digestive disorders. Out of 577 children, doctors reported only 3 adverse events. Out of 239 children, parents reported only two adverse events. These events were minor discomfort after the adjustment and were readily resolved with continued adjustments. All children remained under chiropractic care. Both parents and doctors indicated a high rate of improvement with respect to the children’s presenting complaints. In addition to these improvements, respondents reported better sleeping patterns, improvements in behaviour and improved immune system function while under chiropractic care.

 Dr. Joel Alcantara, ICPA Research Director and presenting author said, “This paper shows the preliminary results of the ICPA’s Children’s PBRN – Phase One. Phase two is well under way and we have initiated similar research pertinent to pregnancy. We are pleased that a major CAM Journal respects the importance of chiropractic care for children and we foresee greater collaboration with the CAM community on the importance of chiropractic care for children.”

Dr. Jeanne Ohm Executive Director of the ICPA says, “I am pleased to be affiliated with an organization dedicated to chiropractic family wellness research. It is wonderful to see research substantiating the safety of chiropractic care for children and the overwhelming satisfaction of parents with children under care.”

The ICPA is the oldest and largest pediatric organization in the chiropractic profession. Their mission is Research, Training and Public Education on behalf of family wellness. To find out more about chiropractic and children or to locate a doctor who cares for children visit www.icpa4kids.org

Reproduced with permission from: http://www.icpa4kids.com/Press_Releases/2009_Sept_Childrens_Phase_1_Press_Release_.html

Copyright © 2009 International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) all rights reserved. All or part of this message may be retransmitted for information purposes, but may not be used for any communal purpose, posted on a website, or used in any non-ICPA publication (other than that of an ICPA affiliate) without the permission of the ICPA.

Interference comes by way of vertebral subluxations.

Sometimes a misalignment can be mistaken for a vertebral subluxation. For a example, sometimes it is thought that a vertebral subluxation can be seen on an x-ray.

That is incorrect. Only a misalignment can be seen on x-ray, whereas a vertebral subluxation has a far-reaching effect greater than that of a simple bone out of place.

B.J. Palmer cleared up this confusion in the early 1930s when he found that vertebral subluxations have five components to them. They are:

1.) Malposition – This simply means misalignment of a vertebra
2.) Occlusion – This refers to the closing off of an opening that a nerve passes through. In our case, we are referring to the neural canal where the spinal cord travels down.
3.) Pressure – When C1 is misaligned, this can occlude the neural canal near the brain stem. This can cause pressure or tension on the cord at this level.
4.) Interference to flow of nervous system transmission – With a misalignment, an occlusion, and pressure, there is zero chance for the nervous system to properly communicate to the rest of the body.
5.) Three-directional torqued vertebra – To achieve these four components of vertebral subluxation, the C1 vertebrae has to shift up or down, left or right, and rotated front or back.

What causes a vertebral subluxation?

Stress. Pure and simple. Various forms of stress bombard our bodies on a daily basis. If not dealt with properly, they can and will manifest themselves in the form of a vertebral subluxation. For intensive purposes, I will discuss three forms of stress: physical, emotional, and chemical.

Birth Trauma

Many times during a hospital birth, a doctor or nurse-midwife will grab the baby’s head and tug and twist until that baby is yanked free. And we haven’t even mentioned forceps, vacuum extraction, or c-section yet.

The C1 vertebrae is the most unstable vertebrae in our spine, connected only by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. With any kind of extreme twisting, turning, or yanking, that vertebrae WILL misalign in three directions, which will result in occlusion, pressure, and interference.

Doctor spanking baby

Beyond birth, once the baby begins crawling, standing, walking, running, and climbing, he/she will fall literally thousands of times by the age of four. My eight month old falls every few minutes. I know because of her lovely shrieking each time it happens.

As we get older, and get into sports, or exercising, or just plain old every day life, injuries occur. For example, getting tackled in football, smacking into the fence while trying to catch a pop fly, slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk, getting T-boned by a semi in a busy intersection, etc. Even natural everyday motion such as walking can have a negative long term effect. Years and years of gravity pulling down on your body will take its toll.

The point is, we can’t afford to go through life without at least getting checked for interference to our nervous system. We haven’t even addressed emotional or chemical stress yet, but physical stress beginning at birth and continuing on into adulthood can and will have long-term devastating effects on your overall well-being.

[Article By:  Dr. Brandon Harshe on March 9, 2010 http://theatlasoflife.com/2010/03/09/trauma-thoughts-and-toxins-vertebral-subluxations-part-1-physical-stress/]

 Recent research reported in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in helping pregnant women with breech presentations deliver normally in such situations.

 The research is the first to report on the use of a hand held instrument to administer a specialized chiropractic technique developed for “In Utero Constraint”, a leading cause of breech presentations.

 ”Every day more clinical research is showing that chiropractic care can play a crucial role during pregnancy, labour and delivery” stated Dr. Drew Rubin, the author of the study. “Research showing that the Webster Technique can affect a breech presentation so that more aggressive interventions such as C-sections can be potentially avoided is growing. This study is the first to use a hand held adjusting instrument to perform Webster’s Technique” added Dr. Rubin.

 Despite widespread education and efforts to curb birthing interventions such as caesarean sections, their use remains high and concern amongst health care advocates is growing. The concern centers around the use of high risk interventions for “convenience” of the doctor or mother without taking into consideration the long term effects of a traumatic birth on the child.

 ”Some expectant mothers are hesitant to undergo chiropractic care for fear it might harm the baby” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy a researcher, public health expert and editor of the journal that published the study. “But the data shows this is simply not the case and chiropractic has been shown to be safe and effective during pregnancy. The findings from Dr. Rubin’s study add further options for the way pregnant women are adjusted” added McCoy.

 As pointed out in the paper, a hand held adjusting instrument was used to perform one part of the adjustment known as Webster’s Technique. The instrument produces a very light impulse that helps “reset” the spinal or pelvic joints. According to chiropractic specialists, distortions of the spine and pelvis either cause or add to the problem of “In Utero Constraint”, possibly causing breech pregnancies. Spinal and pelvic distortions, termed subluxations by chiropractors, result in structural and neurological interference to the spine and nerve system. It is this interference that may affect the birth process and chiropractors correct or reduce this interference, correct the imbalance and allow the fetus to turn in preparation for the birth process.

 ”The goal is for the mother to be checked prior to the time of delivery so that these problems can be corrected beforehand and a difficult labor avoided” remarked Dr. Rubin adding “While these are only three cases, coupled with numerous other case studies and some larger clinical studies, our hope is that is shows health care providers that chiropractors can play a very beneficial role in the management of pregnant patients.”

 All three mothers in this study were managed utilizing the Webster Technique and after 2-4 Webster Technique adjustments, the babies turned from a frank breech position to a vertex, head-down position.

 Dr. Rubin calls for more research on the role of chiropractic care in pregnancy and delivery.

 For more information on Webster technique and chiropractic care in pregnancy, contact Dr. Stacey Rosenberg at Gibsons Chiropractic (604) 886-7080 or your local family chiropractor. To find a listing of Webster Technique certified practitioners in your area, visit www.icpa4kids.com.

Chiropractic Table Modification for Pregnancy

Short answer – yes! Chiropractic techniques need to be modified for comfort and to accommodate the growing belly. Additionally, certain techniques should be avoided so you should see a chiropractor trained in the techniques that address in utero constraint or mal-presentations, who will check for misalignment of the pelvic bones, pubic bones, misalignment of the sacrum and vertebrae, and spasm of the ligaments that support the uterus and help hold the pelvis together (such as Webster Technique or Bagnell Pregnancy Technique).*

How can visiting a Chiropractor be beneficial to a pregnant woman?

Labour Helper Technique

Chiropractic care during pregnancy helps with the typical pregnancy backache, it ensures the pelvis is working and moving properly prior to and during labour. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the common discomforts experienced in pregnancy. Specific adjustments eliminate these stresses in your spine, restore balance to your pelvis and result in greater comfort and lifestyle improvements. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy restores balance to your pelvic muscles and ligaments and therefore leads to safer and easier deliveries for you and your baby. Additionally, the chiropractic adjustment removes interference to the nervous system allowing your uterus to function at its maximum potential. Published studies have indicated that chiropractic care does in fact reduce labour time. According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery, and reduced need for analgesics (pain medication). In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had twenty-four per cent shorter labour times [than average] and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported thirty-nine per cent shorter labour times. In another study, the need for analgesics was reduced by fifty per cent in the patients who received adjustments. In addition, eighty-four per cent of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care! And because the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis function better, there is significantly less likelihood of back labour (contractions and sharp pain felt in the lower back during labour) and dystocia when receiving chiropractic care through pregnancy. Chiropractic care has also been shown to increase breast milk production and breastfeeding comfort.

What common aliments do you see most when working with pregnant women?

The preventative check-ups, typical pregnancy backache, lower ribcage discomfort, pubic bone discomfort, upper back ache from increased breast size, breech presentation, in utero constraint, and delayed maturity (past due date).

At what age can children start seeing a Chiropractor?

My children were both checked within one hour of delivery. And even with their natural, non-invasive, midwife-delivered births, both had small misalignments in the upper neck area. Studies show that infants showed signs of nervous system injury and birth trauma in up to 40% of natural, non-traumatic births. A German physician (M.D.) found upper cervical (neck) misalignments and dysfunction in over 90% of neonates (newborns).

“The birth process and eager hands pulling and twisting can put a great deal of pressure on the spinal nerves and muscles of the infant’s neck (up to eighty pounds in some studies). In a difficult delivery, damage to the delicate tissues of the spine may occur, especially when vacuum extraction or forceps are used. While forceps injuries may be less common today, vacuum extraction can do just as much damage—up to 120 pounds of pressure goes through the baby’s head and neck to literally suck the baby out of the mother (decapitation can occur at 140 pounds of pressure, to give you an idea of the high forces involved).

Changing diapers may also place undue stress on the baby’s mid-back (thoracic spine). Raising the infant’s legs with one hand to place the diaper underneath can cause repetitive stress to these spinal joints. Spinal problems can also occur as a result of the frequent falls suffered by young infants in the first months of life. A fall from a bed, a sudden stop in an automobile, or any significant unsupported movement of the head and neck in an infant can induce excessive movement in the spine causing subluxations. At the other end of the spine, the act of learning to walk, and the number of simple falls encountered in this way, can induce trauma to the lower spinal segments and to the large sacroiliac joints of the pelvis.”*

NB: Adjustments for children and babies are safe and take into account the delicate nature of the pediatric spine. The amount of pressure used to check and adjust a child’s spine is very small, approximately the same as you would use to check a tomato for ripeness.

How could seeing a Chiropractor be beneficial to a child?

Unless a child has an obvious problem, it can be difficult for parents to recognize when a child has spinal subluxations (misalignments causing nerve interference). There are some signs, however, which parents may look for which can be an indicator of an infant with a spinal problem including: the child’s head consistently being tilted to one side; restricted head or neck motion to one side; disturbed sleeping patterns where the child sleeps for only an hour or two at a time; feeding difficulties in the young infant, for example, the infant may have difficulty nursing at the breast on one particular side; and the presence of any of the symptoms of ill-health mentioned previously. Nerve interference from subluxations is implicated in many common childhood health problems such as: sucking dysfunction, colic, irritability, reflux, unexplained crying, recurrent ear infections, frequent colds, headaches, asthma, lack of appetite, poor digestion, constipation , stomach aches, so called ‘growing pains ‘, back aches, bed-wetting , poor general health, and fatigue.*

*(From Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts)

[This article was originally posted in the October-November 2008 edition of Coastparents.ca Online Newsletter Parent Profile of Dr. Rosenberg]

According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, many people sleep badly and suffer preventable spinal pain due to their beds being too hard or too soft for their body type. The caution for this Valentine’s Day is to pay attention to sleeping posture and ensure you have a suitable mattress and pillows to guarantee a night of uninterrupted bliss.

Sleeping on your back puts 55 lbs. of pressure on your spine. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees reduces the disc pressure to 40 lbs. Putting a couple of pillows under your knees while lying on your back will take most of the pressure off your spine (only 25 lbs. of pressure). 

If a mattress is too hard it causes pressure points and reduced circulation, requiring the muscles to work harder to keep the spine straight. However, if a mattress is too soft, then the spine may sag out of alignment and again create tension leading to dysfunction and pain.

Ideally, a mattress should be firm, comfortable and supportive, but not too hard as has been recommended by some specialists in the past. The line of your spine should be straight when lying on your side, and a natural curve maintained when sleeping on your back.

Chiropractors frequently notice that a variety of spine-related disorders become recurrent and chronic due to adverse stress from a bad bed. When you spend one-third your life in bed, it is important to choose the best possible mattress we can afford and look after it well!

One of the main reasons mattresses cause back trouble is that they are not replaced regularly enough. Manufacturers and chiropractors recommend changing a mattress approximately every 10 to 13 years, depending on how it is cared for. The following tips are recommended for maintaining the life of a mattress:

• Never fold or bend the mattress
• Rotate the mattress by turning it end to end every three months
• When cleaning use a vacuum cleaner, and do not wet the mattress
• When choosing a new mattress, lie on it as many different ways as possible in the store.

Some signs that the mattress may need replacing include annoying peaks, dips or lumps or waking up stiff and sore after sleeping on the mattress.

It is recorded that 80% of people suffer back pain at some stage of their lives, and because every body is different, it is important to choose a bed with the right support and comfort for the individual.

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be a pain in the back!

Benefits

You don’t need to become a member of an expensive gym to go walking. And except for a good pair of walking shoes, it requires virtually no equipment.

A sedentary lifestyle has debilitating influence on people’s health as they age. Exercise is imperative or as the old saying goes: “if you don’t use it, you lose it!” Walking accomplishes all of the following and more:

• Improves cardiovascular endurance
• Tones muscles of the lower body
• Burns calories:  about 80 if walking 2 miles per hour, and about 107 if walking 4 1/2 miles per hour
• Reduces risk of heart disease

Shoes

The first item of business when beginning your walking program is to select the right pair of shoes. I recommend the following tips: Make sure the shoes you purchase fit properly. The balls of your feet should rest exactly at the point where the toe end of the shoe bends during walking. Avoid high-top shoes that often cover the entire ankle, limiting your foot’s ability to move freely and naturally. Opt instead for shoes that offer your ankle a fuller range of motion. Select shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of your walking. If you suffer from excessive pronation, fallen arches or other biomechanical problems with your feet, consider getting custom-made orthotic supports. Pregnancy can make the arches stretch and drop more from the effects of the hormone Relaxin, as well as from the weight gain and altered biomechanics (the classic ‘pregnancy waddle’) so it is extra important to ensure you are wearing proper, supportive footware when you are exercising while pregnant.

Getting Started

Walking just 12 minutes every other day can offer important health benefits. Walking 20 minutes every other day is even better. In order to increase your longevity, try to eventually work up to 30 minutes, five days per week. The following tips should help you get started safely and smoothly:

• Move your arms freely, in coordination with the opposite leg.
• Don’t stoop your head or look down as you walk. This will challenge the normal forward curve of your neck, which, in turn, will cause you to carry your weight improperly.
• Don’t carry weights or dumbbells while walking. They’re better used as a separate part of your exercise regimen. If you do carry weights while walking, be sure that they are light enough that they do not interfere with the “rhythm” of your arms and legs; in order to counterbalance the body, when your right arm moves forward, the left leg should be moving forward, etc.
• Expect a little soreness in the thighs and calves for the first week or two. If you experience more than minor soreness, check with your Doctor of Chiropractic.
• Walk briskly, with “purpose.” Simply “sauntering,” while relaxing and enjoyable, is not an effective form of cardiovascular exercise.

Keep in mind that, if you have not previously been physically active, you should consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program. Begin slowly with a walk of perhaps half of a mile at a pace that does not cause discomfort. Continue this for about two weeks, then start to increase the pace and length of time walking. Eventually – depending on your age – you can build your “target” heart rate/pulse to either 120 beats per minute or, if younger, as many as 140 beats per minute. For the average adult, a heart rate of 120 beats per minute would require walking at about 2 miles per hour, while a heart rate of 140 beats per minute would require a pace of 4 ½ miles per hour. Click here for more pregnancy exercise tips.

Surfaces

Some walking surfaces are better than others on your musculoskeletal system. Walking on a cushioned or rubberized track is ideal, because the cushioning of this type of track absorbs most of the impact of your walking. Many recreation centers offer this type of track free of charge.

Grass is another good surface, but watch out for hidden dips or holes in the ground. Walking on a surface with no give, such as concrete or a mall floor, is not your best choice, because this type of surface will not absorb much of the impact your body will experience. If you do choose to walk on such a surface, be extra careful to select highly cushioned shoes.

Strollers

Strollers are great for giving your back a break from carrying your little one – when you use them properly. As you walk behind the stroller, your elbows should be slightly bent, back straight. Imagine a fishing line pulling you up from your sternal notch (the bump on the upper part of your breastbone). This will make your chest come up and your shoulders come down with your chin tucked in. Ideally, your stroller should have adjustable handles so that you, your spouse and other caregivers can easily raise or lower the handles to waist level – the optimal position for ergonomic ease. In case you’ve inherited a stroller with fixed handles that are too low for your comfort, check your favourite baby supply store for handle extenders.

Now that you’ve nailed the stroller walk, don’t blow it by bending over to transfer baby in and out. Instead of hunching your back, kneel on one knee to get down to baby’s level, and then straighten your legs to stand up. When you need to free up your arms, front carriers or slings come in handy. As with everything else, just be sure not to overdo as this can cause neck and shoulder strain.

Hydration

Drink 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day to help keep the kidneys active, dilute and remove toxins from the body, and replace lost fluids. (Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are diuretics (dehydrators) – don’t substitute them for water,  especially when you are pregnant). If you perspire during walking, you may need to drink even more.

Pain and Injury

While you may experience pain or injury in a particular area, such as a knee or a hip, the root of the problem may lie somewhere else. Injuries of this nature are not regional, or isolated, but often systemic. A problem in the foot or ankle can create an imbalance in every step, leading to discomfort or injury that moves to the knees, hips, low back, or elsewhere. If you suffer from pain beyond typical muscle soreness, your Doctor of Chiropractic can diagnose and treat your pain or injury and get you back into the swing of your walking routine.

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can also help customize a wellness program that is right for you and has the expertise to help keep you in the mainstream of life.

Your Nervous System

A person’s spine is made of twenty-four moveable bones called vertebrae, plus the sacrum (tailbone), pelvis, and skull. From the brain, nerve impulses travel down the spinal cord, branch out into nerves, and exit between the vertebrae. When the vertebrae become misaligned or unable to move properly – a condition called vertebral subluxation – it irritates and interferes with the nerves. The message from the brain is slowed down and the life-energy carried by the nerve is unable to reach the organs and tissues at one hundred percent of its potential. A Doctor of Chiropractic aligns the vertebrae and pelvis through gentle adjustments to the spine, thereby relieving the pressure on the nerves and allowing one hundred percent of the nerve energy to reach the tissues it serves.

Chiropractic is a medical system based on the premise that disease and disorders are caused by nerve interference which is caused by a misalignment of the bones, especially in the spine. Specific chiropractic care throughout pregnancy works to enhance nervous system function providing greater health potential for both the mother and baby. It also removes interference to your nervous system allowing your uterus to work at its maximum potential. Chiropractors offer a conservative approach to treatment of pregnant women, without the use of any drug interventions. The aim is to alleviate the stresses and strains of pregnancy and to improve comfort for both mother and baby. [3, 4, 6]

Chiropractic care prior to conception promotes a more regular menstrual cycle and optimum uterine function. It prepares the body to be strong, flexible and as balanced as possible to carry the pregnancy. As your baby grows, your musculoskeletal system must also adjust accordingly to accommodate the growing uterus and prepare for delivery. [5] And adjusting women through pregnancy and labour is one of the most rewarding parts of our jobs as chiropractors, because a healthier pregnancy means an easier labour and delivery – a much better transition for the next generation into this world! [2]

Dr. Stacey and Udo Rosenberg Pregnancy Photo

As you gain weight, especially in the abdomen, this exerts a downward, forward pull on the lower spine. This extra weight combined with changes in your gait and centre of gravity can set the stage for backache and neck pain. Additionally, as labour approaches, your body secretes a hormone called Relaxin, which loosens ligaments. This may exaggerate the effects of an existing spinal or pelvis problem. [3, 11] The positioning of the baby and its movement as well as expansion of the lower part of the ribcage to accommodate your growing baby can also cause discomfort in the ribs and upper portion of the lower back. Additionally, your increasing breast size in preparation for lactation can create upper back subluxations. [3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24]

An imbalance in the spine and pelvis is likely to cause an imbalance in the pelvic muscles and ligaments which support the uterus. The uterus is suspended by eight ligaments and a node caused the perineal body. The uterus is connected to the pelvis by ligaments: the broad ligament, the uterosacral ligaments, and the round ligaments. Like a hot air balloon tethered to the ground, these ligaments work to keep the uterus in the proper place in the pelvis and allow support as the uterus grows to accommodate the growing baby. [12] Some of these ligaments attach directly to the pelvis and sacrum, some attach to the labia and are affected by the alignment of the pubic bones. [10, 11, 12, 13]

These suspensory ligaments must all function properly without tension or spasm for the uterus to be suspended properly and itself be without spasm. If the bones of the pelvis are out of alignment or subluxated, this will directly affect the way the uterus will be supported. Unequal ligament support will torque the uterus reducing the amount of room for the developing baby. When the ligaments are affected, they directly affect the position of the uterus which can result in the baby not being in an optimal position. This type of situation may result in a breech baby or a transverse (sideways) baby. This is called intrauterine constraint. This constraint restricts the baby’s positioning during pregnancy adversely affecting his/her developing spine and cranium. Additionally, these limitations on baby’s movement during pregnancy may prevent him/her from getting into the best possible position for the birth (ideal is vertex, occiput anterior). [3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13]

Any position other than the ideal, including occiput posterior, breech, transverse, oblique or “sunny side up” (face up) lies, lead to longer, more painful labours with increased medical interventions. Any baby position even slightly off during birth will slow down labour, and add pain to both mother and baby. Many women have been told that their baby’s were too big of labour just slowed down when it was really the baby’s presentation interfering with the normal process and progression. Often interventions and c-sections are resorted to and both mother and baby miss the many benefits of a natural, vaginal birth. And because they are so common, many people forget that a c-section is major abdominal surgery and has risks to the mother and baby. [3, 14, 16, 17]

Specific gentle, chiropractic techniques address intrauterine constraint, with the greatest success rates at turning breech (or other less than optimum lies) babies being had if begun at 30 weeks gestation. After 35 weeks, it becomes more difficult to turn the baby due to a lack of room for the baby to make the move. The two most common techniques that address intrauterine constraint are Webster or Bagnell Chiropractic Techniques. [11, 17, 18]

Chiropractic Hip Capsule/Glut Muscle Release Technique - Elbow contact

According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy, including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery and reduced need for analgesics. In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had twenty-four per cent shorter labour times and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported thirty-nine per cent shorter labour times. In another study, the need for analgesics was reduced by fifty per cent in the patients who had received adjustments. In addition, eighty-four per cent of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care! And because the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis function better, there is significantly less likelihood of back labour (contractions and sharp pain felt in the lower back/sacral area during labour) when receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy. Chiropractic care has helped new mothers become more comfortable breastfeeding (posture-wise) as well as to produce more milk. [8, 10, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]

Doctors of chiropractic specifically work with your pelvis, including the muscles and ligaments, throughout pregnancy restoring a state balance and thereby creating an environment for an easier safer birth. Gentle chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can help relieve many of the physical discomforts caused by the shift in gravity and softening of the ligaments to accommodate your growing belly and in preparation for childbirth. Simply put, chiropractic care may keep your pelvis, spine and supporting muscles more flexible, resulting in an easier pregnancy and thereby alleviating the resulting aches and pains in the lower back, hips, sacroiliac joints, and lower ribs. As discomforts shift to the mid-back and neck during the post-partum period from breastfeeding and carrying a newborn, chiropractic care can also help keep you moving and improve your posture as the ligaments slowly tighten back into place. [3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]

Pregnancy chiropractic table modification

Choose a doctor of chiropractic who is experienced in treating pregnant women (you may need to call a few offices in your area to determine this if your primary care giver is unsure). Your chiropractor should be trained in gentle, pregnancy-specific, short-lever, minimal rotation techniques that address intrauterine constraint or foetal mal-positions (e.g. they should be Webster or Bagnell Technique certified) and be able to modify their technique for your comfort (e.g. a table with a drop-away thoraco-lumbar piece, a tilt-up pelvis piece or special pregnancy pillows to accommodate your growing belly). [11, 17, 23, 24]

As your pregnancy advances, some chiropractic techniques will need to be modified for your comfort. Your Chiropractor is aware of this and will make the necessary changes. In particular, special pregnancy pillows and/or tables with drop-away or tilt–up pelvic pieces are used to accommodate your growing belly and breasts. As little force as possible should be used to adjust a pregnant woman due to the Relaxin loosening all the ligaments in the body. In fact, very little force is necessary to accomplish the adjustment for the very same reason! In my opinion, side-lying twisting-type of manual adjustments and long lever lumbar or pelvic manipulation techniques should be avoided in the second and third trimester. Your chiropractor will check for misalignment of the pelvic bones (including the pubis), misalignment of the sacrum and vertebrae, and spasm of the ligaments that support the uterus and help hold the pelvis together. [11, 17, 23, 24]

[1] Foti T, Davids J et al. “A Biomechanical Analysis of Gait During Pregnancy.” The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. (2000) Vol 82: 625-632

[2] Collins M. “Pregnancy and Chiropractic.” www.planetchiropractic.com.

[3] Ohm J. “Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy for Safer, Easier Births.” ICPA Newsletter. May/June 2001.

[4] Bagnell KG. “How To Explain Chiropractic Care to the Mother-to-be.” Handout. www.pregnancychiropractic.com

[5] Beingessner M. (2008) Getting Ready for Baby: A Practical Five-Step Guide to Help You Prepare for Labour, Birth and For Life as a Family. Heartlights Publishing: Calgary AB.

[6] www.isischiropractic.co.uk/chiropractic_pregnancy.html

[7] Cunningham FG et al. (1989) ”Dystocia Due to Pelvic Contraction.” Williams Obstetrics, 19th edition.

[8] Alcantara J, Ohm J, Ohm J. “Chiropractic Care of a Patient with Dystocia and Pelvic Subluxation.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health. 2009: (Winter, Issue 1), p1-5.

[9] Towbin A. “Dystocia.” Brain Damage in the Newborn and its Neurologic Sequelle. 1998.

[10] Daly JM, Frame PS, Rapoza PA. “Sacroiliac Subluxation: A Common Treatable Cause of Low Back Pain in Pregnancy.” Fam Prac Res Journal. (1991) 11(2): 149-159.

[11] Bagnell K. (2005). Pre-Natal Chiropractic Care. Instantpublisher.com.

[12] Walters S. “Chiropractic Brings Better Birth Outcomes.” http://www.naturalnews.com/025669.html.

[13] Netter F. (1994) “Pelvic Viscera and Perineum.” Atlas of Human Anatomy.

[14] Gaskin IM. (2003). Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Bantam Books: USA.

[15] Hikel K. “The Real Risks for Caesareans: An Expert Interview With Pamela K. Spry, BSN, MS, PhD” www.medscape.com.

[16] Almeida ECS, Nogueira AA et al. “Caesarean Section as a Cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain.” International Journal of Gynaecology. (2002) Vol 79: 101-104.

[17] Ohm, J. “Webster Technique Defined.” ICPA Newsletter.

[18] www.cmaj.ca/content/full/176/4/455; www.icpa4kids.org; www.isischiropractic.co.uk/chiropractic_pregnancy.html.

[19] Berg G, Hammer M et al. “Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy and Labour.” Obstetrics and Gynaecology. (1988) 71: 701-775.

[20] Diakow P, Gladsby T et al. “Back Pain During Pregnancy and Labour.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. (1991) 14: 116-118.

[21] Fallon J. “The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and Labour: A Comprehensive Study.” Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic. (1991) 24-31.

[22] Wang SM, Dezinno P et al. “Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes.” Obstet Gynecol July 2004;104(1):65-70. Source: www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=573

[23] You can find a list of Webster certified practitioners on www.icpa4kids.org.

[24] Rosenberg S. (2008) Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts. USA: Xlibris Corp.

[Versions of this article were printed in the Winter 2008 ICPA Pathways Magazine; and January and March 2009 Canadian Chiropractor Magazines]

Dr Rosenberg Pregnancy Side Profile

1. Eat Well! Strive to take in approximately 200 extra calories per day, mainly from high-quality sources of protein – eat 3-to-4 servings of meat and protein alternatives every day. [1] Consume 3-to-4 calcium-rich foods (from dairy and/or non-dairy sources) daily. Get in at least five (5-to-10 is preferable) servings of fruits and vegetables each day, including two servings of fresh, green veggies, two servings of fruits or vegetables containing vitamin C (to promote iron absorption, boost immune function, improve protein synthesis, and decrease your risk of pre-eclampsia[2]), and at least one red, orange or yellow fruit or vegetable per day. Drink 6-to-8 glasses of pure water daily, and avoid pop/soda/soft drinks and juice as they can lead to excessive weight gain and may have harmful effects on the foetus. [2] Salt your food to taste. Use mainly olive oil for cooking and in your salads and avoid consuming products containing harmful hydrogenated oils and trans-fats. Supplement your diet by taking a pre-natal vitamin containing at least 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid and 20-to-60 mg of iron. Also consider taking fish oil to increase your consumption of Omega-3 essential fatty acids or incorporating at least 5 ounces of cooked fish per week. [3]

2. Exercise! Get regular, moderate, low-impact exercise. Research shows that regular exercise improves mood, enhances well-being, reduces stress, and contributes to a heavier, healthier baby and on-time delivery. Regular exercise prevents excessive weight-gain, can help prevent gestational diabetes and helps build the stamina needed for labour and delivery. [2] And do specific Kegel exercises to prepare and tone the pelvic floor muscles for delivery. (To do Kegels, contract the muscles around your urethra, vagina, and rectum (imagine you’re trying to prevent yourself from urinating). Hold for several seconds, then release. Repeat in sets of 10, several times each day).

Some pregnancy exercise tips:

• Don’t exercise for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
• Always include a warm-up and a cool-down period (in addition to the 30 minutes of exercise).
• Avoid forced, passive stretches, such as reaching for your toes or doing hamstring stretches. Pregnancy hormones make your joints looser, so overstretching – which can cause a muscle injury – is a greater risk during pregnancy. Also, avoid sudden jerking or bouncing movements or quick changes in position.
• Limit aerobic activity to the low-impact variety, especially if you weren’t exercising regularly before getting pregnant. Brisk walking, swimming, and riding a stationary bicycle are good choices.
• Measure your heart rate at peak activity to be sure you are not exceeding 140 beats per minute.
• Avoid overheating: Drink plenty of water, and don’t exercise in hot, humid conditions.
• Avoid activities that put you at high risk for injury, such as horseback riding or downhill skiing.
• Avoid sports in which you could get hit in the abdomen.
• Especially after the third month, avoid exercises that require you to lie flat on your back.
• Never scuba dive because it can cause dangerous gas bubbles in the baby’s circulatory system.
• And remember; always check with your health care provider before starting any new exercise routine during pregnancy.

3. Reduce Stress! Pregnancy can be a time of great anticipation and heightened emotions. Take regular deep breaths, take a prenatal yoga class, practice meditation, practice pre-natal bonding and visualisation, say daily affirmations (including birth affirmations), remember to take special time just for yourself to reflect on your pregnancy experience and consider keeping a journal of your thoughts during this exciting time. Get a relaxing pregnancy massage, chiropractic adjustments and regular exercise. Talk to a trusted friend or family member, and make sure you have a support system in place for after the baby is born. And remember to have (or find!) a sense of humour about all the changes taking place physically, mentally and emotionally as you prepare to welcome this new life into your family!

4. Educate yourself! Prepare for your baby’s birth and delivery. Think about the type of birth you would like to have, find out about all the different options and then put it into a birth plan. [4] Interview your prospective pregnancy health care provider with your birth plan in mind and choose the one you feel the most comfortable with – who will honour and support your choices and preferences – do not just settle for who is available! Read lots of books, take Lamaze, Bradley Birth, Spirit of Childbirth, or Hypnobirthing® classes to get better informed. Practice your Kegels, perineal massage (in the last trimester), relaxation and birth breathing, and birth visualisation and relaxation exercises. Knowledge is power!

5. Get adjusted! Regular chiropractic care by an experienced prenatal chiropractor has been shown to prevent and treat pregnancy back pain, sciatica and in-utero constraint by ensuring that your pelvis can open easily during labour and that your pelvic bones, muscles ligaments and nerves are in a balanced state. Chiropractic care has been shown to shorten labour times (24% in first time pregnancies, 39% in second or third pregnancies); reduce the need for analgesics (pain medication) by 50% in labour; and furthermore, 84% of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy. Chiropractic care has also been shown to increase breast milk production and breastfeeding comfort. [2]

[2] All references available in Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts by Dr. Stacey Rosenberg (© 2008, Xlibris Corporation, USA).

[3] Increased fish consumption is linked to increased foetal intelligence and birth length as well as decreased risk of maternal depression. See www.mercola.com and http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/nutrition/omega3-eng.php for references as well as a list of the fish containing less environmental toxins such as methyl mercury that are considered safe for consumption during pregnancy.

[4] www.birthplan.com is a great resource to get you started.

Dr. Stacey Rosenberg

Meet Dr. Stacey Rosenberg. Chiropractor, wife and mother of 2 busy children. Dr. Stacey can now add author to her many accomplishments as she published her first book entitled, Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts.

“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby” is 150+ pages of prevention, tips, techniques, remedies, and resources to help ease the common complaints of pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period. It includes nutrition, pre-natal bonding, comfort measures, herbs, homeopathy, ergonomics, chiropractic, acupressure, yoga, breast-feeding advice, Hypnobirthing® and much more!

Dr. Stacey and her staff have been providing chiropractic care in Gibsons, BC since March 2001. While pregnant with her second child in 2006, she also expanded her practice into an integrated health clinic called the Gibsons Health and Wellness Centre®. But balancing a busy life in itself is a full time job. Dr. Rosenberg has some simple strategies for keeping ‘all the balls in the air at once.’ “I try to make sure that work stays at work and I am present at home when I am home. I have a wonderful husband who takes care of the children while I am at work; also, I use a coach to help with time management, business planning, reminding me to exercise, relax/meditate and breathe, eat well and take care of myself and my family. Whew!”

You may be wondering where a busy Mom with a thriving Chiropractic practice finds time to write a book… Dr. Stacey credits her “work-a-holic, stick-it-out-until-you-finish personality and third trimester nesting instinct! (And a great family and support network!)” Dr. Stacey was pregnant with her second child, and feeling the third trimester “nesting urge.” This being her second child, she didn’t need to shop for baby essentials so she decided to channel the energy into re-organising and re-vamping a few handouts on herbs and homeopathy used in pregnancy and labour that she had received from Bellies and Babies Group and her midwives. “I had a file folder about 3 inches thick full of photocopied sections from pregnancy books and herb books, chiropractic technique and obstetrics textbooks as well as the Hypnobirthing® course notes but a lot of it was bits and pieces from here and there and no one source had all the information that I found personally helpful all together in one place,” explains Dr. Stacey. “So as I finished the re-doing the herbs handout, I decided that it looked more like a chapter than a brochure so I added the homeopathy and chiropractic and from there it just grew and grew…”

Click here to read an exerpt from Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts. 

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions contained in this book have been compiled by many hours of research and years of hands-on experience. This information is believed to be accurate using the best research and clinical experience available. This information is not meant to diagnose or treat and should be considered for educational purposes only. Anyone who utilizes the information and opinions contained herein agrees and understands that they are assuming all responsibility and risk for doing so.

Reviews:

“Dr Stacey has compiled essential information for a woman´s safe and effective health needs throughout pregnancy. It is an ideal resource for both practitioners and parents. I love it!” - Jeanne Ohm, DC ICPA Executive Coordinator and family wellness practitioner

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“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby” is a well thought out compendium for the expectant mother, put together by an author who has first hand knowledge of the process and can back it up with the right dose of research and scientific background thus allowing the reader to critically sort through the advice and opinions available whether or not they choose a natural pregnancy.

One can read the book from front to cover or simply pluck out the passages or chapters most relevant to ones situation. From getting a recipe using herbs to counter iron deficiency or clarifying the nutritional supplementation guidelines, to describing & illustrating exercises to facilitate the birth process, Dr Rosenberg’s book shines a light on the myriad of alternatives and empowers the reader to not only enjoy the fruits of ones ‘labour’ but to savor the ride as well.

The pleasant bonus of this book is that its audience, in addition to those involved in welcoming a baby and their caretakers, expands to all individuals who have an interest in preventative and natural care or merely wish to use complementary methods to enhance their own health and wellbeing. - Ingrid Ferrer, BSc., BSc.(clinical), DC.

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Thank you so much for your book. It really puts a lot of amazing tips and relevant information at one’s fingers. I read it in a night — easy, accessible, understandable — what health should be! - Keira Collins, BSc., BAppSci.(Clinical) /BChiroSci., DC

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“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby’ is an excellent reference book that enriches the positive experience of natural pregnancy and childbirth.  This is an engaging read with valuable and practical information.  I highly recommend this book.”  -Dr. Penelope Seuren. Chiropractor.  B.App.Sc (H Biol); B.App.Sc (Clinical)/B.Chiro Sc., Mother of 1, soon to be 2

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Click here to purchase Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts.

Natural Pregnancy Natural Baby Book Cover