Chiropractic Care
for Kids and During Pregnancy
According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), chiropractic care for children offers families a solid foundation for wellness. Throughout pregnancy, birth, and childhood, the chiropractic lifestyle offers choices and benefits for the greater health and well being of each family.
Babies and children grow quickly, and their muscles, ligaments, and bones develop rapidly. A jump, tumble, or fall can jar the body, affect the spine (and possibly the nervous system), and then go undetected for years. Even simple factors, such as a heavy backpack or an ill-fitting car seat, can have negative effects on a child's health.With these things in mind, it's evident that babies and children have much to gain from chiropractic care. Regular spinal exams can provide corrective and preventive care for little ones as well as peace of mind for the parent.
According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery and reduced need for pain medication. In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24 percent reduction in labor times and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported 39 percent reduction in labor times. In another study, the need for analgesics was reduced by 50% in the patients who received chiropractic adjustments. In addition, 84 percent of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care (www.icpa4kids.org).
Babies and children grow quickly, and their muscles, ligaments, and bones develop rapidly. A jump, tumble, or fall can jar the body, affect the spine (and possibly the nervous system), and then go undetected for years. Even simple factors, such as a heavy backpack or an ill-fitting car seat, can have negative effects on a child's health.With these things in mind, it's evident that babies and children have much to gain from chiropractic care. Regular spinal exams can provide corrective and preventive care for little ones as well as peace of mind for the parent.
According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery and reduced need for pain medication. In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24 percent reduction in labor times and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported 39 percent reduction in labor times. In another study, the need for analgesics was reduced by 50% in the patients who received chiropractic adjustments. In addition, 84 percent of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care (www.icpa4kids.org).
Why Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, there are several physiological and endocrinological changes that occur in preparation for creating the environment for the developing baby. The following changes could result in a misaligned spine or joints:
The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively.
(www.americanpregnancy.org)
- Protruding abdomen and increased back curve
- Pelvic changes
- Postural adaptations
The nervous system is the master communication system to all the body systems including the reproductive system. Keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively.
(www.americanpregnancy.org)
Webster Technique
Dr. Meaghan Brent is certified in Webster Technique, a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers, designed to reduce the effects of sacral and pelvic subluxation and/or sacroiliac joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is improved. Sacral Subluxation may contribute to difficult labor for the mother (i.e., dystocia). Dystocia is caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby mal-presentation. The correction of sacral subluxation may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia. The resulting tense muscles and ligaments and their aberrant effect on the uterus may prevent the developing fetus from attaining a head down vertex position and achieving a vaginal birth, resulting in cesarean section delivery. Today, nearly 13% of all cesarean deliveries performed are due to breech presentation.
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An Expectant Parents Guide to Chiropractic
Stacey Rosenberg, Pathways, Issue 20.
One of the most important times for a woman to be receiving chiropractic care is during pregnancy! From the moment of conception your body goes through a series of remarkable changes. Some are easy to spot: a growing belly, changes in posture and the changes in gait— that characteristic pregnancy “waddle.” What we cannot see are the millions of different hormonal changes and chemical reactions occurring both in the mother and the developing baby, all of which are controlled and coordinated through the nervous system. Now more than ever, during pregnancy you need a nervous system that responds immediately and accurately to changing requirements in all parts of your body, and therefore you need a healthy spine! (read entire article...)