Testimonials for Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
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Chiropractic Care & Pregnancy Editorial
When most women are asked what is the most difficult part of pregnancy, the most common answer you will find is: PAIN. Pregnancy is one of life's greatest experiences, so why must there be pain? Chiropractic care is a great natural answer to this problem. Women that visit a chiropractor during their pregnancy not only feel better as a result, but they report everything as going much "smoother".
What makes this experience so painful? The process of gaining weight, stretching of the skin and altered biomechanics of how you move are all good reasons, however, I would like to explain it a little more in depth.
The first reason that women experience back pain during pregnancy is because of a stressed core. One of the main aspects of your core muscles is the abdominal region. As the fetus grows, these muscles are stretched beyond what is normal and customary and they lose the ability to balance and bear weight. Your lower back ends up taking on the extra load, and this is where the pain comes in.
By design, the disc spaces within your spine allow the body to move and bear weight. When constant pressure is put on these discs they begin to leak a jelly like fluid. When too much pressure is applied, the jelly begins to affect nerve roots. This is a classic example of what's wrong with someone who's in constant pain with numbness or tingling into his or her leg.
There are many chiropractic techniques that can help relieve this pressure along with some basic exercises that help stabilize the spine. This process strengthens muscles that are contributing to the problem.
The other main reason that you may be having pain with your pregnancy is due to a special hormone called Relaxin. The purpose of this hormone is to "relax" you. Not only does it help you sleep like a hibernating bear, it also helps relax your tendons, joints, and ligaments to stretch and move properly. The problem with this is that if you've ever had an uncorrected spinal injury, abnormal curvature of the spine, or you're not in the best shape, this hormone can make things relax that'll actually make you feel uncomfortable and will cause pain. Again, this is a great reason to visit a chiropractor.
When I started my practice, I was surprised by how many pregnant women found their way to my office. I wasn't surprised they needed care, but was pleased to find out their OB was the one who had sent them! It was explained to these patients that, "They would most likely be in pain through this entire process.unless they find a good chiropractor". I even know an OB who will not accept a new patient unless she sees a chiropractor through her pregnancy. From his experience, he's found that women under chiropractic care have little to no complications during the birthing process.
Chiropractors care for your spine and nervous system and know how to assist the body so that it can achieve more optimal health and wellness. It is truly the safest and most natural way to deal with the aches and pains of the pregnancy process.
Editorial provided by Dr. Shawn Bradley, owner of Bradley Chiropractic in Arnold, MO
Recommended Pregnancy Exercise Videos
Links to videos:
Here are some exercises that I highly recommend for pregnant moms.
Pregnancy Dietary Do's & Dont's
There is some controversy about what you should and shouldn't do during pregnancy so I want to stay away from arguments such as, "If the FDA won't let me eat canned tuna because there is mercury in it, then why do they approve it for vaccines?" I am making this list based off what I have read, studied, and experienced, so I will keep this simple.
Top 5 Donts (these are in order of importance)
Diet Soda/ No calorie/Low Fat - If there is an artificial sweetener found in it please DO NOT EAT IT (gum included). This is my #1 rule. Artificial sweeteners were discovered when a chemist that was experimenting with chlorine and discovered when heated it turns to formaldehyde (aka what we preserve dead bodies with). Long story short: stay away.
Shrimp/Sushi/Swordfish/Sea Bass - The reason being the possible levels of Mercury in them. Mercury is a dangerous substance and should NOT be consumed or injected into the human body. If so you and/or your child can suffer brain/neurological damage.
"Sandwiches" - Now that is a general term and yes, you can turn anything into a sandwich and make it healthy; but traditionally speaking, packaged cheeses and lunch meat are what I am referring to.
Raw Eggs - Now I'm not envisioning you doing a Rocky breakfast everyday but there are raw eggs in the following: Caesar dressing, eggnog, French toast, cookie batter and hollandaise sauce.
Smoking/Drinking - It is sad that I even have to tell people this one, but let me go on the record and say that smoking and drinking while you're pregnant is not good and is harmful to you and your baby. I'm gonna answer all of the not smart comments that I hear people say... "Well I heard that a glass of red wine is good for you" ... WRONG... Red wine has grapes in it that have antioxidants which are good for you but the alcohol is not. It can cause your child to have a cleft palate. There are many other places you can get antioxidants without poisoning your child. Next not smart comment: "Well my doctor said I don't have to quit smoking because it might cause too much stress on the baby." ... WRONG WRONG WRONG... The human body is only chemically addicted to nicotine for 72 hours after you quit smoking. After that it is purely an emotional addiction.
If you are still doing the above things, maybe by reading this it will really make you change your habits in order to protect and sustain the life and health of your child.
Now the Do's
Obviously, this section is going to be traditional type advice. You do need a good diet because your child will not thrive with just a prenatal vitamin. The natural development of a baby requires natural food. Start with fruit. I traditionally recommend getting in three pieces of fruit before lunch, then a salad for lunch and some sort of lean protein with vegetables at dinner. This is a baseline of what you and your baby are required to have. Now what you crave is different- just make sure you are getting what is required as well.
Two Main Reasons For Pregnancy Pain
The 2 Main reasons women who are pregnant are in pain:
The most predominant reason that pregnant women experience pain during pregnancy is because of an unbalanced core. The core is made up of 4 different muscle groups one of them being the abdominals. The abdominals are vitally important in maintaining proper posture and keeping the alignment of the spine somewhat balanced. With the fetus growing these muscles are stretched beyond what is normal and customary for them to take on. This causes an unbalanced spine to take the stress of what was once held together by abdominal muscles is now weighing down on the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. This will cause a constant level of discomfort and pain. Chiropractic care will not only allow the spine to be released from it ensuing pressure, but should also give exercises to help prevent this problem from getting worse.
Relaxin. This hormone does exactly what it says it does it relaxes the tendons, ligaments, joints and skin so that the body can stretch itself to carry a child. The problem with this is that if you have a history of injuries that have not healed properly or if you are in compromising positions all day (sitting in one place) it can relax things that should stay tight that are holding you together. Again Chiropractic is a great natural way to tighten up these problem areas that can cause so much pain.
