Three causes of difficult labor and how chiropractic can help

Chiropractic and pregnancy have been best friends for over 120 years. If you have friends or family members that had a baby, there is a good chance they have been seen by a chiropractor (probably us). But why? Is it just because pregnant moms have more back pain? Let’s dive into this a little deeper with 3 causes of dystocia (difficult birth process) and how chiropractic can help.

Power

Chiropractic care has never been about back pain. It has everything to do with the nervous system. The powerful system that is the master controller of your body. If that system isn’t working at 100%, it can cause a laundry list of health problems. This system is extremely important in pregnancy. Chiropractic care is designed to help your nervous system work optimally. When the nerves controlling the muscles in your uterus are working at 100% this allows more strength of contraction and higher chance of natural delivery. Power (or lack thereof) is the first possible cause of dystocia. A pregnant mom has a very powerful uterus. Did you know the uterus is one of the strongest muscles in the body? A properly functioning nervous system will help uterine contractions to be strong and coordinated.

One other very important aspect of chiropractic care for pregnant moms that facilitates proper power during delivery is the balance between the fight/flight response (sympathetic) to the rest/recovery response (parasympathetic). When a mom is stressed, it stimulates the sympathetic nerves and this slows labor. That stress can come from many forms, but the one we can impact the most is on specific nerves that will help to stimulate the parasympathetic nerves. Our gentle adjustments aim to reduce this stress. This will allow the natural functions of a pregnant mom (like pushing out a baby) to happen with less interventions.

Passage

Passage is the second possible cause of dystocia. This refers to the size and shape of the birth canal. This one is easy to see how chiropractic care for pregnant moms will help. Think of your pelvis like a ring. That ring twists and gets bigger and smaller as you walk. If your pelvis is stuck in a twisted spot, that ring is smaller and therefore the birth canal is smaller. Our care also addresses muscle and ligament imbalances that can cause unnecessary torsion on your uterus. Chiropractic care for pregnant moms will optimize pelvic balance and allow for maximum space for baby to descend properly.

Passenger

The “passenger” is the baby! Some things are left to genetics (like size and shape) of the baby, but it is extremely important that the baby is positioned properly for a healthy delivery. The baby should ideally be head down, chin tucked, and babies body/back aligned on the left side of the mother. This allows the baby to descend with a slight rotation with their head facing towards the mothers back. Some of the time a baby presents in a different position, such as breech. We are certified in the Webster Chiropractic Technique which addresses the causes of a malpositioned baby. While we aren’t “turning babies”, it is often the result when the baby is given the perfect environment to do so.

We have helped hundreds of moms over the past decade birth beautiful and healthy babies. If you haven’t been seen by a chiropractor that specializes in perinatal and pediatric care then you need to! If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, now is the best time to discuss the benefits. If you are already pregnant, get in ASAP… seriously… don’t wait.