Prenatal chiropractic care, through a pregnancy that changes weekly

Back and pelvic pain are common during pregnancy, but a new or changing symptom should not automatically be dismissed as an ordinary ache. This page explains changes that can contribute to discomfort, symptoms that need medical care and what a modified chiropractic visit involves.

What actually changes

Changes in load, posture and the tissues supporting the pelvis can contribute to pain. They do not explain every symptom.

Load and posture. A growing uterus changes balance and posture, and the extra load can strain the back. ACOG explains common contributors to back pain during pregnancy.

Ligament laxity. Hormonal changes can loosen ligaments supporting the pelvis. Pelvic girdle pain can be felt over the pubic joint or at the back of the pelvis and can make walking, stairs or turning in bed difficult. An assessment helps distinguish it from other causes. RCOG describes pelvic girdle pain and care options.

Where the pain travels. Pain in the buttock or leg may be referred from nearby joints or muscles, or involve a nerve. Its location alone does not establish the cause. Pregnancy does not rule out a neurological or other medical problem; tell your OB or midwife about new symptoms before choosing treatment.

Round ligament pain can cause a brief, sharp lower abdominal pain. Do not assume that persistent, severe or otherwise concerning abdominal pain is ligament pain. The NHS explains common causes and warning signs.

Which symptoms are not ordinary

Some symptoms overlap with problems that need immediate medical attention. Contact your OB or midwife immediately for the symptoms below; if you cannot reach them, seek emergency care. Do not wait for a chiropractic appointment.

• Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf or thigh. These can be warning signs of a blood clot and need medical assessment.
• Severe or persistent headache, changes in your vision, sudden swelling of the face or hands, or pain under the ribs on the right side. These can indicate preeclampsia, usually after twenty weeks.
• Regular tightening or cramping before thirty-seven weeks, any vaginal bleeding, or fluid loss.
• A reduction or change in the baby's movements.
• Fever with back pain, or back or flank pain with burning on urination, which can indicate an infection rather than a mechanical problem.
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain.

Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or severe pain or bleeding when you need emergency help. CDC's urgent maternal warning signs and the NHS pregnancy pain guide explain why these changes need prompt action.

What we do, and what we do not hold

No doctor at this practice currently holds a prenatal chiropractic certification or specialty licence. We treat pregnant patients regularly, and we are telling you that plainly because the phrase "prenatal chiropractor" circulates as though it were a credential.

What changes for a pregnant patient is the setup and the force:

• Positioning. We use pregnancy pillows to support a comfortable position, with the setup adapted to the patient.
• Modified technique and less force. Adjusting technique is adapted and generally lower force than it would be for the same complaint in a patient who is not pregnant.

A first visit is a history and an examination. We ask what hurts, when it started, what makes it better and worse, how far along you are, and what your OB or midwife has already said about it.

What we will not tell you

We do not promise to shorten labour, reduce the need for pain relief during delivery, change the baby's position or improve birth outcomes. Questions about delivery and the baby's position belong with your obstetric team.

We assess musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy after considering whether the symptoms need another kind of care. Back or pelvic pain should not be assumed to be musculoskeletal before that assessment.

Safety, and the alternatives

A realistic assessment. Pregnancy-specific research on spinal manipulation is limited. Temporary soreness can occur, and serious problems have been reported rarely in pregnant patients; the available research cannot establish an exact risk. Discuss any proposed treatment and positioning with your obstetric clinician and the treating provider. NCCIH reviews the evidence and pregnancy safety limits.

The alternatives, and what they offer. Your OB or midwife can assess pregnancy-related causes and guide referrals. A physical therapist with pregnancy or pelvic-health experience can help with an individualized movement and exercise plan. Depending on the findings, activity and sleep-position changes, a support belt or suitable exercises may help. These options should fit your pregnancy and symptoms rather than follow a generic online routine. ACOG discusses back-pain self-care, and RCOG describes pelvic girdle pain treatment.

We will tell you what we find, including when what we find is not something we treat. If we are not able to help you with your problem or are unable to reduce your pain levels, we will make sure to give you a recommendation to another experienced provider. If the symptoms belong with your OB or midwife, we will say so and point you there.

If you are pregnant and dealing with back, pelvic or leg pain in Clarksville TN, call our team at Source Chiropractic and ask.