Pregnancy at Dana Point, CA

A Chiropractic Approach to Pregnancy

Pretty much since the discovery of chiropractic in 1895, pregnant patients have benefited from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is now part of a growing number of midwives’ recommendations for their pregnant ladies. Many studies have pointed to less pain during labor, shorter labor times, and a more comfortable pregnancy overall when expectant Mom’s make chiropractic care a regular part of their prenatal care.

Pregnancy is not a “medical condition” and should be treated as a normal, natural process of life. It should be honored and nurtured with the care that allows a full expression of the miracle of life and birth. Your pregnancy should be one of comfort and joy, and not full of aches and pains. It’s not normal to have lots of health challenges while pregnant. Dangerous interventions and medical procedures should only be utilized in rare cases, and those wishing to avoid such, find a welcoming environment for themselves and their developing child at PCH Chiropractic.

• Chiropractic care for a pregnant person is her best bet, because it works to restore optimal function of the nervous system, works to balance the spine and pelvis, and can help facilitate a more natural birth.
• Your spine goes through tremendous changes when pregnant, especially during the last Trimester. The body starts releasing new hormones, including relaxin, in order to help with the delivery process. This can cause instability and pain, specifically in your sacroiliac joint.
• Any abnormal spinal curvature has the potential to increase during pregnancy and can cause issues for the Mother to be, and may even affect the delivery process itself if not addressed.
• Common areas of increased pain during pregnancy may include but are not limited to Lower Back Pain, Pelvic pain, Knee pain, hand/wrist pain, Neck Pain, Calf pain, Shoulder pain, and even Headaches.
• The normal inward lumbar curve in the spine called Lordosis may increase from the changes in biomechanics during pregnancy, and this can cause issues for some. The Doctors of PCH Chiropractic are experts in the care of these types of problems in pregnant patients.

 

How we care for the pregnant patient in Dana Point/San Clemente

On the pregnant patient, it is standard in our office to perform the following:

History and consultation with your Doctor who will really listen.

First, we will sit one to one with you and discuss your full past health history, listen to what your current concerns may be, and then we will truly “hear” you as to what your present health goals may be.

Chiropractic, functional, orthopedic, and neurological examinations will be performed.

Pregnant patients require specialized tests and our doctors have over 38 years of combined experience in the evaluation and care of the pregnant patient. Necessary, non-invasive, safe, procedures will be done to fully evaluate your current health status. All of our prenatal care is very safe for you and your baby.

Computerized Digital Postural Evaluation will be performed.

This cutting edge non-invasive testing is performed to help our team of expert doctors evaluate any abnormal changes to a patient’s posture that may be present. Abnormal postural changes can be an indication of more serious changes within that and can be addressed by our Dana Point/San Clemente chiropractic experts. This can aid you in a healthier pregnancy and a more natural birth.

Specific Chiropractic Care in Dana Point

A common finding in the pregnant patient is called a Vertebral Subluxation, or Subluxation for short. Subluxations occur when one or more of the vertebrae in the spine move/shift away from their normal alignment. The changes in the body biomechanics during pregnancy can contribute to Subluxations, and our doctors at PCH Chiropractic in Dana Point/San Clemente are experts in the detection and correction of Subluxations. These Subluxations can then cause changes in the function of the nervous system and alter the brain’s ability to have full control over how the body itself is functioning. When bones shift, the brain’s communication with the body is altered, and malfunction of the body can result.

The results during pregnancy of Subluxations may include:

• Increased pain during labor
• Lengthened labor times
• Swelling of lower extremities
• Lower Back Pain
• Headaches
• Pain in extremities like feet, hands, knee, calf, elbow, etc.
• Pelvic Pain in region of Sacral Iliac Joint or Pubic Bone
• Suboptimal positioning of the baby in utero (eg: breech presentation)

The Doctors at PCH Chiropractic then will perform gentle and safe chiropractic adjustments on pregnant patients to correct subluxations. This is like turning back on the nervous system fully and allowing the body the heal and function at its full potential. PCH Chiropractic is “Purveyors of Organic Healthcare”, so all this is done without the risks of drugs on invasive procedures. These chiropractic adjustments done to pregnant patients have an amazing track record of safety for both the mother and the expectant child.

Many years ago, Dr. Larry Webster developed a technique of chiropractic adjustments to remove tension on the intra-uterine ligaments. The uterus is suspended in the abdomen by twelve specialized ligaments. Misalignments/ subluxations can cause unwanted tension on these ligaments and result in uterine constraints which would prevent the baby to move freely to its optimal desired position.

Dr. Palmer Peet was mentored by Dr. Webster himself while in Chiropractic College 38 years ago. Dr. Peet went on to teach all across the country other chiropractors the gentle adjustments that Dr. Webster taught him in order to relieve the intra-uterine ligament constraint and has authored books on the subjects. When these tensions are removed, the baby is able to move more freely and has been known to move from their breeched position to have their head down in a more optimal position for birth. Therefore, making the birth and delivery process a lot easier, not only for the mom but for the baby as well.

Webster Technique

Many years ago, Dr. Larry Webster developed a technique of chiropractic adjustments to remove tension on the intra-uterine ligaments. The uterus is suspended in the abdomen by twelve specialized ligaments. Misalignments/ subluxations can cause unwanted tension on these ligaments and result in uterine constraints which would prevent the baby to move freely to its optimal desired position.

Dr. Palmer Peet was mentored by Dr. Webster himself while in Chiropractic College 38 years ago. Dr. Peet went on to teach all across the country other chiropractors the gentle adjustments that Dr. Webster taught him in order to relieve the intra-uterine ligament constraint and has authored books on the subjects. When these tensions are removed, the baby is able to move more freely and has been known to move from their breeched position to have their head down in a more optimal position for birth. Therefore, making the birth and delivery process a lot easier, not only for the mom but for the baby as well.

Specific Postural Corrections

Any prior postural issues can then become much more pronounced and problematic for some pregnant patients. Our Doctors know just how to help correct postural issues, and will help you with such when needed.

Home Exercises

Walking is usually great for the pregnant patient, however many times so much more can be done exercise-wise to help pregnant patients adapt to the changes in their bodies, and to help them prepare for a natural birth. Our Doctors can tailor-make an exercise protocol just for you to help you be comfortable during your pregnancy.

Functional Dietary Recommendations

Our Doctors are experts in Prenatal Nutrition, and can you create a dietary plan of action to grow a healthy baby. There is tons of information out there about prenatal diets and vitamins, and our doctors can help you make sense of it all.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I receive my prenatal chiropractic care at PCH Chiropractic?

Experience, expertise, and results. Our San Clemente/Dana Point doctors have over 38 years of combined experience in providing prenatal chiropractic care. They have “been pregnant” themselves, having 4 kids (some were born at home). They have the expertise, as they have been contributing authors on textbooks used to teach other Doctors of Chiropractic on how to care for pregnant patients. There is a famous prenatal chiropractic technique called the Webster Technique. Our doctors were taught this technique directly by Dr. Larry Webster himself, and have taught other chiropractors Dr. Webster’s amazing technique. And finally, you should receive your prenatal care at PCH Chiropractic because of proven results. The techniques they use have shown proven results, not only in their practice but also in studies done have been published in respected research journals.

Is it safe to be adjusted by a chiropractor while pregnant?

Chiropractic has an amazing track record of safety and efficacy for many types of problems, including the care needed while pregnant. As the matter of fact, Dr. Palmer Peet of PCH Chiropractic states, “ If anything, I believe it adds safety to labor and delivery if a woman has had chiropractic care during the course of her pregnancy”. The studies mentioned above have pointed to shorter labor times, and less pain during labor. Chiropractic care helps establish pelvic balance. That can provide your baby with as much space as possible over the course of your pregnancy.

Do midwives and birthing experts recommend chiropractic?

Yes, doctors of chiropractic are experts in the care of the pregnant patient, and other birth experts work closely with them. Some birth experts recommend that every pregnant patient make chiropractic part of her prenatal routine.

I am pregnant, how can you tell if I should see a chiropractor?

Nothing takes the place of being examined by a prenatal chiropractic expert like the doctors at PCH Chiropractic in San Clemente/Dana Point. However, you can do a self-check by first taking an inventory of how you feel, then by doing a self-examination:

• Inventory of how you feel. How comfortable are you? Do you have swelling anywhere like your feet or hands? How are you sleeping? How do your pelvis and lower back feel? Have you been getting more headaches or other body aches?

 

• Do a self-examination: put on tight-fitting clothes, or undress and look at yourself face on in a full-length mirror. Is your head tilted to one side or the other? Are your shoulders level? Does the left side of your ribs/flank look symmetrical to the right side? Does your pelvis sit directly over your hips/legs, or does it list to one side or the other? Now, look at yourself from the side. Is your head forward to your shoulders? Does your mid back have an accentuated side cure and sit behind your head and pelvis? Do you have a “sway back”, with your lower back curving forward too much?

If you have any issues with the above-listed complaints or self-checks, then you should consider being checked further by a doctor of chiropractic that specializes in prenatal chiropractic care.

What about the Webster Technique that I’ve heard about?

Webster is a technique consisting of gentle chiropractic adjustments and release techniques for the relaxing intra uterine ligaments developed by Dr. Larry Webster. These constraints have been shown to sometimes have the baby lay in a breech position. Removing the constraints allows the baby to move fully and assume the position that is the most comfortable for him/her. These have been shown to be very helpful in pregnancy. The doctors at PCH Chiropractic were fortunate to study extensively under Dr. Webster, and have even taught the Webster Technique to other Doctors of Chiropractic. The Doctors at PCH Chiropractic are experts in the Webster technique as taught by Dr. Webster and welcome all pregnant patients that wish to benefit from such.