Giving birth is an incredible experience, and the first few months with your little one is a precious time. That doesn’t mean that every woman’s postpartum period is carefree and magical. After pregnancy, your body goes through rapid changes that can be troubling and uncomfortable. Seeing a chiropractor after giving birth can help address common postpartum problems so that you can focus more fully on the joys of motherhood.
Table of Contents
Restoring Your Posture
Your growing baby bump caused significant changes to your posture, and a woman giving birth doesn’t put an end to posture-related concerns. Lifting and carrying an infant, lugging around heavy baby gear, and finding comfortable positions to feed or nurse your baby can all lead to poor posture. A chiropractor can correct any misalignment of your spine and joints that occurred during pregnancy and in the weeks and months that follow the delivery. In addition, a chiropractor can provide you with expert advice on how to maintain good posture during all of your motherly activities. You may even benefit from special exercises that promote better posture.
Rebalancing Your Biomechanics
Carrying the extra weight upfront changes your center of gravity and your gait, altering your body’s biomechanics. For most women, giving birth isn’t enough to return bodily biomechanics to their original state, and if not corrected, can lead to several health problems down the road. After birth, undergoing chiropractic adjustment can bring your biomechanics back into balance by realigning stretched ligaments and the spine.
Supporting Post-Pregnancy Healing
Although a woman’s body is biologically made to bring life into the world, the birth process is very traumatic. Following a traditional vaginal birth, the pelvic floor muscles must heal as well as any rips and tears that occurred. Women who must undergo a C-section also require time to heal at the site of their surgery. Beyond that, changes to the body’s natural alignment often leave the spine and nervous system in need of repair. Regular visits to a chiropractor after birth can support immune system function, which drives the healing process.
Relief From Sciatica
During pregnancy, you may have developed a painful condition called sciatica. The primary symptom of sciatica is an intense shooting pain that travels from the lower back to the legs. Numbness and tingling may also occur. Sciatica related to pregnancy is caused by the weight of the fetus pressing on nerves. For many women, the problem resolves after birth, but for others, it persists. It’s even possible for sciatica to begin for the first time postpartum due to changes in the size of the uterus. Chiropractic care after pregnancy can often ease the discomfort associated with sciatica for new mothers.
Chiropractor for Pregnancy Pelvic Pain & Other Discomfort
Because your body changes so rapidly during and after pregnancy, it’s not uncommon to experience pain. Many women feel pain in the pelvic area due to the stretching of the muscles and ligaments that support the uterus, and this discomfort can persist even after delivery. It’s also possible to experience back and neck pain from carrying your baby, lifting the stroller, and other activities. You can visit a chiropractor for pelvic pregnancy pain and relief from the other aches and pains of motherhood that you’re encountering.
Addressing Post-Partum Depression
As many as 70 to 80 percent of all women experience minor depression after birth. This short-term period of sadness and emotional volatility is sometimes called the baby blues. For an estimated 10 to 20 percent of women, the baby blues lead to clinical depression, a severe mental health condition that can cause many symptoms including:
- Mood swings
- Crying
- Trouble bonding with and caring for the baby
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and hobbies
- Changes in sleep and appetite
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Feelings of hopelessness and restlessness
- Anxiety and panic attacks
Postpartum depression can even lead to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Chiropractic care has been shown to improve mental health. A chiropractor can help you determine if you need other interventions, such as antidepressant medication from a physician or talk therapy from a licensed professional.
Strengthening Your Pelvic Floor
During pregnancy, your pelvic floor muscles become weakened and stretched. This can lead to a number of women’s health concerns, including urinary incontinence and pain during sex. Chiropractor care after pregnancy can include pelvic rehabilitation to strengthen and tone the pelvic floor. Through regular adjustments and rehabilitation, symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction may improve.
Crucial Self-Care Time
Not all of the benefits of chiropractic care after birth are physical. As a new mom, it can be hard to find any time to take care of yourself, and you may feel guilty when you need a break. Having regular chiropractic appointments gives you a chance to catch your breath and engage in self-care.
