WRITTEN BY
Dr. Heather Beitel

Congratulations - you are pregnant!  Over the next forty weeks, your body will be in constant change to accommodate the life inside of you.  Will you spend the duration of your pregnancy living with the musculoskeletal pain that often accompanies pregnancy, or will you do what you can to limit the aches?

Over the years, I have met many women who don’t know what to do to alleviate the low back, mid-back, and leg pain that come with pregnancy.  When I have suggested they see a chiropractor, the reaction has usually been something like “A chiropractor, really?  Is it safe?�.  Yes, chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy and can truly help with a woman’s changing posture from early pregnancy through post-delivery.

Some studies have estimated that 48% to 56% of pregnant women will experience lumbar (low back) or pelvic (lower lumbar) pain sometime during pregnancy   while others have estimated the prevalence as high as two-thirds.    There is also the risk of experiencing back labor if back pain is present during pregnancy - the chance is almost three times greater!  Once a patient has pregnancy-related low back pain, there is the likelihood of facing recurrent low back pain after the pregnancy.  This was demonstrated in one study of 1120 women of which 68% continued having low back pain after giving birth.   So rather than living with the aches, it is important to seek care to relieve the discomfort and prevent chronic episodes of low back pain.

The goals of chiropractic care for a pregnant woman are different from those for a non-pregnant patient.  The care received by a pregnant patient is focused on accommodating her transforming body.  As the baby grows, a woman will carry more weight in the front of her body which will lead to a greater lower back arch (hyperlordosis).  Strong abdominal muscles can counteract the hyperlordosis, but as the baby grows, stomach muscles get overstretched and weaken as well.

Chiropractic aims to maintain as much movement as possible through the spine and pelvis so that walking, standing, and sleeping can be comfortable.  Chiropractic care is directed at the spine and pelvis and not the abdomen.  A pregnant patient will be made as comfortable as possible, with pillows on the adjusting table when needed.

On the first visit to a chiropractor, you will be asked to fill out a health history.  The chiropractor will then go over the history with you and ask additional questions if needed.  Then, with your consent, the chiropractor will thoroughly examine the area of complaint.  Once the examination is complete, the chiropractor will offer you a diagnosis and a course of treatment.  A typical treatment schedule for a pregnant patient is: once per month through the first six months, once every 2 weeks through the seventh and eighth months, and weekly thereafter.

Of course every treatment schedule is based on each woman’s main complaint and the type of care she wishes to receive.  Some women just want enough treatment to alleviate the pain.  This type of care is called acute or relief care.  Others choose maintenance care because there might be a chance of the pain returning, they would like to prevent the recurrence of pain or dysfunction.

Chiropractic treatment can vary from treatment to treatment.  Each time a patient visits her chiropractor, he or she will reassess the complaint and proceed according to the patient’s needs.  For the pregnant patient, the treatment will be hands-on and the use of electric modalities (tens and interferential current for example) will be very limited.  Lying on your side, back, or belly, the chiropractor will adjust, mobilize and stretch the area or areas of complaint.  Once the active part of the treatment is complete, most patients will receive “homework� from their chiropractor, making you an active participant in your recovery.  You may receive stretching exercises to complete at home or advised to change your sleep posture.  Whatever the homework, it is important to follow your chiropractor’s advice to achieve full recovery and benefit from treatment.

Chiropractors welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and concerns.  We are not just health providers, but also serve as information resources.  Keep those questions coming!  Enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest, with chiropractic care to help you along the way.

Disclaimer: All information contained in this article and on the Wellness Ontario website is intended for informational and educational purposes. The information is not intended nor suited to be a replacement or substitute for professional health treatment or for professional health advice. You are urged to always seek the advice of your health care professional regarding your health condition or questions. As a recipient of information from this website, you are not establishing a doctor/patient relationship with Dr. Heather Beitel or Wellness Ontario. There is no replacement for personal health treatment and advice from your personal health care practitioner.

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Dr. Heather Beitel moved to Thornhill in 1988 and shortly after began her studies at the University of Toronto. Her studies included a focus on human biology with a secondary major in French language and linguistics. With a Bachelor of Science in hand, Heather began her chiropractic education at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto. Upon graduation in 1997, she was the sole recipient of the Canadian Council of Women Chiropractors Award. Since then, Dr. Beitel practiced in a multi-disciplinary clinic where she worked with medical doctors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropodists, and acupuncturists. As a founder of Wellness Ontario, Dr. Beitel leads her team of professionals to provide individuals and private enterprise with responsible solutions to the ever-growing issues of employee absenteeism through their Corporate Wellness Program.  You can get more information by visiting www.wellnessontario.com or contact Dr. Beitel at info@wellnessontario.com.

Footnotes
1 Wang SH, et al. Low back pain during pregnancy; prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes. Obstet Gynecol 2004;104;65-70
2 Rost C, et al. Pelvic pain during pregnancy. Spine 2004;29:2567-72
3 Padua L, et al. Back pain in pregnancy: 1-year follow-up of untreated cases. Eur Spine J 2005;14:151-4
4 Skaggs C, et al. Documentation and classification of musculoskeletal pain in pregnancy. J Chiropr Educ 2004:18:83-4
5 Stapleton DB, et al. The prevalence of recalled low back pain during and after pregnancy: a South Australian population survey. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2002;43:482-5

Tags: back pain, canada, chiropractic care, Heather Beitel, pregnancy, Toronto