During your childbirth classes, your childbirth educator should teach about the importance of your birth team. The birth team isn’t just mom and dad and their care provider, but includes many other helpful people such as a doula and a Chiropractor. Here are some tips for finding a chiropractor during your pregnancy- an integral part of your birth team.
In our years of combined teaching, our instructors have found that employing a skilled Chiropractor can make a world of difference in a woman’s birth. From simply increasing comfort during pregnancy, to aligning the body so that a baby can turn itself into an optimal position, Chiropractic can make a huge difference in achieving a vaginal, unmedicated birth.
In fact, Jeanne Ohm, DC says, “Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy balances her pelvis, eliminating undue tension to muscles and ligaments and potentially enhancing optimal fetal positioning.” Who doesn’t want a pregnancy that feels better and has the benefits of a better positioned, head down, baby?
But if Chiropractic during your pregnancy is so important, how do you find one who knows how to work with pregnant women? There are Chiropractors who specialize and have received extra training in order to work with pregnant women appropriately and safely. They, typically, use low force techniques such as Webster.
A good place to start is the website for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association or ICPA. The ICPA is a non-profit organization that promotes and educates Chiropractors in the healing of women and children and provides research in this same area.
If you are pregnant and looking for a chiropractor (or have children and would like someone skilled in adjusting children), you can find Chiropractors specializing in pregnancy on the ICPA website.
ICPA offers many continuing education opportunities for Chiropractors including a 360 hour diplomate program and a Webster Technique Certification. This knowledge gives a Chiropractor the ability to gently adjust a pregnant woman, helping to align her pelvis and ease ligament strain so that her birth can be as optimal as possible. Many ICPA chiropractors are also very skilled in adjusting children and infants.
If you have perused the list above for ICPA practitioners in your area and none are available, the next best course of action is to talk to local birth professionals. Midwives often have Chiropractors that they recommend whom they have found get good results, helping their mothers have more comfortable pregnancies and births. Your childbirth educator or doula may also have some good suggestions. Talking to other birthing women in your area may also prove useful.
Employing a skilled doctor of Chiropractic to assist you throughout your pregnancy is a must on your list of labor preparations. Some chiropractors are even open to visits during labor and have miraculous results. When preparing for a natural birth, doing everything we can to optimize our chances gives peace of mind and a better experience.
Find your local pregnancy Chiropractor here:
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing it.
The importance of a comprehensive birth team is paramount. Beyond the immediate circle of mom, dad, and care provider, including skilled individuals like doulas and chiropractors can significantly enhance the birth experience. Recognizing the profound influence a proficient chiropractor can have, from increasing comfort during pregnancy to facilitating optimal fetal positioning, is essential. Leveraging the specialized skills of chiropractors, especially those trained to work with pregnant women using techniques like Webster, can be a game-changer for a more comfortable and efficient birthing process. Utilizing resources such as these to identify these professionals or tapping into the knowledge of local birth experts can be invaluable in one’s journey to a holistic and positive childbirth experience.