Perhaps the most common of all types of pain associated with pregnancy is lower back pain. This is caused by many different physiological changes that occur in the body during pregnancy. First, the weight gain that comes with a growing baby, along with elevated water levels, causes postural changes such as swaying of the lower back (increased bend). This increases pressure on the joints of the lumbar spine which can increase pain and exacerbate pre-existing subluxations. Also, both muscle and hormonal changes can cause instability in the lower back. Muscle separation in the abdominal muscles causes the lumbar spine to be weaker and less stable, while the hormone relaxin furthers spinal instability by causing the ligaments to be looser.

Thankfully, lower back pain from pregnancy can be managed naturally and effectively at WellSpine KC. Chiropractic adjustments can alleviate pain due to joint misalignment and help keep the spine moving and functioning properly. There are also effective ways that you can manage pregnancy-related lower back pain at home. Alternating ice and heat can provide both pain relief and a means for allowing muscles to relax and release tension that can build up. Stretching is another great way to alleviate achy muscle tension.

Pelvic Pain is another extremely common pain that is experienced during pregnancy, and it is completely understandable! After all, the pelvis undergoes some of the most drastic changes that are required for the baby to be delivered. Each side of the pelvis is composed of 3 distinct bones, and the joints that connect these bones are typically very rigid and do not move. However, during pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin, these joints become looser to allow the birth canal to widen so the baby can fit during the delivery process. While this is extremely important, it can also be very uncomfortable.

From a biomechanical standpoint, chiropractic adjustments can help ease pelvic pain by ensuring that the sacroiliac joints are in proper alignment. There are many other causes of pelvic pain, though. Occurrences such as ovarian cysts, constipation, Braxton Hicks contractions, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause pelvic pain. It is important that you address any pain you are having with your health care providers to make sure that further interventions are not required.

Taking a deeper dive into pelvic pain, one of the most common causes of pain in this area is dysfunction at the symphysis pubis. This is a joint where the 2 pubic bones from both sides of the body join together. It is located in the very lower aspect of the abdomen just above the genitalia. The hormone relaxin makes this otherwise rigid joint feel loose, which is important for birth canal widening, but it also causes a great deal of discomfort in pregnant women. One of the other factors that increases pain in this region is increasing baby weight and water weight that sits on top of this joint over weeks and months during the pregnancy.

Up to 60% of pregnant women experience SPD, but the good news is that it can be managed. Our doctors at WellSpine KC utilize special adjusting techniques to help alleviate pressure and pain on this joint and provide some much-needed relief. Receiving this treatment in conjunction with your routine spinal adjustment can allow you to function normally in everyday life and do all of the things you need to do!

It is estimated that 39% of pregnant women experience either prenatal or postpartum headaches. They can be in the form of migraine headaches, tension headaches, and even cluster headaches that occur around the same time each day. During the first trimester of pregnancy, common causes of headaches include hormonal changes, increased blood volume, dehydration, nausea, stress, caffeine withdrawal, and more. In other words, it is very easy to get headaches during this time! Second and third-trimester headaches can include muscle tension or strain due to postural stress, blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and insomnia.

At WellSpine KC, our doctors are experts in treating headaches, and they will work with you to address the cause of your headaches so you can get back to feeling your best. Headaches can be debilitating, so it is important to seek help if you are regularly suffering from them. Chiropractic, exercise, massage, and acupuncture are some of the services offered that can help eliminate your headaches so you can enjoy more of your pregnancy and the anticipation of your little one arriving.

Sciatica is a painful condition in which pain travels down one or both of the legs. It usually stems from a problem in your spine in which the nerves are being compressed either by vertebrae out of place (subluxation) or a disc herniation that is irritating the nerve. Sciatica is very prevalent during pregnancy primarily because of the extra weight in the belly that causes the lower back to sway backward. This can either lead to compression of these nerves or exacerbate pre-existing nerve compression.

The great news for pregnant women who are suffering from sciatica is that there are ways to effectively, naturally, and safely treat sciatica. Chiropractic adjustments are a wonderful way to correct subluxation patterns that are contributing to your sciatic symptoms. If you are suffering from sciatica during pregnancy, you don’t have to just deal with it!

Not only is it safe, it is recommended during pregnancy. There are lots of changes that happen to the spine and pelvis during pregnancy. Many of these changes can bring aches and pains. Chiropractic can help manage the pain and discomfort of pregnancy so that the expecting mother can enjoy her pregnancy and be able to perform activities of daily living with as little discomfort as possible.

The earlier, the better! If you can start achieving better alignment and posture before many of the significant structural changes to the spine occur, you can reduce the amount of discomfort you will experience in a significant manner. Chiropractic is completely safe for both you and your baby, and it can lead to a much more enjoyable pregnancy experience for everyone.

No. Chiropractic is a gentle, natural, and safe way to manipulate the spine to affect the nervous system. It helps the expecting mother’s spine function more optimally, which in turn keeps her healthier and stronger. There is no risk whatsoever to the baby in the uterus.

There are many ways to relieve pregnancy-related lower back pain naturally. These include chiropractic adjustments, ice and heat, and stretching. Conveniently all of these services are available in Overland Park, KS under one roof at WellSpine KC.

Absolutely. There are many changes occurring in the pelvis to prepare your body to deliver a baby through the birth canal. These changes cause pain and discomfort in the pelvis, but that doesn’t mean that you have to just deal with that pain for the entire duration of your pregnancy! The WellSpine KC chiropractors can help decrease your pelvic pain so you can get back to living your everyday life while your little one grows and develops each day!