Pregnancy Chiropractic

Our Guiding Principles for a Happy & Healthy Mother & Baby

There are 10 simple guidelines that enable a chiropractor to meet the goals of a happy and healthy mother and baby:

1. First, do no harm

First and foremost we take as much care as possible to ensure that you are safe. If we feel that we can not help you we will let you know as soon as possible. Also if we feel that we can help you but in conjunction with other practitioners then we are very happy to co-manage you towards the best possible outcome for your baby and for you.

2. Hormonal influences

As the body prepares for childbirth there are many hormonal changes taking place. Some of the hormonal changes make your joints more pliable and soft. therefore we alter our methods where necessary to work with your body rather than “forcing” any change. Our aim is for you to have the best results possible without using high levels of force.

3. History taking

We carefully take a full history with all our practice members and being pregnant is no exception. We cover various aspects of your health history paying close attention to three areas of influence.

The physical aspects of your life e.g. accidents, posture, sports etc

The chemical aspects of your life e.g. medications, diet, toxicities, allergies etc

The emotional aspects of your life e.g. Stress levels, anxiety etc.

4. Examination

A chiropractic examination during pregnancy covers neurological, orthopaedic, and chiropractic specific testing. During pregnancy X-Rays are not taken, however we still perform an in house spinal EMG computerised scan, which measures electrical activity of the tiny muscle fibres around the spine. These measurements form an important part of determining what needs to be done. The EMG is completely safe for use during pregnancy. Another key area of health measurement for the pregnant expecting mother is her stress response. HRV (heart rate variability) is a non-invasive, safe and highly accurate measurement of a person’s stress response. This test will be conducted during your initial consultation.

5. Let the mother decide

We are a friendly team dedicated to helping you and your baby have the best possible outcome. We are compassionate and not forceful in our communication or recommendations. We will take the time to explain our best recommendations for you. We aim for the mum to be to be in a good position to make an informed decision about her pregnancy care.

6. Providing a comfortable environment

At Vida we have a calm and friendly environment. We have chiropractic tables that accommodate pregnant bellies so that there is no pressure on mums belly at all. We also have specially designed pregnancy pillows if needed. We also stock a large variety of health based products that may be of interest.

7. Adjustments

There are many different chiropractic adjustment techniques used throughout the world. In pregnancy we use gentle hands on techniques working with your bodies natural healing capabilities. Adjustments are not usually painful at all. Whilst the most obvious physical changes take place around the pelvis region, our approach is to look at the whole spine, as the relationships between the different spinal regions is pivotal in providing the best outcome.

8. General advice

We can and often provide general advice regarding health and wellbeing. This advice often covers topics such as exercise, rest, stress management, optimal positions to reduce constraint to your baby. We also offer nutritional information to allow you to be at your best during pregnancy.

9. Exercise advice

Chiropractors often provide exercise, movement and posture advice. During pregnancy, exercises are often recommended to counteract the postural changes associated with pregnancy. We also can provide advice to help keep tone through the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor strength is helpful to prepare for the exertion of labour and also for recovery afterwards.

Chiropractors provide appropriate exercise advice according to the patient’s pre-existing health and condition.

10. Part of the team

Chiropractors and midwives have a great deal in common when it comes to care during pregnancy: both have a preference to work within the body’s normal function and natural healing abilities, as well as to provide support for a non-invasive birth. Midwives are on the frontline of pregnancy care and are often eager to find someone who can help with the maladies of pregnancy, most commonly back and pelvic pain. Chiropractors therefore have a place as an integral part of the pregnancy health care team.

At Vida we are committed to helping mothers-to-be have a great pregnancy. We pride ourselves on listening to exactly what you want and then we strive to provide a world class level of care for you and your growing family.

At Vida we are dedicated to mothers and their babies. Pregnancy is an enjoyable life experience, however, during pregnancy a woman’s body goes through enormous changes. Having your spine checked at any stage in your life ensures your nervous system is operating optimally.