Looking After Your Changing Body During Pregnancy

Becoming a parent is an extremely exciting time and during your pregnancy journey, every day brings something new. Even in the early stages of pregnancy, you will be faced with different physical and emotional challenges, and understandably, it can be quite overwhelming at times. It’s so important for many pregnant women to look after themselves and their changing bodies, and regular visits to a chiropractic clinic can be more beneficial than you may realise.

To make pregnancy slightly less daunting, below we have put together some information to help you understand the changes your body undergoes during pregnancy. We have also explored how you can take care of yourself with the help of prenatal chiropractic care.

How the Body Changes During Pregnancy

From the moment of conception to the final stage of pregnancy, your body will change to accommodate your developing baby. While every woman’s pregnancy experience is different and not everyone will have the same symptoms, there are some common changes that people experience over the 40 weeks;

Hormonal Changes

Women experience fluctuations in hormones every month and during pregnancy, several other hormonal changes can impact day-to-day life. For example, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) hormones increase during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Many hormonal changes happen to help prepare the body for pregnancy.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is a normal and healthy part of pregnancy. Things such as the growing baby, placenta, increased blood supply and changing body fluids can result in weight gain. The exact amount of weight gained varies from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy, and can depend on factors such as pre-pregnancy weight and whether you’re carrying multiple babies.

Changes in Body Shape

A growing belly is probably one of the most noticeable changes in pregnant women, but it’s not the only one. Commonly, breasts also enlarge in preparation for breastfeeding. The body may store extra fat too, mainly in areas like the hips and thighs, as a reserve for the increased energy needs of late pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Musculoskeletal Changes

The body’s centre of gravity can shift as the baby grows, often leading to changes in posture and potential aches and pains. Your body will also produce a hormone called relaxin during pregnancy, which loosens the muscles, joints and ligaments. This hormone helps the body to stretch and prepares your pelvis for childbirth.

Taking Care of Yourself with Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

As your body changes during each stage of pregnancy, it’s important to prioritise your well-being and comfort. Chiropractic care is an excellent addition to traditional prenatal care. It’s an effective and non-invasive way to manage some of the physical changes and discomforts that come with pregnancy.

Regularly seeing a chiropractor can help you to have a more enjoyable and healthier pregnancy for reasons such as;

• Easing Pregnancy Discomfort – Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate many of the common aches and pains of pregnancy, such as lower back pain. Discomfort during pregnancy is often a result of the increased strain on the musculoskeletal system and changes in posture as your baby grows.
• Maintaining Body Alignment – Regular chiropractic care can help you to maintain proper alignment of the spine, which is essential during pregnancy. Misalignments can not only result in general aches and pains, but they can also potentially interfere with the baby’s positioning in the womb. So, spinal health and alignment is very important.
• Preparing for Childbirth – Through specialised gentle techniques and adjustments, chiropractors and massage therapists can help to optimise your body ready for childbirth in a safe and gentle way using specific massage techniques. They have an in-depth understanding of how different parts of the body impact one another and by optimising the alignment of the pelvis, for example, they can help to improve labour and delivery.
• Postpartum Recovery – Post-pregnancy chiropractic care can also be beneficial, helping you to recover more quickly after childbirth. A chiropractic care plan can help to realign the spinal misalignment, improve posture and make everyday life more comfortable. It can also help to reduce the problems associated with nursing and carrying a baby.

Looking for a Pregnancy Chiropractor to Assist You?

Your body will change so much during pregnancy and being aware of what’s to come can help you to prepare and properly look after yourself. Chiropractic care can be beneficial for pregnant women and an experienced chiropractor can help you to navigate your pregnancy journey pain-free. Always remember that each woman’s experience is unique and what works best for one might not work for another. So, it’s important to speak to a medical professional if you have any concerns during your pregnancy.

If you’re searching for a pregnancy chiropractor to help you, contact us at ChiroCulture today. Chiropractic treatment can help to relieve tension, provide pain relief, alleviate symptoms and maintain optimal well-being during pregnancy. At ChiroCulture, we provide professional support and lifestyle advice in a relaxing and friendly environment, and we genuinely care about our patients. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about chiropractic care during pregnancy.