Pregnancy Care

Pregnancy Care in Chesapeake, VA

At Atlantic Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, our chiropractors in Chesapeake offer chiropractic care and massage therapy that is specially designed to meet women’s needs during pregnancy. Dr. Eric Santjer has substantial experience working with women as they prepare to welcome a new child into the world. Chiropractic pregnancy care offers many benefits, including reducing anxiety, decreasing symptoms of depression, relieving muscle aches and joint pains, and improving labor outcomes and newborn health.

Chiropractic Pregnancy Care Beneficial for Women & Babies

During pregnancy, important physiological and endocrinological changes occur as a woman’s body changes to accommodate the developing baby and prepare for childbirth. Some of these changes – like a protruding abdomen and increased back curve – are obvious. Other changes, like a loosening of the pelvic joints, may be less physically obvious but equally important for childbirth. When the pelvis is misaligned, it can reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby, a condition known as intrauterine constraint. This also makes it difficult for the baby to enter the correct position for delivery and affect a mother’s ability to have a natural, non-invasive birth.

Chiropractic care helps prepare the body for a successful delivery while also relieving pregnancy pain associated with a spinal misalignment. Potential benefits of chiropractic pregnancy care include relieving back, neck and joint pain. Adjustments help relieve pressure on a pinched or compressed nerve, which is important for drug-free, all-natural pain relief during pregnancy.

Chiropractic adjustments to the pelvis may also help prevent a potential cesarean delivery. The Webster Technique is a specific adjustment technique to establish balance in a pregnant woman’s pelvis and reduce undue stress on the uterus and supporting ligament. Research shows that a properly aligned pelvis is beneficial for optimal fetal positioning during the final trimester, which may result in an easier and safer labor for both the mother and the baby.

In addition to chiropractic care, Atlantic Chiropractic and Rehabilitation offer prenatal massage therapy as part of our commitment to women’s health and wellness. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method to be used during pregnancy. This gentle, safe massage technique helps relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation by applying mild pressure to the muscles. Swedish massage helps to relieve many of the physical discomforts associated with pregnancy, including skeletal and circulatory changes that occur. Massage naturally helps to regulate a woman’s hormone levels during pregnancy. Studies show that women who receive regular prenatal massages are less likely to have complications during birth and have fewer instances of newborn health complications, such as a low birth weight.

Our chiropractors in Chesapeake will create a custom treatment program designed to address your specific health needs during pregnancy. This integrated approach to care combines chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy and complementary wellness services, such as nutritional counseling, to support whole body health from the inside out.

To learn more about the benefits of our prenatal health program, call (757) 547-4325.