Chiropractic For Pregnancy In Virginia Beach

Chiropractic is a highly effective supplemental treatment to help support a healthful pregnancy. Almost every stage of pregnancy can be supported by expert chiropractic care, both for the health of the fetus and the mother-to-be.

1st Trimester (Week 1 – 12)

In this trimester, expectant mothers are experiencing the first bodily changes that occur as the result of pregnancy.

Over the span of weeks 1 through 12, hormonal changes are occurring in the pregnant body, causing notable physical changes, swelling, tenderness, and sensitivity.

Hormonal changes that occur during the first trimester of pregnancy:

Estrogen

Facilitates the production of new blood vessels which will transfer nutrients to the baby. Rising estrogen levels during the 1st trimester often creates nausea.

Estrogen

Progesterone

Progesterone levels are highest during the first trimester of pregnancy, as they spike to help the mother’s body tolerate foreign DNA. Progesterone moderates the effect of estrogen, preventing tissue growth in the uterus from becoming excessive.

Progesterone

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone (hCG)

hCG is responsible for providing the nutrients needed by the baby to grow and develop. Levels peak significantly in the first trimester of pregnancy, often triggering nausea and vomiting.

Human-Chorionic-Gonadotropin-Hormone

Human Placental Lactogen (hPL)

Contributing to all forms of nutrition for your baby, including breast milk stimulation, hPL is produced by the placenta and moderates the mother’s metabolism to ensure nutrients are available for the baby.

Human-Placental-Lactogen-(hPL)

Relaxin

Relaxin is a very potent pregnancy hormone that causes the joints, ligaments, and tissues of the body to stretch and, well—relax! This hormone is non-discriminatory, meaning that it loosens joints and ligaments all across the body, often causing pain in the pelvis, hips, and joints.

Relaxin

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is also a birth-preparing hormone, similar to relaxin. While oxytocin levels are relatively low in the first trimester, they steadily increase, peaking near the end of the third trimester.

Oxytocin

Chiropractic Care For Early Pregnancy in Virginia Beach

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the fluctuations in hormone levels can cause discomfort in the body and disruption to a variety of body systems, ranging from digestive distress to significant changes in energy levels.

Chiropractic care can help to ease physical comfort by providing relief from back pain, headaches, and neck pain, while also supporting the nervous system, which is indirectly responsible for the dispersion of hormones and regulating other body functions.

Chiropractic care for early pregnancy focuses on creating a foundation of wellness for the remaining duration of the pregnancy.

Regular adjustments, soft tissue manipulation, and alignment correction through traction or other means can all be helpful interventions to set the stage for as easy and balanced a pregnancy as possible.

2nd Trimester (Weeks 13 – 28)

Hormonal Changes:

Estrogen – is lower than in the first trimester of pregnancy
Progesterone – is lower than in the first trimester of pregnancy
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone (hCG) – is leveling off
Human Placental Lactogen (hPL) – remains steady
Relaxin – remains steady
Oxytocin – is leveling off temporarily

During the second trimester of pregnancy, the body is better adjusted to the influx of new hormones, which tend to level off or decrease temporarily around this stage.

While the body is more adjusted to chemical changes, this stage features significant changes in physical size and body shape.

The baby is rapidly developing and increasing in size, which can cause a variety of physical symptoms and discomfort.

During this stage, Braxton-Hicks contractions are common, as are leg cramps, dizziness, backache, sinus problems, headaches, heartburn, and pelvic soreness.

Chiropractic Care For 2nd Trimester

During the second trimester of pregnancy, chiropractic care is particularly focused on easing pain and discomfort, while continuing to foster ideal alignment, relaxation in the body, optimal immune function, and support of all body systems.

Available-Chiropractic-Care

Your chiropractor may focus on areas where you feel pain or discomfort, particularly in the back, neck, and head.

Chiropractic care can help to decrease pain and soreness in these areas, while also boosting cognition and clarity, improving immune function, and regulating the nervous system.

3rd Trimester (Weeks 29 – 40)

Hormonal Changes:

Estrogen – significantly higher than second trimester
Progesterone – significantly higher than second trimester
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Hormone (hCG) – gradually decreasing
Human Placental Lactogen (hPL) – increases slightly and then levels off
Relaxin – increases slightly, helps to facilitate labor
Oxytocin – increases slightly, helps to facilitate labor

During the third trimester of pregnancy, all physical symptoms which occured over the course of the second trimester are typically intensified.

Changes in body size and shape increase, as does the presence of soreness, digestive challenges (for example, constipation and heartburn), back pain, neck pain, and pelvic pain, inflammation and swelling, joint stiffness, joint pain, or joint hypermobility, Braxton-Hicks contractions, leg cramps, abdominal cramps, and dizziness.

During this time, the body’s energy is diverted to final fetal developments, as well as labor and delivery.

The hormones that spike (typically relaxin, oxytocin, estrogen and progesterone) are intended to begin the process of delivery, and as a result, the intensification of symptoms associated with these hormones is expected.

Chiropractic Care For 3rd Trimester

Similarly to the body’s own process, chiropractic care at this stage of pregnancy is intended to prepare the body for a healthy labor and delivery.

At this stage, your expert chiropractor will be completing new assessments to determine what area of your body is under the most stress.

The care provided to expectant mothers will be primarily focused on decreasing stress, inflammation, and pain, and preparing the body for labor and delivery as much as possible.

All chiropractors are trained to treat pregnancy, and some even seek additional specific training to help turn breech babies.

When you see your chiropractor in the third trimester, communicate any changes you’ve experienced during this stage of your pregnancy (in contrast to or including other stages), any symptoms that have worsened or abated, and any medical concerns or insights provided to you by your primary care physician.

Labor and Delivery

While chiropractic care is not intended to be provided during the labor and delivery process, it is specially designed to help support a healthy, efficient, and balanced labor and delivery process.

During pregnancy, the spine and joints can change noticeably, often contributing to subluxations (misalignments in the joints and spinal structure) and other changes which can leave residual effects, even after a pregnancy is long completed.

Regular, consistent chiropractic care during pregnancy is the best way to receive the benefits of chiropractic care, although even a single treatment in the final weeks leading up to labor and delivery can produce notable positive effects and reduction in discomfort.

Chiropractor While Pregnancy In Virginia Beach, VA

At ChiroSolutions Center in Virginia Beach, VA, expert chiropractor Dr. Samantha Coleman has successfully worked with hundreds of mothers-to-be in determining a treatment plan that helps to meet all of their needs.

Whether it’s pain relief, symptom alleviation, gentle postural correction, or joint support, Dr. Coleman specializes in providing individualized chiropractic care to ensure that you are completely supported during your pregnancy experience.

Dr. Coleman believes that chiropractic care is the ideal complementary treatment to your regular medical treatment during pregnancy.

Patients report experiencing a smoother labor and delivery process, as well as an overall improved pregnancy experience, when regular chiropractic care is consistently sought out during pregnancy.

For those who live in or near Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton, Poquoson, Newport News, Suffolk, or even Elizabeth City, NC, ChiroSolutions Center of Virginia Beach, Virginia is delighted to offer the highest quality of chiropractic care for every stage of pregnancy.