Normal Pregnancy Aches & Pains ...Debunked

WRITTEN BY ALI SCHWEITZER

You’re pregnant – yay!

Now you have nine months of growing a human, waiting to see who they will be, wondering what kind of parent you’ll be and watching your body change and do this amazing thing. Those are the normal things about pregnancy. Aches and pains, not sleeping well, acid reflux, leg cramps – these may be common, but they are not normal.

I’m sure you’ve all heard things like, “Oh yeah, I remember the sleepless nights, or, yes, that pain in your pelvis is normal,” leaving you feeling like maybe there’s nothing you can do and being pregnant just means being uncomfortable, not sleeping and not being able to do the things you love. Well, whether you’ve heard this from your provider, your mom or your friends, I’m here to tell you that this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Pregnancy care is not what it used to be and all the amazing alternative care out there is a nice complement to your standard care from your OBGYN or midwife. You no longer have to be uncomfortable while you grow that tiny little human. There are so many things you can do to help keep you feeling amazing, glowing and doing all the things that you love (sleep included), during this journey.

As a prenatal chiropractor, I see the amazing things chiropractic care can do to help women on their pregnancy journey and, of course, I also speak from my own experience. While pregnant, your body is changing on a daily basis. Your skeletal structure and muscles are affected by all those hormones coursing through your body and are stretching and changing shape in a short amount of time. Chiropractic care not only balances the pelvis, spine and other joints in the body, it allows the muscles and ligaments to relax and create stability in your body – stability your body needs as it goes through these miraculous changes. Not only are the adjustments creating balance in your skeletal system and muscles, but they are decreasing interference to your nervous system. What does this mean? Better sleep, improved circulation, fewer muscle cramps, decreased tension and pain, shorter labor times, more room for baby to move around and get into the ideal birthing position and better birthing outcomes. Simply put, chiropractic care can help you have a comfortable pregnancy and keep you doing all the things you want to do.

While chiropractic care is amazing (and I may be a bit biased on the subject), it is not the only thing that can help keep you feeling good during pregnancy. Pelvic floor PT, massage, homeopathic remedies, yoga and exercising are all things that work with your changing body and keep you feeling like you. I personally love working with other practitioners in the area and find that, when combining some of these wonderful services, the outcomes are even better. Of course, you can try them all, mix or match a few or start with one. The wonderful thing about our community in the Gallatin Valley is that we all work well together, and often refer to each other. So, if we aren’t quite helping you feel the best we can, we know someone who can.

The next time you hear, “Oh yeah, that’s normal pregnancy stuff and there’s really not much you can do,” smile, nod and try chiropractic care! You are not alone, and while what you are feeling may be common, it is not normal, and there is help out there.

Dr. Ali Schweitzer the owner and chiropractor at Active Family Chiropractic & Wellness. She specializes in chiropractic care for the pregnant and pediatric populations, keeping you and your family healthy and thriving.