Back Talk: Healthy Mom, Happy Mom – Healthy, Happy Baby

KARL SCHWARTZ, D.C.

Many new patients that come in the office ask me, “When is the best time to start chiropractic care?” A great time for women to begin chiropractic care is when they become pregnant.

Embryology (the study of human development) is absolutely fascinating. Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells, organized into organ systems, which work together to run our bodies. What controls and coordinates all functions in our bodies? Like the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer that executes instructions through its electronic circuitry, the brain controls and coordinates all the functions in our bodies. So, doesn’t it make sense that, when a mother is planning a pregnancy, she would want to make sure that her body is functioning at its best so her baby is born as healthy as possible? By making sure Mom’s nervous system is working as close to 100% as possible, we remove interference and improve nerve communication between the mother and developing fetus. The end result is a happier, heathier baby - Mom’s #1 goal!

What do you think is the first system that develops in a fetus? It is the nervous system. The primitive streak is the first sign of development of the nervous system, which grows and differentiates into the notochord, which is the origin of the brain and ultimately the spinal cord. This can be visualized in week three of fetal development. Since the most important system develops this early in the process, the earlier Mom starts chiropractic care, the better it is for the baby. If we had to choose the ideal time to start Mom with chiropractic care, it would be three months before conception. It takes approximately ninety days for bones, muscles, and nerves to heal and regenerate. The best-case scenario at conception is to make sure Mom’s nervous system is interference-free and functioning at optimum levels.

Pregnancy, labor, and delivery can be a hugely emotional time for a mother, but from a physical point of view, massive physical changes take place in a mother’s body to prepare her for labor and delivery. Relaxin, a hormone which induces muscular relaxation, is released into the body, making her spine more supple and loose at the expense of stability. Having Mom’s spine in proper alignment allows for maximal stability, allowing her to feel better, ultimately function better, and have a better labor and delivery.

If you are a woman contemplating getting pregnant, or already somewhere along in your pregnancy, do your baby and yourself a favor - get to the chiropractor and have your spine adjusted. It will improve your pregnancy, labor, and delivery and set the foundation for a healthier baby!

DR. KARL SCHWARTZ is a graduate of Life University in Marietta, Georgia; he has been practicing chiropractic in Tucker for twenty-one years and a resident here for fifteen years. His office specializes in preventing sports injuries and maximizing performance by analyzing posture, weight bearing, and gait. If you have a question you would like addressed in a future column, please email karlschwartzdc@gmail.com. Note “Back Talk” in the subject line.