Chiropractic Care Postpartum

Our guest blogger for today’s post is Dr. Shannon Whitlock of Happy Healthy Spine in St. Petersburg. In addition to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy, many of our postpartum doula families continue with chiropractic care even after birth. Dr. Whitlock provides great insight into the benefits below. Let us know if you are looking for a recommendation for a chiropractor in your area and we’d be happy to help! – Christie

What are the benefits of chiropractic care for Mom after giving birth?

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes over a short period of time. After baby arrives, your body tries to adjust back to its previous form and adapt to the new physical and emotional challenges of motherhood. Your spine tries to adjust to the absence of your baby being in your belly with the extra-added weight. During the end of your pregnancy, you release a hormone called relaxin. This hormone helps to soften your joints and ligaments, which helps to open your pelvis for the birth of your baby. After birth this hormone is still present, which helps chiropractors to realign your spine and pelvis more easily.

Most of the time after birth, the back, pelvic, pubic and rib pain you experienced during pregnancy will disappear. As you begin to nurse and carry your baby in your arms, new areas of discomfort may appear due to the softness from the relaxin, which may allow your joints to become misaligned easier. A chiropractor will then realign the spine, taking pressure off the nerves. Chiropractic is a great tool to help women have an easier, pain-free transition into your “fourth trimester.”

Does my infant need to be adjusted?

The birth process is tough work for both mom and baby. Birth trauma can cause nerve dysfunction, which may result in issues such as colic, irritability, sleeping problems, constipation, reflux and difficulty with feeding. Undetected nerve dysfunction may cause further problems as the child grows and develops. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are very gentle, safe, and effective. The pressure applied is about the amount of pressure you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato. There is no “popping” or “cracking” with an infant adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments help to alleviate spinal subluxations, which are misalignments of the vertebrae.

What can cause a misalignment in a baby?

Constraints while in the uterus
Abnormal positioning in the uterus
Very short labor
Very long labor
Failure of the cervix to dilate
Use of pitocin to strengthen/induce uterine contractions
Use of forceps or vacuum extraction
Cord around baby’s neck
Cesarean delivery (due to lack of progress)
Pulling and/or twisting of the head to deliver the baby’s body

All babies should be checked and adjusted as soon as possible after birth to ensure that they are beginning life without interference in their nervous system. Left uncorrected, this might impact baby’s spinal growth and development, which may reduce the healthy function of baby’s nervous system.

Dr. Shannon Whitlock, Webster Certified Chiropractor: Happy Healthy Spine

More resources can also be found at www.icpa4kids.org

To learn more, take a look at our Postpartum Recovery Guide

Christie Rinder Founder Buddha Belly Doulas

Christie Rinder is the founder of Buddha Belly Doulas, Tampa Bay's original and largest doula agency. Supporting families since 2009, she's passionate about ensuring every family has the support they need during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She believes in helping women recognize their own inner wisdom, strength and power.

Having served as President of the Tampa Bay Birth Network for six years and 17 years serving families as a doula and agency owner, she has a reputation for leadership, dedication and compassion. A childbirth educator, certified lactation counselor as well as a certified doula, she makes a point of ensuring mothers and their partners understand all their birthing options and what to expect on their journey. > learn more about Christie