Pain During Pregnancy? Here's what you CAN do! by Dr. Brandie Nemchenko

Over the 8 years I’ve been in practice, one of the biggest misconceptions with chiropractic and other alternative medicine field is that you can’t get any treatment during pregnancy, even if you are having a huge problem and you are suffering.

“I’d love to come see you, but I’m pregnant! I’m in horrible pain. But I’ll see you after I’m done.”

Half my practice is pregnant. The dominance really took hold after I couldn’t practice normally after almost losing my baby at 14 weeks. My OB/GYN said, “You have a very physical job and to keep this baby, you can’t work like you have been. See only the pregnant women and babies - and let your husband cover the rest.”

From only seeing that population for months, the following I had grew.

My favorite population is pregnant patients, especially first-time moms. For me, it’s like being a parent on Christmas. It isn’t about me - but knowing the incredible love that is coming down the pike and the amazing experience it is going to be, is so exciting for me to share in. We are all moms in this club and can relate to that finally understanding what having a child means. Your life is never the same.

So why do would pregnant patients go to a chiropractor?

Most of my patients come in with lower back pain, sciatica, groin pain, and feet pain. Using comfortable pillows, some moves are modified so that care is without pain and safe. The same goes for massage therapist. We have had people jokingly want to swipe our comfortable pillows just to be able to lie on the stomachs again.

While lower back pain and sciatica are the most common ailments there are issues for which women suffer and know that there is no other options out there. Unfortunately for some, and especially your second and subsequent pregnancies - the ligaments in your pelvic floor (a hammock that holds your guts and female organs up) has stretched during your last pregnancy. This creates an early on pain in the groin sometimes - like you have been kicked. It is excruciating for women.

Sometimes, your pubis (down in front - in the groin area) can sprain or separate during the pregnancy or hurts after your delivery. This is exacerbated when your pelvis is out of alignment, as the pubis is the bottom of your pelvis and is held together by a ligamentous disc like in your back.

Treatment includes gently realigning the pelvis and some trigger point work. Specific icing instructions are recommended to alleviate the inflammation occurs.

The pelvis is also implicated from a structural perspective in breech presentations. A baby should be head down at 28 weeks and definitely by 32 weeks. If a pelvis is like a bowl - there are ligaments that control and allow for movement. If you remember back when you were first pregnant and had round ligament pain - it was near your groin. That ligament attaches to the front of the pelvis. If the two-parted pelvis is torqued or out of alignment, that will make one side of the abdomen tight. Adjusting the sacrum (joint with the pelvis) and doing gentle trigger point therapy on that round ligament releases the tightness of that side and the baby has more room to “spin.”

One of the coolest moments in practice was when I personally was 8 months pregnant with Nat. I was tired but had an emergency patient who was at 40 weeks and found out (and felt) that she had a transverse lie with her baby. (her baby’s head was on one side and bum was on the other so basically the baby was sideways.)

I did her exam, gently adjusted her sacrum, and turned her over on her back (which I only do for less than two minutes and monitor for dizziness). As I had my thumb gently on the knot, and talked softly to her baby inside, I felt the baby’s head just drop down into the pelvis. The patient had instant relief without pain and went on to naturally deliver her baby. It was so incredibly gratifying because the patient was scheduled for a c-section the next day.

Pregnancy is such an incredible time. Dealing with pain during it robs you from enjoying an experience that should be magical. A chiropractor can help you deal with pain to make it more manageable, allowing you to work, rest, and bond with your new baby.

Seek out someone who is certified by the ICPA, www.icpa4kids.org. There are many nuances with caring for pregnant women and you could find someone to care for you during that special time and you could return to your chiropractor post-partum.

Chiropractic care is a great way to control pain, feel healthier, and enjoy some of the best moments of your life.

Dr. Brandie has been a member of UMMC since 2003. She co-owns King of Prussia Family Wellness Center, PC ( www.kopwellness.com). Her office, King of Prussia Family Wellness Center has been named “Best of the Main Line” since 2008.