How a Chiropractor Can Help You Have a Natural Birth

I used to be pretty flexible and able to manage most issues, but after I fell down the stairs one day at work I've had a bit of a wonky hip. Even after it was 'cured' I kept having a lot of hip and back pain. Luckily my chiropractor realised that my hip injury had lead to spinal alignment issues and she has been working on my body to get me back in alignment. Now I can sleep a lot better and have much less hip and back pain. This blog has tips for people with hip pain who need chiropractic adjustments.

How a Chiropractor Can Help You Have a Natural Birth

15 June 2017
 Categories: , Blog


Whether you're pregnant with your first child or you've previously given birth via C-section, ensuring you can have a natural, vaginal birth can be nerve-wracking. If you've been warned that you may not be able to have a vaginal birth or you're just worried that something will go wrong during delivery and make a caesarean necessary, think about visiting a chiropractor. Many people believe chiropractic care is only used for back pain, but research and case studies have shown that it can also be beneficial for expectant mothers hoping for a natural delivery. Here are 2 ways it could help you get the birth you're looking for:

Strengthening Pelvic Muscles

When your midwife tells you to push during delivery, they're actually telling you to relax and contract the muscles in your pelvic floor region to move your baby or babies through the birth canal. Unfortunately, many women don't have strong, functional pelvic floor muscles. These muscles can be weakened by a whole host of things, including obesity, estrogen deficiency, persistent coughing, persistent constipation, or your unborn baby being heavy during pregnancy. If the pelvic muscles can't relax properly during delivery, there's a change you may need to have a caesarean birth. This is where chiropractic comes in. A study conducted in 2016 found that chiropractic spinal manipulation improved the relaxation abilities of the pelvic floor muscles. Improving muscular control in this way can make it much easier for a woman to have a safe vaginal delivery.

Alleviating Placenta Praevia

One of the most common reasons why some pregnant women can't have a natural birth is a condition called placenta praevia. Placenta praevia is when your placenta lies so low in your uterus that it partially or wholly covers your cervix. It's a problem affecting 1 in every 200 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester, and it's even more common in women who have had caesarean deliveries. You're also at a greater risk if you're carrying multiples or have previously had uterine surgery. While there still haven't been any medical research studies conducted into the efficacy of chiropractic care in treating placenta praevia, some women have reported that seeing a chiropractor treated their condition. One case report found that after 4 visits to a chiropractor, a 28-year-old pregnant woman had an ultrasound confirming that the placenta praevia she'd been suffering from had been resolved. This allowed her to have a successful vaginal birth with no medication, even though she'd previously had a caesarean section.

Contact a general chiropractor in your area for more information and assistance.