Natural Birth
Are you seeing a chiropractor?
I've never been to one and I'm not terribly uncomfortable with this pregnancy...yet - but I've been hearing wonderful things about seeing one while pregnant. I guess I'm just looking for others' experiences. I really have no idea how to go about choosing one, other than just a Google search. How many times do you typically need to see them while you're pregnant? My insurance only overs 12 visits a year, so I would hope it's less than that.
~Amanda
Mom to Lily Gayle 4.25.06 Charlotte Kathleen 3.27.09 Samuel Thomas ~8.4.12~
Mom to Lily Gayle 4.25.06 Charlotte Kathleen 3.27.09 Samuel Thomas ~8.4.12~
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Re: Are you seeing a chiropractor?
i'm so sorry that has been your experience. i had a terrible chiropractor once and then i found a great practice and now i know the difference!
i see my chiropractor monthly now. when i was pregnant, i saw him at the same time as my prenatal appointments. so, monthly until the end of the 2nd tri, then 2x/month, then weekly.
i had a perfectly positioned baby this time, no hip pain (i had excruciating hip pain last time and an OP baby). it helped with lower back strain from the additional weight up front. i slept better, moved around better and overall felt more fit and healthy.
my chiropractor was very gentle when i was pregnant, and modified prepregnancy techniques so as to not injure me. i always felt refreshed when i left. i also brought my newborn in when she was 4 days old for an adjustment.
perhaps post on your local board for a referral. that's how i found mine! you could also ask the local midwives and doulas for referrals.
Lo and behold, even though I felt great, I STILL needed adjustments early on, and I felt even better afterwards! I'm 37 weeks now and feel great after and adjustment but would probably actually need them twice a week to completely alleviate pain. I've just decided to start weekly visits. But, I'm also huge (again). First baby was 9lb13oz, and midwives think this one is already 7lbs, so looks like I'm going to have to try to birth a monster sized baby again.
Always ask to make sure they are certified in the Webster technique.
52 Choices For Better Health
I'm seeing a chiro with this pregnancy. I checked with my local ICAN chapter and asked a friend who is a midwife in training for a recommendation. Lo and behold at my first appointment I was adjusted and my chiro told me very nice glowing things about my OB and a nurse at the hospital I deliver at overheard her (OB nurse) while getting her adjustment and also said the same things about how great my OB is. Suffice it to say now that all my doctors + chiro are on the same page I feel great, both physically and emotionally, and so supported in my hopes for a VBAC and natural birth.
My own opinion is that pregnancy is a great time to seek out an adjustment - primarily because of the stress and unsupported belly gives but also because of the way our pelvises have to move to accomodate birth. My first birth ended in a c-section and my chiro was able to tell me, without reviewing my medical records, exactly why (and her explanation matched my current OB's explanation word for word - DD was asynclitic due to running head first into my turned hip, i.e., she was malpositioned and once my water broke she was not applying any pressure to my cervix so I stopped dilating. I could have delivered her vaginally but likely after a mutli-day labor and at the time we elected for a cesarean I'd already been in hard non-medicated labor for 26 hours). As for how often you need to see a chiro - well, I see mine at least twice a week. I'm a member of the chiro co-op so I pay $35 a visit. My insurance will "cover" 20 visits in a year but I am not worried about that, I will exhaust my coverage and still keep paying. It's made a huge difference in how I feel and how well I move. My 2.5 year old and husband are also seeing the chiro and feel great too.
I'd definitely ask for recs and look for a Webster certified chiro. Ask your OB/midwife/doula as well. And don't hesitate to contact your local ICAN chapter either. They typically keep great lists of things like chiros and accupunture specialists who support natural birth. GL!
I saw one with my second pregnancy. I have sciatica that tends to flare up when I'm pregnant, and I was planning a VBAC and had heard good things about chiropractics helping position the baby correctly and help with pain. I was very skeptical it would help, but I was more comfortable during my second pg, so who knows.
I once read you should only go to chiropractors who've been personally recommended to you, so maybe ask friends/family if they have anyone specific they like. And also find someone who's certified in the Webster Technique. My chiro also did acupuncture, which I did at the very end in the hopes it would start labor (which it did, but I was really overdue, so again, who knows if it helped!). You can also tell them up front you are only covered for 12 visits, and they can work with you on that. hth
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I am. I had terrible pelvic ligament issues with my last PG and chiro is one of the few things that can help. That said, I am seeing a chiro who specializes in pregnancy care and one who came highly recommended by other moms. After DS, I saw a general chiro post-partum and it was not a fit. It was kind of a waste of money when I hit a plateau and he had nothing left to offer. My chiro now also has a natural healing background, so she always has tons of tips.
I am going 1-2 times per month now. If my issue gets as bad as it did previously, I may go up to 3 times per week. I hope that doesn't happen, though!
I have no chiro insurance coverage, but it isn't outrageously expensive to pay OOP--not too much more than a copay would be if I did have insurance (I may $37.50 with this chiro, the last one was $50). I'm not saying it is cheap, but I wouldn't not do it just because your insurance doesn't cover much.
More Green For Less Green
My hips are "torqued" so with my last pregnancy I was in tremendous pain after giving birth. I started seeing a chiropractor at the beginning of the year and she has me come in once a week. I imagine I'll be seeing her up until I deliver.
We were referred to our chiropractor by someone DH works with and I have been very happy with her. I would start with finding out who your insurance will cover and then do a search online to see if anyone has reviewed them. or if you know anyone who goes to a chirpractor see who they recommend.
I love my chiropractor. I've been seeing her for a few years since my spine is curved. She is trained in prenatal chiropractic care and is wonderful. I had been going once a month but am currently seeing her every 3 weeks or as needed til this LO comes. They also have a massage therapist on hand and I've been seeing her in between my adjustments. So I've loved it! Check out the link below to find one near you or even ask your OB/Midwife to refer one!
https://www.americanpregnancy.org/members/chiropractors
Each Chiropractor is different. Also where they went to school makes a big difference because that's where they learn their techniques. My mom became a Chiro before she went on to medical school and my aunt is a Chiro too.
I am all about hands on Chiro's and the one I see is known in my area for being awesome! He's firm, but very gentle and I seem to be holding my adjustments better than any other Chiro I have been to. I am a firm believer in Chiro care for babies and children because of the research I have done and the fact my family does believe in it, so my Chiro said when I leave the hospital to just give the practice a call and he will adjust my little girl that day, so that's the plan!
If it wasn't for Chiropractic care I wouldn't be able to work or do anything. I had viral encephalitis that put me in the hospital last year. Because of that it made me extremely more sensitive and I would have a migraine that lasted for weeks on end. I could take morphine and it did nothing. It turned out part of my brain stem was pinched off and the encephalitis made it a constant problem. I found a Chiro that was able to adjust my neck how it needed to be done and I didn't have to see the neurologist or go on disability and I was able to start my nursing classes and I can now do what I want to in life.