Preconception Chiropractic Care

A question I get very often in the clinic is

“I'm planning on getting pregnant! Can I keep getting regular chiropractic adjustments?”

The short answer is yes! In fact, chiropractic care during preconception and pregnancy has lots of benefits. Our chiropractors are trained in safe and gentle techniques specific to pregnancy.

How Chiropractic Helps During Preconception?

Preparing for a baby is an exciting time. You can support your body with preconception care such as:

• Exercising

• Stress management

• Eating a healthy & varied diet

• Optimising blood sugar levels

• Optimising weight

• Reducing / stopping toxic habits: alcohol, smoking, drugs

• Reviewing medications and supplements and whether they are safe for pregnancy

Your pregnancy chiropractor can support you with your preconception preparation by:

• Getting you back into exercise pain-free and writing a basic exercise program

• Provide calming techniques such as heart rate variability, cranial therapy, improve breathing biomechanics and reducing sympathetic dominance

• Improving blood & nerve flow

• Providing a sounding board to support healthy eating

• Guiding on prenatal supplements for preconception care

• Working with your healthcare team such as GPs, dietitians, acupuncturists, naturopaths, psychologists and more.

In an ideal world, preconception care starts before conception or egg / sperm harvest. Men ideally have at least 3 months and women at least 6 months of preparation. In reality, half of pregnancies are unplanned.

How Chiropractic Helps during Pregnancy?

Eases Back, Hip and Pelvic Pain

As your belly grows, your posture shifts and extra stress is placed on your lower back and hips. Regular gentle adjustments help you stay aligned and keep your joints moving properly, making daily activities more comfortable.

Pregnancy hormones also loosen your ligaments in preparation for birth, which can sometimes lead to instability. By stabilising the pelvis and reducing pressure on nerves, chiropractic can provide relief when others might tell you "it's normal and put up with it".

Supports Better Pelvic Alignment

When your pelvis is aligned, there’s more room for bub to move into the best possible position for birth. Techniques used by our chiropractors are specifically designed to help reduce tension and support optimal foetal positioning.

May Contribute to Smoother Labor

Some small studies suggest that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy may experience shorter labor times and less need for interventions. While every birth is unique, proper spinal and pelvic alignment can support a more efficient delivery process. This may be due to:

• Improved body-awareness (eg: feeling better into body to know when to push without coaching)

• Ability to move around and more comfortably

• Improved uterine muscular strength and nerve flow to the uterus

• Ability for pelvic and sacral bones to expand freely

• Ongoing education throughout pregnancy support