tell me about chiro adjustments and birth experiences

[porcelina]

My midwife recommended that it might be a good idea to see a chiropractor during the pregnancy to help open up the pelvis and help the baby to get into a good position. I've read on several websites that it can be helpful. On the one hand, I want to do everything I can to avoid another occiput posterior baby, but on the other hand, chiro is indeed expensive!

Do you think chiro adjustments helped you have a smoother/easier/faster labor?

[kitkat5505]

I've gone to the chiro during all three pregnancies, it really helped with the back and joint pain you get during pregnancy. Only during my second did I actually go while in labor and it seriously cut the pain in half at that point, he didn't do a normal adjustment, just some stuff to help loosen the muscles in my abdomen and thighs.

Now, my shortest labor was 20hrs (my vbac) so I don't think it helped make them fast, and 2 ended in c/s so not really smooth or easy either lol, but definitely helpful during pregnancy.

[1babysmom]

I naturally have a pretty good "birthing pelvis" and haven't ever had malpositioned babies, but I went to a chiro for about 5 appts. this last pregnancy for horrid SPD. I found it gave me only a bit of relief (I had it pretty badly), but don't think it did anything for my labor.

[texaspeach]

didn't help me. I started going to a webster certified chiro at something like 26 wks to help keep my pelvis balanced and open. DS was OP and had his hand on his head, and never dropped even in labor (but he was 9lb 8oz and I am very petite, his malposition combined with his size made things difficult)

it did help keep my comfortable though so I do recommend it.

[emnic77]

Haven't birthed yet so I can't comment on that...but I've been going on and off during this pregnancy due to my midwife's recommendation as well (both my other two were posterior). I'm not too concerned about positioning help at this point, because without my chiropractor I would be in severe pain right now due to the freaking SI joint pain that cropped up a couple weeks ago. I have been hobbling/limping on and off for two weeks, finally got back to see the chiropractor, and have been SO much more comfortable after two visits this week.

Also, check your insurance. I was unaware that my insurance covers 12 visits a year. I do have a $20 copay which means I'm not going all that often...but still. Having it covered at all was a surprise.

[briome]

LOVED my chiro. Used in in my last birth, felt great, baby lined up. This pregnancy too. I found a local guy who does drop-in and donation work. He is also close to a few friends of mine and had adjusted them mid-labor to great affect. Near the end of the pregnancy I go more often, the last month or so I go once a week. I know this would be impossible with the fees and scheduling of more regular chiros. Look around, post on some local boards and ask for reccomendations.

[rparker]

I saw a chiropractor once during my last pregnancy... I think around 6 or 7 months? It was my first and only visit to a chiropractor and I didn't do a repeat one because the spinal adjustment felt "weird" to me. (Not bad or dangerous... just kind of disconcerting.)

That said... I had a perfectly positioned baby and a 6 hour, drug free labor that was practically painless. Was it the chiropractor? Maybe. It could have also been the red raspberry leaf tea or any number of other things or just luck. Either way, I'm probably going to go see one again this time (and earlier) because at 13+ weeks my back already hurts and my legs feel numb.

[billikengirl]

I went to the (Webster certified) chiro weekly in the last half of my pregnancy and it helped with the back pain and I feel that it did help me have the alignment/room to push my 8.5lber with a slightly asynclitic 14.5inch head

[caned & able]

My third baby was born easily after nine months of chiropractic adjustments; I saw the chiropractor from the day I knew I was pregnant.

The first two were posterior presentations and with long painful labors.

[sanguine_speed]

The only time I went to the chiropractor during pregnancy, I visited a Webster chiro and my membranes ruptured shortly after at 33 weeks. That may have been a coincidence, but I had had 2 full-term health pregnancies before that and am on another chiro-free full-term healthy pregnancy right now (38 1/2 weeks now).

[gardenmommy]

I saw my chiro every two weeks for the last 8 weeks or so of pregnancy with #5. I had a short 4.5 hour labor, baby was positioned perfectly, and I had no discomfort with pregnancy. In previous pregnancies, I saw a chiro off and on throughout. My longest labor was about 20 hours (#1), and shortest was my last, at 4.5. The others were all under 8 hours.

[etsdtm99]

with my last pregnancy i saw a chiropractor starting at 34 weeks because DS was breech .. i went every day for a week or so and DS flipped .. apparently i had some seriously tight ligaments and my hips are not lined up great anyway because i have scoliosis .. i really believe that he helped my baby flip - i was having hoooorrible round ligament pain and it was SO much better once i started seeing the chiro regularly .. this pregnancy the same thing seems to be happening again and i've been going about every 4 weeks.. i think to really feel relief at this stage i'd have to go more often but i'm saving my $$ for the end.. my chiro suggested a schedule much like an OB etc. every 4 weeks for so long and then every 2, once a week etc.. i am assuming if baby's position is not looking good (transverse/breech etc.) by 32 weeks i will start going more often ( a few times a week) .. my last birth was an induction and was 12 hours start to finish (my first, without the chiro, with her position off slightly was 19 hours) .. this one will be the true test since i am having a homebirth ..

my chiro also helped a TON after my DS was born.. after DD i had back pain for months, i had trouble babywearing because it hurt so bad even with a tiny newborn.. with DS i went in at 4 days PP and then every 2 weeks for a while and then every 4 weeks and it helped SO much..

[CherryBomb]

Look around, and ask your insurance if they cover chiro. Mine only charges $35 for an adjustment, and the insurance dh had before he lost his job covered 90% of that, so I only paid $3.50 a visit.

Dd2 was asynclitic and posterior. With dd3 I saw my chiro regularly at the end and she was perfectly positioned. Anectdotal of course, but I'll see him again at the end of this pregnancy.

[marrymeflyfree]

I did not see a chiropractor with my first baby...I think I certainly could have benefitted from it in hindsight just to alleviate some joint pain, but I think my pelvis was pretty well aligned and the baby was in a great position toward the end. Quick, easy and relatively painless birth. With the second, my pelvis was so misaligned that I could feel when I walked from very early on in the pregnancy. The broad ligament on my left side was also obscenely tight - so much so that I nearly jumped out of my skin any time my midwife was feeling the baby's head toward the end of my pregnancy. I did have lots of adjustments with the 2nd pregnancy...it absolutely gave me some relief in that I no longer felt so seriously out of whack and made walking pain-free. But that was all it did...it never truly corrected the problem. My baby stayed firmly planted on the right side, the pregnancy was very long (I think my labor had a very hard time getting started due to her position), very long and painful labor. I ended up transferring to the hospital and ultimately had a c-section. Of course it is impossible to say in retrospect, but I feel that I'd have been better served by a chiropractor who was more experienced with pregnant women. I chose to go to someone who accepted my insurance instead - but believe me, I certainly paid for it in the end.

[treespeak]

I saw a chiropractor maybe a dozen times during my pregnancy with DS. His presentation was good, and labor and birth went smoothly. However, I have no idea how or if the adjustments impacted that. I did feel amazing throughout the late stages of pregnancy. I went in for an adjustment at the very first twinges of back discomfort, and it would resolve immediately. For me, it was worth it just for the good it did for my lower back.

[Luv2bemommy]

YES!

I can not recommend one enough. I went last week to a chiro that does Websters since my little one was posterior and she flipped the next day. I had it done at the end of my pg though, I was 41 weeks when I saw her. I felt like a brand new person the next day. She helped with my round ligament and hip pain as well.

[MyBoysBlue]

With my first pregnancy I didn't see a chiro and I did have a perfectly positioned baby and easy quick birth. With my second I did go to a chiro starting in the second trimester and there really is a big difference for me. I had so much more energy and I was so much more comfortable. After I started seeing my chiro I stopped having heartburn and my hip and back pain was gone. I again had an even quicker birth. One of my friends had three kids only saw a chiro for her 3rd and it was the only one she went into labour with on her own and the only one without back labour and it was her quickest and easiest birth. Our chiro was one who had lots of experience with pregnant women.