Effects of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy on Labor

Can Chiropractic Make a Difference?

The resounding answer is yes! In my previous article Chiropractic Care to Relieve Pregnancy Back Pain I examined the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy as it related to pain management. I would now like to take a look at the benefits that chiropractic care during pregnancy can have on a woman's labor.

Time of Labor
The body's balance and ability to function properly can have a huge impact on its capacity to adapt to extra stresses placed upon it. The most common cause of Cesarean in the United States is "failure to progress". Any misalignment in the pelvic outlet could be a cause of slower descent of the fetus through the birth canal. Back pain could also decrease a mother's rang of motion making it more difficult for her to assume the upright, active positions that have been proven to make labor more efficient. Proper adjustments can make sure that the hips and pelvis are in proper alignment.

A study by Dr. Fallon in 1994 showed that "chiropractic adjustments effectively reduce the average amount of time spent in labor." The data she collected showed almost 25% reduction from the accepted average labor times in first time mothers who had regular chiropractic care during pregnancy, and 33% reduction from the norm in woman who had previously given birth.

Fetal Positioning
There is another aspect beyond just length of labor to consider. Another huge factor in labor progress and even pain levels is the proper positioning of the fetus. It has long been accepted that a breech baby (a baby presenting foot or buttock first instead of head first) is more difficult to deliver, often resulting in a Cesarean. It is also known that a posterior baby (a baby who, while head down, is facing forwards rather than face towards the mother's spine) creates the most painful labor conditions.