Pregnancy can be a wild and wonderful journey. In the third trimester your developing baby starts to change position and prepare for delivery. With that comes aches, pains and sometimes startling symptoms. Here are some of the more common issues moms-to-be face and tips to help you find relief safely - without exposing your baby to risks associated with medications.
UNDERSTANDING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NSAID USE DURING PREGNANCY
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during pregnancy can put your baby's health at risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that NSAID use between 20 weeks of pregnancy and delivery is not recommended. While low-dose aspirin (81mg) for certain pregnancy conditions is advisable, patients should generally avoid taking regular strength or higher NSAIDs during pregnancy.
When taken during early pregnancy, NSAID use is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and congenital malformation. In the second or third trimester, NSAID use may cause fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment.
While some situations, such as potentially delaying pre-eclampsia, require the use of NSAIDs, the risks generally outweigh the benefits during pregnancy. Thankfully, there are alternatives to help you manage your aches and pains.
SAFER WAYS TO RELIEF PREGNANCY ACHES AND PAINS
Chiropractic care provides natural, drug-free relief from aches and pains associated with pregnancy. Prenatal chiropractic adjustments are generally considered safe during pregnancy and studies have not linked them to an increased risk to moms or their baby. Some research has shown that spinal adjustments may also alleviate tension in the ligaments surrounding the pelvis as well as any lower back pain associated with your growing belly.
Dr. Dukes specializes in pre-natal care and can help reduce a host of pregnancy concerns including:
- Low back pain
- Ligament pain
- Morning sickness
- Pelvis and sacrum pain
IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAFE FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY?
Yes! It’s not only safe to see a chiropractor while pregnant, it’s beneficial for more than just getting rid of tension and pain. Pelvic balance is something you're likely noticing now because, as your belly grows, your posture and pelvic balance is changing. That, among all the other changes happening, typically result in constant aches and pains.
Chiropractic therapy while pregnant can also help control nausea and has been linked to reducing labor time.
Maintaining pelvic balance is important for you and your baby. Intrauterine constraint is a condition where pelvic misalignment reduces the amount of room available for the developing baby which can reduce your likelihood of a natural, non-invasive birth.
For most patients, Chiropractic therapy is safe. Of course, we encourage patients to consult with their physician and communicate any pre-existing conditions before seeking treatment.
BACK ACHES & PAINS
“Backache is probably the most common complaint I hear,” says Dr. Brenda Dukes. The cause isn’t only due to natural weight gain, moms-to-be center of gravity changes as your baby bump grows. This puts higher demand on muscles and soft-tissues and more stress on the spine. Your body is also producing relaxin, a hormone that develops in pregnancy to loosen joints to help prepare your body for delivery. This can add even more strain to your lower back.
Preventing is key for moms-to-be. Bend with your knees; don’t lean over at the waist when picking things up; avoid awkward twists and turns that put your lower back in vulnerable positions. Other back-friendly tips during pregnancy include not standing on your feet for extended periods and walking daily.
‘Most patients are surprised to learn that 30 minutes of walking each day makes an incredible difference,’ says Office manager Sarah Dahl. ‘It really helps keep them loose - some patients choose to slip into pool for a few laps and absolutely love it.’
PELVIS TIGHTNESS AND ACHES
It’s very common for patients to report tightness and achiness in the pelvis area. Mild heat applied through a heating pad can help. Sleeping with a body pillow, or a pillow between your legs, will help keep you properly supported and provides relief for many patients.
It’s also important to avoid strain when you’re getting out of bed or trying to find a comfortable sleeping position. Avoid sharp movements by rolling like a log rather than twisting your body. Some may need to get out of bed altogether to flip sides.
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
RLS affects up to one-third of pregnant women and typically peaks in the third trimester. For most, the condition subsides shortly after delivery. Symptoms normally include feeling itchy, pulling, or creepy-crawly sensations in the legs combined with an overwhelming urge to move the legs. Symptoms often subside after moving the legs. Although much less common, symptoms may also exhibit in the arms.
RLS in pregnancy might be triggered by folic acid or iron deficiency. Some evidence suggests that rising estrogen levels during pregnancy may also contribute to RLS. Having restless legs syndrome may also make you more likely to have a longer labor and to need a C-section.
For mild RLS, there are a variety of simple routine changes that may reduce your symptoms:
- Avoid drinking coffee, soda, and other caffeinated beverages.
- Exercise every day ensuring that you stop at least two hours before bedtime.
- Get into a rhythm by adhering to a consistent sleep routine. Relax with a warm bath or read in bed for 20-minutes before shutting off the lights. Avoid screens (TV, phone, etc) at least 30-minutes before bed. Go to bed and wake at the same time each day.
- Apply a mild heating pad to the areas where RLS symptoms most commonly occur for a few minutes before bedtime.
- Have your partner gently massage your legs just prior to bedtime.
If your symptoms are more intense or fail to respond to routine changes, have your iron levels tested. In many cases where the supply of iron in the body is low a supplement will be enough to correct RLS.
HEARTBURN/INDIGESTION
Some of my patients who have never experienced heartburn before pregnancy suddenly find themselves all too familiar with that uncomfortable burning sensation. It’s especially common in the third trimester.
Chiropractic therapy helps ease heartburn symptoms in two ways. (1) helping to relax the diaphragm and shift the esophageal valve into a better and lower position. And (2) improving parasympathetic nervous system function, which improves digestion.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
What makes this condition so common during pregnancy is hormone-related swelling. Just as fluid retention in pregnancy can cause your ankles and fingers to swell, it can also cause swelling in the wrists that leads to this painful wrist/arm condition. Gentle manipulation of the spine, wrist, and elbow could easily improve your symptoms.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS PAIN RELIEF
In addition to helping relieve common pregnancy aches and pains, chiropractic adjustments help you have a safer, quicker delivery for both you and your baby. They help align your pelvis to allow for plenty of room for your baby to move and grow by promoting proper pelvis alignment for smoother passage through the birth canal.
