Nutrition Advice
Below is a recommended daily nutritional diet for pregnancy:
2 eggs
3 protein servings - meats, nuts, legumes
4 milk or milk products - cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese
5 carbohydrate servings - breads, cereals, pastas, corn, potatoes
2 fruies - 1 citrus (fresh is best)
2 veggies - 1 leafy green or broccoli - 1 red or yellow (fresh is best)
4 cups of raspberry leaf tea (great for uterine health)
Effective & Safe
A recent retrospective case series points to the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care during pregnancy...followed 17 pregnant women with low-back pain who underwent chiropractic treatment, including spinal manipulation. In 16 of the 17 cases, the women experienced significant improvement in their pain within an average of about 5 days (approximately 2 visits). None of the women experienced any adverse events."
-- Midwifery and Women's Health, Lisi AJ. (2006)
- Pain in Pregnancy
A simple presentation about the causes and treatments of low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy.
What happens?
Back pain is so frequent among pregnant women that it is considered an "unavoidable complaint". In many cases, the back pain, "spontaneously" remits after delivery but in other cases the back pain persists for weeks, months or even years. To further complicate the matter women that seek medical advice are often treated with little understanding. This can cause frustration, aggravation and more pain. It is the job of healthcare providers to empower each woman to lead healthier, happier lives. So the question that must be asked: Is back pain treatable during pregnancy or something that women have to live with?
First, a few facts about the pelvis:
- Instability in the pelvis is inconsistent with normal body motion. In order to walk, run, or sit, the pelvis must have proper motion and stability.
- The pelvis has form and force closure. Form closure is how the bones fit together (sacrum and ilium). Force closure is muscular tension placed upon the pelvis. Both form and force closure is needed to ensure stability of the pelvis.
- Pelvic stability is maintained through proper activation of the inner unit (a.k.a. The core). The inner unit is comprised of the pelvic floor musculature, transverses abdominus, multifidus and respiratory diaphragm. In a healthy, normal pelvis, the inner unit musculature will activate before any other body movement to ensure stability of the low back and pelvis.
What happens during pregnancy and delivery?
The hormone relaxin causes a relaxation and increased laxity of the posterior pelvic ligaments, allowing a small but important instability in the pelvis. Furthermore, during pregnancy, the deepest abdominal muscle, transverses abdominis, becomes stretched and its ability to stabilize the lumbar spine and pelvis is reduced. The pelvic floor must support an ever increasing uterine weight and the internal fascial support system for the uterus and bladder can become stretched. During a vaginal delivery, the anterior pelvic floor becomes even more stretched and occasionally cut (episiotomy) or torn. If a Caesarian section is required, the pelvic floor is preserved, however the abdominal wall is further traumatized with the surgery.
After pregnancy, the body tends to retain the inefficient stabilization mechanism since the function of the deepest abdominal and the anterior pelvic floor is not immediately restored. Once this instability is established, increased muscle tension of the large muscles of the lumbar spine and pelvis follow. This strategy is the body's attempt to regain stability; however, if left untreated can cause long-lasting muscle imbalances and pain. Treatment for this imbalance consists of pelvis stabilization and mobilization activities as well as specific stretches. Walking is recommended as well.
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