Pregnancy is a time of immense physical changes. Your body goes through a lot as it adapts to accommodate the growing baby, and with these changes can come discomfort, especially in areas like your back, hips, and pelvis.
Chiropractic care is a safe, effective way to manage those discomforts and support your body during pregnancy. But how often should you get a chiropractic adjustment during pregnancy?
What you will learn:
- How chiropractic adjustments can support your body and manage discomfort throughout each trimester of pregnancy.
- What a typical prenatal chiropractic care schedule looks like.
- The unique benefits and goals of chiropractic care during the first, second, and third trimesters to help ensure a comfortable and healthy pregnancy experience.
- How to identify when chiropractic care might be most beneficial and how to work with your provider to create a personalized care plan.
How Often Should You See a Chiropractor While Pregnant?
The frequency of chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy depends on a few factors, including your symptoms, overall health, and trimester.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, most pregnant women find relief with regular visits, particularly if they’re dealing with pregnancy discomfort, muscle tension, or misalignment.
Generally speaking, during pregnancy, the frequency of chiropractic adjustments typically ranges from once every two weeks to once a week. But let’s break it down by trimester to give you a clearer picture of what’s best for you.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care Schedule
Your chiropractor will work with you to create a care plan that fits your needs. But in general, here’s what a typical prenatal chiropractic schedule might look like:
- First Trimester: During these early months, you might not need frequent visits, typically every 4-6 weeks if you’re not feeling too much discomfort. The main goal here is to make sure your spine and pelvis stay aligned as your body starts to adjust to pregnancy.
- Second Trimester: This is when many women start to feel the most relief, so it’s a great time for more consistent care. Expect to visit your chiropractor about every 2-3 weeks. Your body’s changing quickly as your belly grows, so regular adjustments help keep everything in check.
- Third Trimester: As you get closer to labor, it’s common to increase your visits to weekly. These adjustments focus on getting your pelvis aligned, relieving tension, and prepping your body for the big day. Your chiropractor will make sure your body is ready for the physical demands of delivery.
First Trimester: Early Support and Gentle Adjustments
The first trimester is a crucial time for both the baby and your body. During these early months, your body is adjusting to the hormonal changes and preparing for the growth ahead.
Chiropractic adjustments during the first trimester focus on ensuring proper spinal alignment and relieving any early pregnancy aches, such as lower back pain or morning sickness.
Chiropractic care in the first trimester:
- Gentle, non-invasive techniques: Chiropractors use very gentle methods to avoid pressure on the abdomen. These treatments help keep your spine in alignment, ensuring your nervous system functions optimally to support your pregnancy.
- Addressing early discomfort: While not all women experience pain in the first trimester, some may notice discomfort from hormonal changes, muscle tightness, or early misalignments. A chiropractor can help with these early signs.
In the first trimester, you may not need frequent adjustments unless you have specific concerns, so a visit every 4-6 weeks might be enough to ensure your body is on the right track.
Second Trimester: Improving Mobility as the Body Changes
The second trimester is often referred to as the “honeymoon phase” of pregnancy; many women feel better, with fewer symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue. This is also when your baby starts to grow more rapidly, and your body must adjust to these changes. Your posture, gait, and center of gravity shift, which can cause tension in the back and hips.
Chiropractic care during the second trimester:
- Increased mobility: As your body adjusts, chiropractic adjustments help maintain mobility and relieve pressure on the joints and muscles. Regular visits, about every 2-3 weeks, can help manage the changes to your posture and support muscle function.
- Pain relief: As the baby grows, lower back and hip pain often increase. Chiropractors can focus on realigning the spine and pelvis to relieve discomfort and improve mobility.
By this stage, you might find that you’re feeling better with more frequent visits, and that chiropractic care helps prevent issues from getting worse as your body changes.
Third Trimester: Preparing the Body for Labor and Delivery
The third trimester is all about preparing your body for the demands of labor and delivery. As you approach the final weeks of pregnancy, chiropractic adjustments become crucial for maintaining alignment, reducing pain, and preparing the body for childbirth.
Chiropractic care in the third trimester:
- Aligning the pelvis: A misaligned pelvis can lead to complications during labor, including breech presentation. Chiropractors focus on maintaining pelvic alignment to ensure that your body is ready for delivery.
- Relieving pressure: The growing weight of the baby can lead to pressure on the hips, back, and pelvis. Regular adjustments help relieve this pressure and alleviate pain in the lower back and legs.
- Posture correction: As your belly expands, your posture changes. Chiropractic care helps restore balance and relieve discomfort from poor posture.
In the third trimester, it’s typical to increase visits to weekly to help keep everything in alignment as your body gets ready for delivery.
Safe, Supportive Chiropractic Care for Every Trimester!
The chiropractic team at Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center adheres to the highest medical standards to provide superior chiropractic care. Our mission is to deliver unparalleled patient care in a comfortable and healing environment.
Access our contact form or call us at (201) 357-6539 to learn more about our chiropractic care services! Our offices at 532 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010, and 62 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601, are ready to welcome you as we proudly serve the areas of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD. Also, access our blog, Facebook, and Instagram pages for more information on chiropractic care during pregnancy!
