Women have special needs, from menstruation to pregnancy to menopause. Chiropractic care can help women deal with these life changes.



Menstrual cramps


During menses, women discover they not only experience cramping in the lower abdominal region but also lower back pain. Pressure on the nerves leading to the uterus can be relieved through specific spinal adjustments during this "time of the month", often diminishing or eliminating pain in both regions. In a study performed through the National College of Chiropractic, 88% of women receiving chiropractic adjustments (treatment) reported reduced pain during their menstrual periods compared to women not receiving Chiropractic care.1 Therefore, by receiving chiropractic adjustments during the menstrual period, you can eliminate the need for many analgesics (i.e. Advil, Aleve) many of which have serious side effects.
 

Pre- and Post-Natal Needs


Pregnancy - During pregnancy, a woman’s body experiences a period of rapid changes (shape, hormonal and loose ligaments). As a result, the body becomes stressed. Many women develop upper back pain, lower back pain and sciatica. Chiropractors have special tables which expand to allow pregnant women to lie on their stomach. The special tables in conjunction with specific methods geared to the pregnant woman, will allow safe and proper chiropractic treatment up to labor. In a study by JM Daly3, 91% of pregnant women studied reported pain relief as a result of regular chiropractic care during their pregnancy. Through regular chiropractic care during pregnancy, women can benefit from proper nervous and body system function so important to fetus development. Specific chiropractic adjustments are now shown to be preventative measure and treatment for toxemia.2


 
Labor - A 1977 Harvard Medical School study discovered association between use of epidurals to relieve pain and maternal fever during labor and/or sepsis (an infection) in newborns, requiring antibiotics.8 Is having your newborn subjected to antibiotics when their immune system is still fragile a good idea? Finding a way to decrease discomfort experienced during childbirth thereby decreasing utilization of epidurals can be not only healthier for the mother, but healthier for her child.



Multiparous women (women pregnant 3 or more times) were shown to have a 39% shorter labor time to those receiving chiropractic care in a study by J Fallon4 in 1991. Other studies show that standing or squatting during delivery provides the fewest problems for both mother and baby (including few forceps delivery).5, 6 & 7 Many women under regular chiropractic care, visit their doctor on their way to the birthing center or hospital for a chiropractic treatment.