Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

What pregnancy and postpartum chiropractic care is

Pregnancy and postpartum chiropractic care is gentle, modified chiropractic treatment delivered through each trimester and into the months after birth. Care addresses the low-back, pelvic, SI joint, and rib pain that’s common with the postural and ligamentous changes of pregnancy, then shifts to the recovery work the body needs after delivery — restoring spine and pelvic mechanics, supporting feeding postures, and rebuilding core and pelvic-floor coordination.

Why pregnancy can be hard on the spine and pelvis

Pregnancy puts the musculoskeletal system through some of the largest and fastest changes the human body experiences. The center of gravity shifts forward as the baby grows. Hormones — primarily relaxin — increase ligament laxity throughout the pelvis to prepare for delivery. Blood volume can rise by 30–50%, which increases tissue fluid and contributes to swelling and joint discomfort. Sleep gets harder, posture changes, and the demands of carrying a heavier load through ordinary daily life add up.

For some people, pregnancy is comfortable from start to finish. For many — especially those with a history of low-back or pelvic pain — it isn’t. Estimates suggest that around half of pregnant patients experience meaningful back or pelvic pain during pregnancy, and a significant percentage continue to have symptoms into the postpartum period.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is well-tolerated, low-risk when delivered by a trained provider with appropriate modifications, and can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function. It’s not a substitute for prenatal medical care — it works alongside it.

What we work on during pregnancy

Common reasons we see patients during pregnancy:

• Low-back pain — particularly in the second and third trimester as the lumbar curve increases
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain — often felt as a deep, sharp pain on one side of the lower back/buttock
• Pubic symphysis pain — pain at the front of the pelvis, especially when changing positions or going up stairs
• Sciatica and radiating leg pain related to pelvic mechanics
• Hip pain from pelvic rotation and altered loading
• Mid-back and rib pain from postural changes and breast tissue changes
• Neck pain and tension headaches as upper-body posture adapts
• Round ligament pain — the sharp pulling pain in the lower abdomen as the uterus grows

Care is adjusted by trimester. First-trimester care often focuses on assessing baseline biomechanics and addressing pre-existing patterns. Second and third trimester care is increasingly modified — different positioning, lower-force techniques, more attention to the pelvis and SI joint.

Modified positioning, gentler techniques

Pregnant patients are never positioned face-down on a regular treatment table. We use specifically designed pregnancy support pillows that allow comfortable side-lying or modified prone positioning, which means you can be treated through every trimester without abdominal pressure.

Techniques are also adapted. Higher-velocity adjustments are typically replaced with low-force methods — drop-piece tables, gentle mobilizations, instrument-assisted adjusting (such as Activator), and hands-on soft-tissue work. The goal is to influence joint and tissue mechanics without putting force into a body that’s already managing significant load.

The Webster Technique is a specific assessment and treatment protocol for the pelvis used during pregnancy. It focuses on identifying and addressing pelvic rotation and ligament tension, particularly the round ligaments. It’s commonly used in the third trimester when pelvic alignment matters most. We’re trained in the Webster approach and use it where appropriate.

Postpartum recovery

The postpartum period — particularly the first 6 to 12 weeks — comes with its own set of physical demands:

• Recovery from delivery itself, whether vaginal or C-section
• Feeding postures that strain the upper back, neck, and shoulders
• Lifting and carrying an infant repeatedly through the day
• Diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) recovery
• Pelvic floor reconnection — often best supported with a pelvic-floor physiotherapist as part of the team
• Returning to exercise at the right pace, in the right order

We typically wait for surgical clearance from your OB/midwife/family physician before beginning postpartum care after a C-section — usually around the 6-week mark. Vaginal deliveries with no complications can typically begin care earlier, when you’re ready.

Postpartum care often combines chiropractic adjustments, registered massage therapy, and a structured exercise rehabilitation program. We’re not a substitute for pelvic-floor physiotherapy — that’s a specific specialty, and a good pelvic floor PT is a key part of your recovery team. We coordinate with them when patients are seeing both of us.

Is it safe?

For most pregnancies, chiropractic care delivered by a trained provider with appropriate modifications is well-tolerated and low-risk. Major reviews of the evidence find no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with chiropractic care, and patient satisfaction is consistently high.

There are situations where we’d modify care more substantially or refer back to your prenatal team: vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal cramping, suspected ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, severe preeclampsia, or any obstetric concern that takes precedence. We screen for these at the first visit and at every subsequent visit. If something concerning shows up, we contact your prenatal provider and adjust accordingly.

What about results?

Most pregnancy patients notice improvement in pain and function within the first 2–4 visits. Pelvic and SI joint pain often responds particularly well to focused care. Some patterns — pubic symphysis pain in the third trimester, severe sciatica with disc involvement — take longer and benefit from a coordinated team approach.

The honest version: chiropractic care can make pregnancy meaningfully more comfortable for many patients. It can’t eliminate every symptom, and it doesn’t replace good prenatal care. What it does offer is targeted help with the musculoskeletal piece — which is often the part that ordinary medical care doesn’t have a great answer for.