Pregnancy & Postnatal Chiropractic Care in Smithfield
Pregnancy brings significant physical changes to the body. As your baby grows, changes in weight distribution, posture, and joint mobility can place additional stress on the lower back, pelvis, hips, and surrounding muscles.
At Smithfield Chiropractic, we provide chiropractic care tailored to the changing needs of patients during pregnancy and after delivery. Treatment is individualized based on your stage of pregnancy, symptoms, examination findings, and comfort level.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
As pregnancy progresses, the body’s center of gravity shifts and increased physical demands can change the way you stand, walk, sit, and sleep. These changes may contribute to muscle tension, joint stiffness, and discomfort.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy focuses on evaluating and addressing musculoskeletal complaints while using techniques and positioning appropriate for the pregnant patient.
Treatment may focus on areas such as the lower back, sacroiliac joints, hips, pelvis, mid-back, and neck depending on your individual symptoms and examination findings.
Common Reasons for Care During Pregnancy
- Lower back pain and stiffness
- Hip and pelvic discomfort
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint discomfort
- Sciatica or radiating leg symptoms
- Mid-back and upper-back tension
- Neck and shoulder discomfort
- Muscle tightness associated with postural changes
- Difficulty moving comfortably as pregnancy progresses
- Other pregnancy-related musculoskeletal complaints
Because symptoms during pregnancy can have many different causes, your chiropractor will evaluate your complaint before determining whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Gentle, Individualized Treatment
Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy is adapted to the individual patient.
Positioning and adjusting techniques can be modified as pregnancy progresses to accommodate changes in comfort, mobility, and body position. Lower-force or instrument-assisted techniques may also be used when appropriate.
The goal is not to follow the same treatment approach for every pregnancy, but to provide care based on your individual examination findings and needs.
Postnatal Chiropractic Care
- Lower back discomfort
- Hip and pelvic discomfort
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Upper-back discomfort associated with feeding and carrying
- Muscle tightness and stiffness
- Restricted or uncomfortable movement
- Musculoskeletal discomfort associated with lifting and caring for an infant
- When appropriate, chiropractic treatment may also be combined with assisted stretching, therapeutic exercise, massage therapy, or other supportive care based on your individual needs.
What to Expect
Your first visit begins with a discussion of your symptoms, health history, stage of pregnancy or postpartum recovery, and any concerns you may have.
Your chiropractor will perform an appropriate musculoskeletal examination and determine whether chiropractic care is suitable for your condition.
If treatment is recommended, we will explain the techniques and positioning we plan to use and modify care according to your comfort level and stage of pregnancy or recovery.
Our goal is to provide individualized care that helps you remain as comfortable and mobile as possible while your body adapts throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.