It's a BOY!

           About three months ago my daughter and her husband shared with our family and friends that they were pregnant with their first child. I have been so impressed with ALL the daily disciplines she has done to stay extremely healthy before and during her pregnancy. They personally made the decision to have only one ultrasound throughout the entire pregnancy. On this ultrasound they were able to determine the sex of the baby. About two weeks ago we all gathered at their house for a gender reveal party. They gave everyone a can of unmarked silly string and we gathered in the backyard. The idea was on the count of three to spray her with the silly string and it would come out either blue or pink. At the count of three all twelve of us covered her with blue silly string revealing "it's a boy".

In Sacramento for over 28 years I have been taking care of women during pregnancy, the purpose is to truly avoid and prevent stress on the nervous system for mom and baby. It is our purpose at Chiropractic USA to educate and adjust families to reach and maintain optimal health. Taking care of expecting moms and checking babies after delivery is such a special part of what we do.

In the nine months of pregnancy there are so many changes that put excess stress on the spine. During pregnancy a woman's center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis. With the additional weight that is carried up front there is significant stress to the pelvic joints and low back. As the baby grows in size, the added weight causes the curvature of a woman’s lower back to increase thus placing extra stress on the fragile facet joints on the back side of the spine. Any pre-existing problems in a woman's spine tend to be exacerbated as the spine and pelvis become overtaxed. This constant stress can often lead to pain, discomfort, and difficulty performing normal daily activities.

Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during the third trimester when the baby's body gains the most weight. The solution? Chiropractic care!

Regular chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced during pregnancy. In addition it can create an environment for an easier and safer delivery. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid increase in physical stress by restoring a state of balance. In fact, most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce labor time.

At Chiropractic USA we want to be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. Our office can provide chiropractic adjustments; nutritional evaluations, ergonomic set up, and exercise advice all to help address your special pregnancy needs.

Chiropractic tips for pregnant women:

·       Be sure to get chiropractic adjustments regularly throughout the entire pregnancy. Chiropractic care is important to maintain healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

·       Do gentle exercise every day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are great forms of cardiovascular exercises that can be done during pregnancy. Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements. Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness.

·       Wear flat shoes with arch supports or orthotics. Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments that support the feet become more relaxed.

·         When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury during pregnancy.

·       When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" are very popular and can be helpful.

·       Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours, rather than three large meals per day. This will help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods that you eat. Make sure you get enough protein.

·      Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better. Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Look for an all-natural/organic prenatal and do your research not all prenatal vitamins are created equal.

·       Avoid stressful situations as much as possible. A woman’s fight or flight response is the part of the nervous system that affects blood flow to the developing baby. Stressful feelings and reactions can affect both the mother and baby's long term health.

It's a Boy!