Chiropractic’s Role in Postpartum Healing
The postpartum period is an impressive time of adjustment in a person’s life. After months of carrying a growing baby and the physical demands of labor and delivery, your body is now going through even more changes, both emotional and physical. Chiropractic care can play a pivotal role in supporting postpartum healing and overall well-being for parents.
For a postpartum chiropractor in Tigard, Oregon who you can trust, turn to Jewell Chiropractic. Our highly-trained team is passionate about supporting your health from prenatal care to postpartum treatments. And if you’re closer to Portland, we have an office there, too! Book online for either location today.
The Physical Toll of Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy forces your body to do a tremendous amount of adapting and accommodating for your growing baby. The spine and pelvis move to manage the additional weight and balance changes. These shifts often lead to misalignments.
Your body also releases the hormone relaxin, which is critical for loosening ligaments and joints to prepare for childbirth. But these hormonal shifts can also result in instability and discomfort. These changes don’t resolve immediately, leaving many women dealing with back pain, pelvic pain, and joint discomfort long after delivery.
As icing on the postpartum cake, new parents often find themselves in physically taxing positions while feeding, lifting, and caring for their newborns. These repetitive motions can exacerbate musculoskeletal issues and slow down your recovery.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Postpartum Healing
Chiropractic care addresses the alignment and function of your spine and nervous system. This focus makes it an excellent choice for treating postpartum concerns.
As your body recovers, here are some ways chiropractic care can support your healing:
Restoring Pelvic Alignment
After pregnancy and childbirth, there’s a good chance your pelvis is misaligned. You may be experiencing pain or discomfort and limited mobility. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper alignment, promote better posture, and relieve pain.
Addressing Neck and Back Pain
Feeding and carrying a baby often lead to strain and tension in the upper back, neck, and shoulders. Left untreated, this tension can cause spasms and significant pain. Gentle chiropractic adjustments improve spinal alignment, and decrease muscle tension, making your daily feeding and baby-care tasks more comfortable.
Reclaiming Core Strength
Pregnant parents experience significant stretching of the abdominal muscles, sometimes leading to diastasis recti. Although no one needs to “bounce back” to their former body shape and fitness level after pregnancy and childbirth, addressing the abdominal muscles will help recover crucial core strength and comfort. Chiropractors work with patients on therapeutic exercise and homecare techniques to support overall core rehabilitation.
Stabilizing Nervous System Function
When your spine is aligned properly, your brain and body communicate at an optimal level. This communication can boost energy levels, improve sleep quality, and help regulate mood—a crucial benefit for parents navigating the emotional and hormonal roller coaster of postpartum life.
Recovering from a C-Section
For those who have undergone a cesarean section, chiropractic care can play a great role in recovery. Adjustments alleviate tension in the lower back and pelvis and address compensatory habits that you might develop while healing from surgery. At Jewell Chiropractic, we also offer mobilization and massage treatments to help with incision healing and minimizing scar tissue.
Your Postpartum Chiropractor in Tigard, Oregon
The Jewell team sees patients in our offices in Portland and Tigard, Oregon. We have the experience, training, and compassion to treat you at any stage of life, postpartum or not. We offer additional ways to support you, as well, including pelvic floor therapy, massage, lactation consultants, and postpartum doulas.
Effective postpartum healing requires support, patience, and self-care. And you deserve all of it! Reach out today to claim your appointment on your road to wellness.
