Relief for Two: Navigating Back Pain During Pregnancy – Part 2

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but let’s face it—it can also come with its share of challenges. One of the most common complaints? Back pain.

March 1, 2025
Navigating Back Pain During Pregnancy

If you’re a mom-to-be, grappling with persistent back pain that’s interfering with your daily life, you’re not alone. Many women experience similar discomfort, and it’s completely valid to seek solutions that provide relief while supporting your pregnancy. Chiropractic care can be an essential part of that solution.

Understanding the Pain

In the first part of this blog series, we explored the types of, and risk factors for, pregnancy-related back pain, both during pregnancy and postpartum. As your body transforms to accommodate your growing baby, changes in posture, weight distribution, and hormone levels can contribute to an increase in back pain.1 This discomfort isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can affect your sleep, mobility, and overall quality of life. It’s important to acknowledge these struggles and explore options that can help alleviate the pain without compromising your or your baby’s health.

Why Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing back pain during pregnancy. Dr. Rebecca uses gentle techniques tailored to your unique needs, including but not limited to, spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and therapeutic exercises, all designed to help reduce pain and improve mobility.1

In addition to in-clinic manual treatments, Dr. Rebecca often recommends several safe self-care practices. Simple interventions like pelvic or abdominal belts, supportive pillows, and specific home exercises can significantly ease discomfort and empower you to take control of your pain management at home.1

A Collaborative Approach to Care

One of the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy is the collaborative nature of the treatment. Dr. Rebecca will work alongside your obstetrician or midwife to ensure that the care you receive is comprehensive and safe.1 This multidisciplinary approach also helps to monitor your overall health throughout your pregnancy, including regular checks on your blood pressure, which is crucial in detecting conditions like preeclampsia early on.1

What to Expect

During your visits, Dr. Rebecca will perform a thorough assessment to customize your treatment plan. Dr. Rebecca will provide education on posture, body mechanics, and activities that may aggravate or relieve your pain. This proactive approach not only addresses current discomfort but also helps prevent future issues.

Safety First

It’s natural to have concerns about the safety of chiropractic care during pregnancy. Rest assured, when performed by a qualified professional, these treatments are safe.1 However, certain conditions such as vaginal bleeding, placenta previa, or a history of early miscarriage may require extra caution and coordination with your healthcare team, including your obstetric provider and chiropractor.1

Beyond the Back

Chiropractic care doesn’t just stop at relieving back pain, it can also address other pregnancy-related issues like diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles). Additionally, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) can offer additional pain relief and is generally considered safe when used appropriately.1 Other women who have used TENS during labour have indicated that they would use it again, and therefore may be offered as pain relief with or without other pharmacological or nonparadoxical interventions.1 Dr. Rebecca can help you understand how to use a TENS machine safely, based on your individual health history, to help you manage your pain.

Take The Next Step

If you’re tired of pregnancy-related back pain dictating your day-to-day life, consider adding Dr. Rebecca to your healthcare team! Book a complimentary consultation to discuss how a personalized care plan can help you navigate this beautiful, challenging chapter of life with greater comfort and confidence.

Remember, every persona and every pregnancy is unique, so it’s crucial to discuss any new treatments with your healthcare team to ensure they align with your individual needs.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only. It is meant to augment and not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Consultation with a licensed healthcare provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.

References:

1Weis, C. A., Pohlman, K., Barrett, J., Clinton, S., da Silva-Oolup, S., Draper, C., … & Hawk, C. (2022). Best-practice recommendations for Chiropractic Care for pregnant and Postpartum Patients: results of a Consensus process.Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics45(7), 469-489.