Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy? A trimester-by-trimester guide

Your body changes fast during pregnancy. Your center of gravity moves forward, ligaments loosen, and your low back and pelvis carry more load every week. Back, hip and pelvic pain are some of the most common complaints of pregnancy, and many moms want to know whether chiropractic care is a safe way to ease them.

The short answer

For most low-risk pregnancies, chiropractic care is considered safe when it comes from a chiropractor trained in prenatal care. Care is adapted to your body: pregnancy pillows and side-lying positions so you never lie on your belly, and techniques that avoid pressure on the abdomen.

At CREW, Dr. Eric, Dr. Mallory and Dr. Jessie are all certified in the Webster technique, a specific approach for pregnancy. And we never take x-rays during pregnancy.

What chiropractic care can help with

• Low back pain
• Hip and pelvic pain, including pain at the front of the pelvis
• Sciatica
• Round ligament pain
• Upper back and rib discomfort
• Trouble getting comfortable to sleep

Trimester by trimester

First trimester

Care is gentle and changes very little from your usual adjustments. Many moms come in for the same back or neck pain they had before pregnancy. Tell us as soon as you know you’re pregnant so we can adjust positions and skip x-rays.

Second trimester

This is when the belly grows quickly and the low back and pelvis start working harder. We switch to pregnancy pillows or side-lying positions. Low back pain and round ligament pain often show up now, and this is a common time for moms to start care.

Third trimester

The extra weight and loosening ligaments put the most strain on the pelvis and hips. Sleep often gets harder. Care focuses on comfort, pelvic balance and helping you move well through the last weeks. Many moms come weekly in the final month.

After the baby arrives

Carrying, feeding and rocking a newborn put new strain on the neck, upper back and wrists. Postpartum care helps you recover. And when you’re ready, we see newborns too.

What the Webster technique is

The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and gentle adjustment of the pelvis and sacrum, designed for pregnancy. Its goal is to improve pelvic balance and ease the strain on the muscles and ligaments around it.

It is not a technique for turning a breech baby, and we don’t claim it does. If your baby is breech, your OB or midwife guides that decision.

How often should you come in?

It depends on how you feel and how far along you are. Some moms come for a few visits when pain flares; others come every week or two through delivery. Your doctor suggests a rhythm after your first exam.

Common questions

General information from the doctors at CREW Chiropractic, not medical advice for your situation. If something here sounds like you, book a visit or talk with your physician. For a medical emergency, call 911. How we write and review these articles.