chiropractic and pregnancy
More and more women are discovering the
many benefits associated with chiropractic care throughout
pregnancy. Birth care providers are seeking the skills of
Doctors of Chiropractic trained in the Webster
Technique and other specific chiropractic adjustments
for the pregnant woman.
The International Chiropractic
Pediatric Association offers numerous post graduate courses on pregnancy
and chiropractic . Doctors of Chiropractic around the world have
incorporated these techniques into their practices. Find
a DC in your area .
Chiropractic Use Grows Among Pregnant Women
A growing number of pregnant women are turning to holistic therapies, including
chiropractic. Researchers at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School pooled data
on 463 women who had recently given birth.
In total, 31.3% of subjects used at least one type of complementary care during
their pregnancies. Specifically, 5.2% visited a chiropractor; 2.8% had acupuncture
or acupressure and 2.8% took vitamin supplements. 5.8% tried alternative techniques
(biofeedback, meditation, yoga, tai chi, mental healing, imagery, Reiki, therapeutic
touch or polar, dance, reflex, art and aroma therapies); 24.2% used natural
therapies (teas, herbs, oils and foods used for medicinal purposes).
Ranzini A, Allen A, Lai Y Use of complementary medicines and
therapies among obstetric patients Obstet Gynecol 2001; 97
(4 Suppl 1): S46
Most Nurse Midwives Recommend Chiropractic
Nurse-midwives frequently refer patients to doctors of chiropractic, according
to a survey of 82 certified nurse-midwives in North Carolina. Altogether, a
whopping 93.9% of midwives surveyed reported that they recommended "complementary
and alternative medicine" to patients during the past year. However, only 57.3%
encouraged more than 10% of their patients to consider these approaches.
Overall, chiropractic was the third most popular referral, with 57.3% of midwives
surveyed recommending chiropractic to their patients. In addition, midwives
recommended herbal therapy (73.2%), massage therapy (67.1%), accupressure (52.4%),
mind-body interventions (48.8%), aromatherapy (32.9%), homeopathy (30.5%),
spiritual healing, (23.2%), acupuncture (19.5%) and bioelectric or magnetic
applications (14.6%).
Allaire AD, Moos MK, Wells SR Complementary
and alternative medicine in pregnancy: a survey of North Carolina certified
nurse-midwives Obstet Gynecol 2000 (Jan); 95 (1): 19-23
Women Seeking Natural Care in Pregnancy
A recent study at Woman and Infants' Hospital in Rhode Island reveals that
a significant number of pregnant women are using herbs and alternative therapies.
Out of the 240 women involved in the study, 9.1% said that they used herbs
some time during their pregnancy and 7.5% used herbs on weekly basis. The most
commonly used herbs included garlic, aloe, chamomile, peppermint, ginger, Echinacea,
pumpkin seeds and ginseng. Thirteen percent of the women also reported that
they used chiropractors and other alternative therapies, such as aromatherapy,
meditation, relaxation, yoga, acupressure, therapeutic touch, homeopathy, acupuncture
and reflexology.
Gibson PS, Powrie R, Star J Herbal and alternative medicine
use during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey Obstet Gynecol
2001; 97 (4 Suppl 1): S44-S45
Read more about chiropractic and pregnancy:
Chiropractic
Care in Pregnancy for Safer, Easier Births
Chiropractic and Pregnancy
Pregnancy
and Chiropractic
Chiropractic
Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic
Care in Pregnancy
Improving
Your Pregnancy with Chiropractic Care
Pregnancy
Several
Articles on Stork Net
Midwifery
and Chiropractic
Birth
Options
Birth
- What are the Philosophical Options?
The
Importance of Having a Non-Invasive Birth Process