816 Broad St

Durham, NC 27705 USA

(919) 286-7202

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Pregnancy

image of pregnant woman holding her belly
Chiropractic care can help the spine and pelvis cope with the effects of pregnancy by restoring a state of balance.

During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis. This additional weight in front, causes stress to the joints of the pelvis and low back. As the baby grows in size, the added weight causes the curvature of her lower back to increase, 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, often leading to pain 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. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment for an easier, safer delivery. It is one 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 time in labor. Your chiropractor should be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. They can provide adjustments, as well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice to help address your special needs.

Chiropractic Tips for Pregnant Women:

  • Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women. 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. 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 lax.
  • 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.
  • 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. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it's safe for you and the baby.

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-12:30 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:30 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:30 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

Closed

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-11:00 am

By Appointment

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

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Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "I was diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon with a buldging disc. I was in constant pain. There were times it was painful to turn over in bed. I could not bend to tie my shoes. The most painful thing was that my active lifestyle was completely changing. I could not play golf or exercise without pain. I was treated by a physical therapist, and then a chiropractor for about nine months. This treatment temporarily relieved a lot of my pain. Dr. Peterson told me the DRX-9000 had helped others with my condition. After the first two weeks of painless treatment I could tell a difference. I now play golf without pain. I just played in a three day tournament. I can even tie my own shoes. I do recommend this treatment."
    R. S.

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