We, Australian Chiropractors, know that chiropractic can be of great benefit to you, helping to ease your low back pain and other associated symptoms during your pregnancy, such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling. And, of course, chiropractic is safe for both you and your baby.

We are happy to report, however, that in addition to chiropractic care, a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that a week of continuous auricular acupuncture can reduce pain and disability in pregnant women with low back and posterior pelvic pain.

Shu-Ming Wang, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial and found that women receiving auricular acupuncture reported the best results. At the seven-day mark, about 80 percent of the acupuncture group reported a clinically significant reduction in pain, whereas only 56 percent of the sham acupuncture group and 36 percent of those in the control group did.

Although Wang and colleagues concluded that long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for pregnancy-related low back and posterior pelvic pain clearly shows promise but is “still inconclusive,” it may be a valuable adjunct to chiropractic care when needed.

A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy, however, is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why? Simply put, if the pelvis is aligned properly, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.  And, should the need arise, certain trained chiropractors can also help a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force technique to manipulate the uterus and get the baby into the proper presentation for delivery. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.

For more on the study go to alegent.com