If you don’t know me, I am Dr Dayna Lombard, one of three Chiropractors from Lusaka Chiropractic & Wellness. I’m currently 27 weeks pregnant with our first babe and, thankfully, enjoying my pregnancy. I had learnt all about the tremendous changes in the female body in my studies. Still, it’s been so exciting to realize the genuinely extraordinary potential of the female body first-hand. Pregnancy is the only season during a women’s life where we will have two hearts, two brains, four lungs and two souls confined within one skeleton. It’s exciting and such an adventure, but with all these positive emotions of pregnancy may come a few “not so nice” factors too… Nausea in the first trimester, hip pain, lower back discomfort, pelvic pain, insomnia and pure exhaustion. The excellent news is… Chiropractic can assist you!
Being a chiropractor, I have always believed that a balanced spine and pelvis, ensuring a balanced nervous system, is imperative to our overall health and well-being. Add a baby developing inside a female body – this is even more important than ever as chiropractic care now is for two bodies in one. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is safe and effective in assisting with mum’s aches and pains and ensuring that the babe sits comfortably in the pelvis. Over nine months of pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through massive changes as the ligaments and muscles stretch and change angles to allow the growing fetus to sit and develop comfortably and eventually be in that perfect position for the birthing process.
As a pregnant woman, taking care of your body means creating an environment for your baby to thrive. Regular chiropractic check-ups to ensure less joint, muscle, and nerve pain are integral to your overall well-being and make a good foundation for your babe.
Research has shown that women who receive regular chiropractic care during pregnancy have faster labour and recovery after birth. We use less twisting and rotation through the spinal segments as the relaxin hormone prepares your ligaments for delivery, and the adjustments are very controlled and gentle. It is highly recommended that you continue with chiropractic care after the birth. Just as your body changes during pregnancy, your body will need to find its way back to its stability and strength after childbirth. While your hormones fluctuate for a few months after the birth, you may have a crying babe and sleepless nights. The stress of being a new mum – chiropractic can assist you with getting your body more comfortable. At the same time, you navigate the waters with your new babe, recover from the birthing process and get your little one accustomed to the big world outside the womb. Don’t forget to have your little one checked out too! Chiropractic care for paediatrics is an excellent, drug-free way of helping your baby with latching, feeding, burping, sleeping, colic and constipation, to name a few…
I hope I have shed some light on how Chiropractic care could help you and your journey through pregnancy. If you are still looking for more information, please contact one of our clinics or download our brochure.
My next blog post will be coming out early next year once my little one has arrived and we have started chiropractic care from the newborn stages. Keep a look out for that post as I run through the effects of pregnancy, birth and life outside the womb on a newborn baby and how chiropractic can assist with more than just alignment but contribute to your family’s overall health and wellness.
