Prenatal Chiropractor in Urbandale
Webster Certified Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy and Pelvic Alignment
Pregnancy is a time of incredible change, and specialized chiropractic care in Urbandale can make the journey more comfortable. Dr. Von is a Webster Certified chiropractor, a technique specifically designed to support expecting mothers by promoting proper pelvic alignment and easing tension. This gentle, safe approach not only helps reduce discomfort but also supports an optimal environment for both mom and baby.
Benefits for Pregnancy with Chiropractic Care
Proper pelvic and spinal alignment plays a key role in creating the best environment for your baby's growth and development, and chiropractic care in Urbandale can support that process. Through the Webster Technique-a specialized approach to restoring pelvic balance-we can help ease common pregnancy discomforts such as back pain, sacral pain, and round ligament tension. Many expecting mothers also experience benefits like improved sleep, reduced sciatic pain, and greater overall comfort, with the added potential of supporting a smoother labor and delivery.
Learn More about our Prenatal Chiropractic Benefits and Safety: Prenatal Chiropractic Benefits
Why Pregnancy Changes Your Spine and Pelvis
Pregnancy causes a major physiological shift in a woman's body as it grows and adjusts to support a growing baby in the womb. Your spine and pelvis are typically the two main areas in the body that endures the brunt of this shift.
What's happening? As your baby grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. Your back bends. Your pelvis tilts. Your body also releases the hormone relaxin later in pregnanct, which loosens ligaments in preparation for labor and delivery. The problem is this hormone isn’t just released in your pelvis, it is release throughout a pregnant mom’s body. This can cause your spine and other joints more prone to shift out of alignment and cause a multitude of issues, including ankle swelling.
It's something that I see all the time. I have been specializing in prenatal chiropractic for over 7 years now, and I have had the honor of helping hundreds of expecting mothers throught the journey of pregnancy and childbirth. No pregnancy is the same and each one comes with its different challenges. I am here to help be in your corner to help as much as I can along the way.
The pelvis is an especially important factor because when it becomes misaligned, the following conditions can occur:
The uterus may have less room to expand normally.
Round ligament pain may become more intense.
Tension on one of the two sciatic nerves may be exacerbated, as is common on the side that is less aligned.
The baby has less space and freedom to turn into a position in the womb.
The latter factor may be of particular concern. Pelvic misalignment may be one of the primary factors that influence a baby's position in the womb.
Prenatal chiropractic care helps to combat these issues. One technique that we use during our Urbandale prenatal chiropractic care is called the Webster Technique. This is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment that is designed specifically for pregnant women, which seeks to align the pelvis and decrease tension around the uterus and surrounding ligaments. The key point addressed with the Webster Technique is working to reduce tension on the round ligamant. It is when this ligament is overly tight that motions for your baby can be limited and cause an unideal presentation for your baby in the womb, from transverse (sideways) or breech (upside-down) presnetations. The technique is safe according to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, which has conducted studies on chiropractic care during pregnancy when applied by a properly trained provider.
We see many pregnant women in the areas near Meredith Road and throughout Urbandale for chiropractic adjustments in all stages of pregnancy. Some come in early, while others don't start until pain sets in. While we always recommend coming in earlier if possible to help prevent any issues, it is always possible to get some help and relief, as well as staying active and doing the things that are still required for you to do in life. That is the one thing I have learned over the years, life never slows down for pregnancy.
What the Webster Technique Does During Pregnancy
Moms-to-be throughout the Urbandale area are coming into our office for chiropractic treatments they may be starting to have lower back painful by the second trimester, if not sooner. But the Webster Technique is for much more than just pain relief.
The Webster Technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment that is specially designed for women throughout pregnancy. It seeks to bring balance and normal motion to the sacrum, the wedge-shaped bone located at the bottom of the spine, and the surrounding muscles and ligaments. When these become imbalanced, they may create tension in ligaments attached to the uterus. That pressure could impact the amount of space your baby has in the womb for maneuvering and positioning.
Recieving chiropractic care while pregnant requires a specialist. We work with you to help maintain proper baby position, keep you comfortable throughout pregnancy, as well as maximize your bodies function to help reduce labor and delivery time (yes it is possible).
What we're doing when we apply the Webster Technique is:
Sacral misalignment from the added weight and changing center of gravity
Round ligament tension that gives you the uncomfortable tugging sensation on both sides of the abdomen
Pelvic imbalance that creates limited room for the baby to move near the end of your pregnancy
Sciatic nerve irritation that can cause shooting pain down the leg
I hear it on a regular basis. Someone is scheduled for an appointment around 32 weeks pregnant, she's not sleeping well, it is painful to walk and move around, and she's been told to tough it out. My opinion? It's not okay. You dont have to suffer during the time spent being pregnant. It is a common misconception that just because someone is pregnant that they have to “suffer” for nine months straight. Seek us out we are here to help!
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association notes research on the Webster Technique that focuses on fetal positioning. The technique itself does not attempt to reposition the baby. Rather, the goal is to reduce the tension and restriction on the ligaments and bony structure around the baby that may be preventing them from moving on their own.
We see and understand the impact this has on how you feel on a day to day basis. It relieves pressure, helps you sleep better, and can literally help you breathe better. We've seen patients in our office at 20 weeks that have trouble getting out of bed and then walking pain free for 30+ minutes by the third trimester.
What many people don't know or understand is that the Webster technique also supports the nervous system when your body is under so much pressure. Pregnancy is not easy. While you grow and carry a tiny human, it can take a toll on your body, and we are here to help you throughout each stage.
What can you expect in your prenatal chiropractic visit?
We hear the same question daily from Urbandale moms. You wonder what chiropractic for pregnant women involves? I love the first appointments.
Just like with any new patient that comes in, we chat about what is going on with you, why you are coming in and what you want to get out of your chiropractic experience in office. It is fun with pregnancy to help to be a resource to our pregnant moms and give them a stage to talk about where they are at and ask the questions they want answered, instead of the 5 minute OB visit they may get once every four weeks. We are always happy to pass along helpful information to our pregnant moms, including good books to read to help your own understanding.
Before the first adjustment, we will talk about your symptoms and what issues pregnancy has been causing. After that we will do a thorough neurological examination to get as accurate of a diagnosis as we can, since X-rays cannot be utilized. After the examination, we can move forward with an adjustment. Every area I work on is explained before anything is done, including where the round ligament is and what it looks like to work on it. The American Pregnancy Association shares that chiropractic care during pregnancy has been shown to be safe and can provide relief to help with balancing of the pelvis for increased comfort during pregnancy.
This what you can expect on your very first appointment:
We walk through your health history and review how your pregnancy is progressing.
We discuss any particular symptom that is bothering you (back pain, sciatica, round ligament pain, trouble sleeping, heartburn, etc.).
I go over exactly what the Webster technique involves, what I'm looking for, and answer all of your questions.
A thorough chiropractic neurological exam to determine the root cause of the issues.
A chiropractic adjustment. We got you covered! We have specialized pillows that allows a pregnant mom to lay on her stomach. Each step will be described and talked through before each area is worked on.
Round ligament work to help with the pressure in pelvis and maximize space for baby to move around and grow. It is common for moms to described their baby as being more active after having this area worked on, and I describe it as think of your baby stretching afterword with the extra space.
Afterward I'll go over my recommendations on the next appointment and a time to go over for next steps.
And again, we have a special pillows for you to lay comfortably on your belly and the specialized care in our office the adjustment does not affects the baby. Prenatal chiropractic care requires a specialist. Moms usually leave their first visit feeling more relief than they'd experienced in a long time and often come back next visit saying they got better sleep the night after their first adjustment. Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows they will take whatever help they can get for sleep!
I'm a parent too. I watched the challenges my wife had while pregnant. It is very similar to what I have told patients in the past, knowledge of working on kids is different than having kids, you learn a lot. The same thing happened for me going through the pregnancy and delivery process with my wife. I understand what questions come up at what times and how confusing some phrases can be thrown out at OB visits. I am here to help for each stage of the way, pregnancy is a special moment and life and I want to help to all I can to have it be a positive, happy experience for you.
When to Start and How Often
The sooner the better, but, I see moms in Urbandale come in for chiropractic care at all stages of pregnancy. I have had wellness patients, who I have seen for years, tell me they are the first person they have told they are pregnant, right at 4 weeks.
It’s never too late to start. I recently had a mom come in at 32 weeks after having been to two other chiropractors with little relief. She was worried that they didn’t know how to work on her while prengant, and it wasn’t comfortable to lay on the table and she was sore after her visits. We were able to help her immediately, visits, proving again that prenatal chiropractic care is effective at any stage.
Here's a basic idea on how we approach pregnancy at these stages:
1st Trimester: If you're dealing with morning sickness, exhaustion, and lower back tightness already, I'd recommend starting here if you can. Getting the pelvis into an position right at the start of pregnancy usually results in an easier pregnancy overall and keeping up on the round ligament tightening early on helps reduce the risk of baby being in an improper presentation later in pregnancy.
2nd Trimester: Many women start noticing pelvic imbalance and round ligament pain. It is at this point that the aches and pains tend to add up and cause more issues and symptoms for a mom. Baby grows a lot at this time.
3rd Trimester: Baby rapidly grows at this stage and becomes very large and sometimes overbearing. The Webster technique is the perfect solution to help realign the pelvis during this stage. Frequency of care at this stage depends on how early in pregnancy a mom starts. If just starting, several adjustments a week may be required to minimize symptoms. While moms have been coming in since early in pregnancy commonly only need to come once a week to every other week depending on where in the third trimester they are. The last month of pregnancy every mom needs to come once a week typically to counteract the affects of the hormone relaxin ramping up this window, prepping body for labor and delivery.
Every pregnancy is different. I try to be as straight forward as I can in regards to explaining an expectation for your chiropractic schedule to meet your specific needs. Pregnancy doesn’t allow for X-rays, there isn’t a direct way to see exactly what is causing the issues. Some moms feel great during their first trimester and feel the difference during their 30th week of pregnancy. That's not uncommon. And again, I know from personal experience the difference between something that is "discomforting but manageable" and something that is "not comfortable at all, makes it impossible to sleep, makes it hard to work, and nothing is making the symptoms go away." There will be a recommended guideline of care that will be established, if you are doing great, we will space out visits farther. If you start experiencing more intense symptoms when you hit the third trimister, you may need to come in more often. This is something we will be talking and communicating each time you are in.
Many patients on Meredith, as well as those along the Urbandale corridor, are sent to us by an OB or midwife. Others discover us after a friend referred them. Regardless of how they came to us, the first appointment is always a discussion first. During this conversation we'll learn where you are, what has got you worried, and what you'd like to be able to do and your goals.
How soon can I come in after having my baby?
I have seen mom as soon at two days after delivery of their baby. They had left the hospital and came straight to see me after. Not saying you are required to come in that early, but as long as you can get here safely, we can help. It is typically recommended to come in within the first two weeks after delivery to get an adjustment.
It is important to say your visit won’t be the same your first visit back. We will take time to talk about how labor and delivery went, as well as talk about how your newborn is doing. We offer a complimentary first visit for a baby after deliviery to get life started on the right foot. Childbirth takes a toll on both the mother, as well as the little baby.
Adjustments won’t be the same as they were during pregnancy, as we shift to doing gentle activator adjusments in the lower back, giving your body the time it needs to properly heal after labor, especially if there was tearing with childbirth. This is a big transition time in your body. After having baby there is a lot less pressure on lower back with no longer being pregnant, however, neck and shoulders take on a lot more work as they now are required to hold and nurse a baby for almost the entire day. Chiropractic care in post-partum helps speed up the “getting back to normal” process after pregnant, as well as working to prevent pelvic tilt issues months or years down the road. Care at this time is intentional and incredibly gentle.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care and Sciatica Relief
Sciatica during pregnancy can be miserable. That shooting, burning pain along your hip and down your leg can make it difficult to get out of a bed, much less run after a toddler or sit through a workday. This is very common in pregnancy. Often mothers in their second or third trimester come to us with difficulty even walking without pain. Why? It's the same reason: the pelvis becomes unbalanced as the baby grows, and that imbalance compresses or directly irritates the sciatic nerve.
Here's what happens in your body during pregnancy. As your belly grows, your center of balance shifts forward. Your lower back arches more. Your pelvis tilts, and it affects the way you walk and move around. As a result, that compression and irritation on your sciatic nerve pathway increases. This isn't an outcome you just have to live with until after you deliver your baby.. Prenatal chiropractic care can help address this. We use the Webster Technique, a protocol developed for pregnant patients, to balance the pelvis and relieve tension on the muscles and ligaments attached around the pelvis. Webster is recommended as a safe, effective protocol for the treatment of pelvic misalignment and reduction of intrauterine constraint by the American Pregnancy Association.
So, what does this session look like? It's gentle. There are no pressures applied to your belly.
We begin a thorough examination to find at which point of the sciatic nerve it is being irritated.
The pregnancy allows you to lay comfortably while we find what spots need to be worked on
Gentle adjustments are given to the sacrum, the pelvic structure, and surrounding structures.
We may also give soft tissue work to the round ligaments and surrounding hip muscles, causing increased pressure on the nerve.
Many patients in the Meredith Street area and throughout Urbandale begin to see improved sleep and mobility within several appointments. They also feel better in the third trimester. And it's not just the relief from pain. When your pelvis is aligned, you are giving your baby more room to turn into the position before birth. If your pregnancy and sciatica pain are running you into the ground, we encourage you not to suffer in silence. Give us a call, and we will determine what is happening and what to do about it. According to the ACA, there are several conditions chiropractic care can improve during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prenatal chiropractic care safe during all stages of pregnancy?
Yes, prenatal chiropractic care is safe throughout all stages of pregnancy, when performed by a trained provider. The Webster Technique, which we use here in Urbandale, is recognized by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. You receive light, specific pressure to the pelvis and soft tissue. Their is minimal twisting in the lower back to maintain your own comfort. Many of our patients start as early as the first trimester and continue right up to their due date.
Can the Webster Technique help my baby get into a better position?
The Webster Technique does not directly move your baby. What it does is reduce tension and restriction in your pelvis and surrounding ligaments. When that tension is reduced, your baby has more room and freedom to move on their own. Research noted by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association focuses on fetal positioning in connection with this technique. Less restriction in the womb gives your baby a better chance to find the right position before labor. I have helped many moms who are frantic at 36 weeks that their baby is breech or upside down, and with working with them they avoided having to get an External Cephalic Version (ECV) done and had a natural labor instead of a C-section.
Can prenatal chiropractic care help with sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy?
Yes, sciatic nerve pain is one of the most common complaints we hear from pregnant women in Urbandale. When your pelvis becomes misaligned, it can put pressure on one of the sciatic nerves, causing shooting pain down your leg. Chiropractic adjustments work to correct that pelvic imbalance. Many patients feel a noticeable difference after just a few visits. Walking becomes easier, sleep improves, and that sharp leg pain starts to calm down.
What should I expect at my first prenatal chiropractic visit in Urbandale?
Your first visit starts with a real conversation, not just a form. We talk about how far along you are, what hurts, how you are sleeping, and how your day is going. Before anything is done, you are told exactly where and how we will work. Nothing is a surprise. Moms near Meredith and throughout Urbandale tell us this approach helps them feel safe and relaxed, which makes the adjustment more effective.
When is the best time to start prenatal chiropractic care?
Earlier is better, but it is never too late to start. We recommend coming in before pain sets in so we can help prevent issues from developing. Many Urbandale moms wait until the second trimester when back pain becomes hard to ignore. We see patients at every stage. No matter where you are in your pregnancy, there is still real relief available.
Do I need a referral from my OB or midwife to see a prenatal chiropractor in Urbandale?
You do not need a referral to book a prenatal chiropractic appointment in Urbandale. You can call and schedule directly. That said, we always encourage open communication with your OB or midwife so your whole care team is on the same page. Most providers are supportive of chiropractic care during pregnancy. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or specific medical concerns, come with your questions and we will talk about if we can work around what complications you may be going through. I have worked around several complicating factors in pregancy and their is very few things that means you can’t seek chiropractic care.