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Prenatal Chiropractor in Urbandale
Webster Certified Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy and Pelvic Balance
Pregnancy is a time of incredible change, and specialized chiropractic care in Urbandale can make the journey more comfortable. Dr. Von is Webster Certified, 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.
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 body parts to endure 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 relaxing, which loosens ligaments in preparation for labor and delivery, but it loosens other ligaments throughout your body. This can cause your spinal joints and structures to move in unusual ways, which don't often happen for women outside of their pregnancies.
It's something that we see all the time. A mom may be 20 weeks pregnant and complaining that she has back pain by noon and can’t sleep well on either side by 11 PM. That is often because her pelvis has already begun to move abnormally and will likely only get worse over time without treatment.
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 an 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 for pregnant women that seeks to align the pelvis and decrease tension around the uterus and surrounding ligaments. The technique is generally safe according to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, which has conducted studies on chiropractic care during pregnancy (https://www.icpa4kids.org/about/evidence) when applied by a properly trained provider.
We see many pregnant women in the areas near Meredith 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.
Your spine is still fine. It just has a little bit more to carry, and it needs a little bit of help to keep going strong.
What the Webster Technique Does During Pregnancy
Moms-to-be throughout the Urbandale area are coming into our office for chiropractic treatments because their lower back is painful by the second trimester, if not even 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.
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 is shooting pain all the way down your leg
Our team hears it on a regular basis. Someone is scheduled for an appointment around 32 weeks pregnant, she's not sleeping, walking is painful, and she's been told to tough it out. Our opinion? It's not okay. During the adjustment, you are not being cracked or twisted. You're simply getting light and specific pressure to the pelvis and soft tissue to the ligaments. That is the technique.
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 that may prevent the baby 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 20+ 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, your spine and pelvis stay balanced, helping 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.
The first step before I touch a thing, is a conversation. I ask how far along you are, what are your current complaints and struggles, how are you sleeping, how is your day. Your intake is not about a form. My focus is on you and your body right now in front of me. I care about your experience. Each pregnancy and each woman is unique, and we don't treat the forms.
I will tell you in each area where I will work, in my hand, on my table before I actually do anything. We do not want to scare you or to surprise you. When moms know what will happen, they feel more at ease and I believe a mom who feels safe will be able to be in a much better position to receive an adjustment. I will go through a step by step of what we will focus on. I will explain the Webster technique, which is utilized for a woman in pregnancy. I utilize a gentle and low force method of the pelvis and surrounding soft tissue. 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 is literally what you can expect on your very first appointment:
We walk through your health history and review how your pregnancy is progressing.
I perform a full postural evaluation to see how your body is adapting.
We discuss any particular symptom that is bothering you (back pain, sciatica, round ligament pain, trouble sleeping, etc.).
I go over exactly what the Webster technique involves, what I'm looking for, and answer all of your questions.
Your actual chiropractic adjustment occurs on a table built specifically for pregnant moms that allows you to lay comfortable on your belly.
Afterward I'll go over my findings and give you recommendations for next steps.
And again, we have a special table for you to lay comfortably on your belly and absolutely nothing during this adjustment impacts the baby. Moms usually leave their first visit feeling more relief than they'd experienced in a long time and more informed about what actually happened.
I'm a parent too. I watched my wife get pregnant. When you sit across the room and explain what you're feeling, I'm not going to sit here with a generic nod and a "yep, that's normal." Because I get it.
When to Start and How Often
The sooner the better, but, I see moms in Urbandale come in for chiropractic care at all different stages of pregnancy and the moms who start in the first trimester usually end up having a less painful second and third.
It’s never too late to start. I recently had a mom come in 36 weeks after having been to two other chiropractors with little relief. We were able to help her with a handful of visits, proving again that prenatal chiropractic care is effective at any stage.
Here's a basic idea on how we approach schedule during a pregnancy:
1st Trimester: If you're dealing with morning sickness, exhaustion, and lower back tightness already, I'd recommend starting now. Getting the pelvis into an position right at the start of pregnancy usually results in an easier pregnancy overall.
2nd Trimester: Many women start noticing pelvic imbalance and round ligament pain. The average mom comes in every other week or every 3rd week in her second trimester.
3rd Trimester: Typically I'd recommend once a week to accommodate the rapidly growing baby. The pelvis often starts to tighten up or the mom starts noticing pelvic imbalance again as they get closer to giving birth. The Webster technique is the perfect solution to help realign the pelvis during this stage.
Every pregnancy looks different and we're always flexible in adjusting your chiropractic schedule to meet your specific needs. 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 is a solution to the latter.
Many patients in 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's got you worried, and what you'd like to feel. Following delivery don't skip the visit! The postpartum period is when many mothers fall out of care. However your body has done the most incredible thing so we'd like to take care of you then, as much as you were cared for while carrying your baby.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care and Sciatica Relief
Sciatica during pregnancy is miserable. That shooting, burning pain along your hip and into 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 Urbandale. 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. As a result, that compression and irritation on your sciatic nerve pathway increases. This isn't an outcome you just have to accept. 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 by examining your posture to understand where the imbalance is occurring.
The adjustment table we use is designed to accommodate your belly.
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 to the nerve.
Many patients in the Meredith area, and throughout Urbandale, begin to see improved sleep and mobility within several appointments. They also feel better for 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 is running you into the ground, we'd encourage you not to suffer in silence. Give us a call and we'll help determine what's happening. 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 generally 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. There is no cracking or twisting involved. You receive light, specific pressure to the pelvis and soft tissue. 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 gone, 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.
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, including women at 32 weeks who have not slept well in weeks. 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, checking in with your doctor first is a smart step.