For most women, pregnancy and childbirth are not like they portray it in the movies. In the end, there is the peaceful moment of holding your newborn child, but there’s a lot more that goes on in between that first positive test and that magical moment of meeting your newborn. From experiencing the pain of labor to withstanding the exhaustion of childbirth, there is a lot more to birthing a baby than breathing exercises. There’s nothing quite like the miracle of childbirth, but there is a lot of healing that needs to happen after. It can take time for the soreness to go away or for moms to get the hang of breastfeeding. During birth, there can also be trauma to the spine and surrounding ligaments, tendons, and muscles that will need time to heal. Childbirth can affect the mom in many ways, but did you know that the baby goes through a traumatic experience as well? No matter what kind of birth experience you had, some form of birth trauma occurred. Addressing the effects of childbirth on both moms and babies can be essential to the short-term and long-term health of both mother and child.
Childbirth Takes a Toll on Mom
Growing a baby inside of you is sure to take a toll on your body. An expanding uterus and increased weight gain put pressure on the spinal column. Additionally, as the body prepares for the birthing process, ligaments loosen to allow for the flexibility needed to give birth. To combat these changes, the spine actually takes on an increased lordosis, or inward curvature of the spine. This balances out the weight of the growing baby inside your belly. After giving birth to your baby, it can take time for a woman’s body to return to normal. And even then, it may require some help from Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Ronnie Bolar.
How Does Childbirth Affect the Baby?
Childbirth has changed over the years. Many moms opt for interventions during childbirth to speed up the process or try to make the process safer. However, these interventions are not without risks and potential complications. The use of hormones to start or speed up birth, delivery by forceps or vacuum extraction, or having a Cesarean section have all been linked to short-term and long-term effects on infants. One of these effects could be spinal trauma. Spinal trauma, damage to the brainstem, or spinal misalignments can all occur from the birthing process as a whole, whether you have an easy, vaginal birth or a more intense birth experience. Because of the journey through the birth canal during delivery, almost all babies experience some type of spinal misalignment. Spinal misalignments in babies can be the reason babies experience colic, sleeping problems, or even the inability to feed at one side of the breast because they can’t turn their head. Thankfully, this is where Dr. Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic comes in.
Chiropractic Care Can Help with the Healing Process
One of the best things for both mom and baby after the birthing experience is receiving chiropractic care. Dr. Ronnie Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic can remove spinal misalignments post-birth for mom and baby so the body can heal and function as it should. The sooner you visit a chiropractor, the faster you can recover and give your baby the best possible start in life. Dr. Bolar services Lithia Springs, Hiram, Kellogg, Douglasville, and the surrounding Atlanta area. For more information about how chiropractic care can be beneficial both during pregnancy and in postpartum recovery, contact the office of Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Bolar. Also be sure to visit our friends at Mom Loves Best for additional research-driven, helpful information for before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Sources
Choahan, N. “Birth Interventions ‘Negatively Impact Child’s Long-Term Health.’” The Sydney Morning Herald, 2018 Mar. https://www.smh.com.au/national/birth-interventions-negatively-impact-child-s-long-term-health-20180325-p4z66i.html.
Spear, D., & Alcantara, J. “Resolution of Birth Trauma Sequelae Following Adjustment of Vertebral Subluxations in an Infant.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health, 2016: 28-31. http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/chiropractic-care-resolves-birth-trauma-sequelae.html.