"Pregnancy can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to hurt." I must say this a lot because I overheard my husband saying that to a friend in regards to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy. Good guy, he's been listening! haha.
There are 4 key external indicators that we use with our patients that give us clues of if their outside alignment is affecting their internal (uterus and ligament balance). We’ll be going through each of the 4 over the next 4 weeks.
Our First Indicator of misalignment is Pubic Bone Pain. 🎇 .
2nd picture shows where'd you'd be feeling it.
Our first indicator of misalignment is--pubic bone pain. Our pubic bone is made to be flexible for being able to birth a baby, but it it’s flexibility, it can leave it prone to strain during pregnancy. We consider it an indicator because lots of muscles have attachments into the public bone (abs, legs, pelvic floor, hips) that all have to be working well together to not make it cranky. When you have a cranky pubic bone, it means one of those it’s playing nice. .
You ready for some nerdy anatomy? 🤓
Take a look at the third picture--this is a pretty pregnant uterus and there are are two specific ligaments that are highlighted--the sacral uterine ligaments is the red arrow, and the round ligaments--the blue arrow. When your external structure (your pelvis) is in alignment, those ligaments--which have attachments directly to your uterus have the least amount of tension. Tension on them equals unnecessary pulling on your uterus.
Why is this important?
🌟In order for labor to progress well-- babies need to be able to move where they need to. .
🌟In order for the baby to move well--your body needs to be in the best possible alignment. .
🌟Poor external alignment (causing discomfort)--is warning signs of internal alignment challenges. .
One of the areas that we have to be extra careful about is not putting too much strain on that area when we are getting in and out of the car.🚗
Below is a side-by-side (1st pic- old picture of pregnant Cammi--when are you coming back to work? 😂) that shows two different ways to exit your vehicle that shows two different ways to exit your vehicle--the one on the left is how most of us get out all the time--throw one leg out, and push out from there. The hard part about this is it not only stretches that area, but it also adds a twisting force to it. The best way to get one when you’re pregnant, or postpartum is to swing both legs out together, and then get up from there. It will greatly decrease the strain on our pubic bone.
An easy way to help get some relief 😻 is to find a small ball, or rolled up towel (4-5 in in diameter). Lie back on your back with your knees up and feet flat. Place the ball between your knees and give it a mild squeeze 5 times. Then point your toes in and squeeze 5 more times, and then put your heels in and squeeze 5 more times. This exercise uses your adductor (inner thigh) muscles to help balance the pull on your pubic bone. If that doesn’t help get you relief, please come and see us at Everwell Family Chiropractic. Sometime the extra strain can be caused by other areas of your pelvis that are imbalanced. .
It can be super uncomfortable, and you don’t have to just “deal with it” until baby comes.
