Prenatal Chiropractor Exam: What To Expect At Yours

Have you been thinking about seeing a prenatal chiropractor to help with natural pregnancy pain relief or to support your goal of a natural birth? Then you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect at a prenatal chiropractor visit.

You can do all the research you want on the benefits of prenatal chiropractic care, how to prepare for a natural birth and even if going to the chiropractor during pregnancy is safe, but it can still be hard to picture what a prenatal chiropractor exam will also be like.

Keep reading for a full step-by-step look at getting started with a pregnancy chiropractor. While some of these features may be unique to our South Lincoln, NE prenatal chiropractor, it will still give you a good idea of what to expect at your first appointment.

Getting Started with a Prenatal Chiropractor

Before you ever lay down on the chiropractic table, there’s a lot that goes into getting ready for your first prenatal chiropractor exam.

At our Lincoln, NE prenatal chiropractor office, for example, we start with a complete physical exam and a prenatal health intake. During the health intake session we’ll discuss your goals, any health concerns you have and also gather information about your prenatal provider team. If you have any natural pregnancy and health questions, we can talk through those at this first assessment as well.

It’s also important to discuss any problem areas you have or pain you may be experiencing with your prenatal chiropractor before your first exam. You may discuss how prenatal chiropractic care can fit into your other prenatal care and how working with a chiropractor can impact your comfort and even labor by affecting your pelvic region and helping with optimal baby positioning for birth.

This in-depth discussion will help your prenatal chiropractor with the next step in the process, which is coming up with a personalized care plan and getting started with your first adjustment.

How Often Will You See Your Prenatal Chiropractor?

Your first chiropractic exam with a prenatal chiropractor typically takes place the same day you do the physical exam and health intake. From there, your doctor will come up with a personalized care plan. How often you visit the chiropractor will depend on your individual needs and how you’re feeling.

At our South Lincoln, NE prenatal chiropractor office, most patients start out by seeing us weekly or even more frequently, depending on their level of pain or discomfort. 

Once you start physically feeling better - usually after only three or four visits - you would usually begin following a schedule similar to that of your OB GYN or midwives. That would have you seeing your prenatal chiropractor about every 4 weeks until about 26 weeks of pregnancy, then every two weeks until week 36 and then weekly until your baby comes.

If you go over 40 weeks, you may want to start seeing your prenatal chiropractor every other day or twice per week to deal with any end-of-pregnancy pain and help prepare your body for labor.

What To Expect At a Prenatal Chiropractor Exam

What each of your appointments with your prenatal chiropractor will be like will depend on your current stage of pregnancy, your individual health needs and any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.

For prenatal chiropractic patients, pregnancy support pillows are typically used to help you lay on your stomach to get adjusted. A chiropractic exam table - called a drop table - has pieces that move up and down, allowing your prenatal chiropractor to adjust you with less pressure. 

Many patients worry that the adjustment will be painful. While you may experience some discomfort if you’re seeing a doctor for pain relief, your doctor will do their best to keep you comfortable throughout your appointment.

An adjustment should address and treat your full body, even if your main complaint or discomfort is in one part of your body, because how each part of your body moves impacts the movement and comfort of other areas of your body.

At our South Lincoln, NE prenatal chiropractor office, for example, we check all the main ligaments, muscles and bones that have effects on alignment and the balance of the pelvis at every prenatal visit. 

We also set aside a great deal of time to talk to the doctor. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions about your chiropractic care, but also lets you talk to your prenatal chiropractor about any other natural health or pregnancy questions you may have, such as preparing for labor, baby positioning for birth or chiropractic for a breech baby.

Whatever questions or concerns you may have, a prenatal chiropractor can truly become a partner in your pregnancy journey.

Moving Forward with Prenatal Chiropractic Care

Working with a prenatal chiropractor is an evolving process. Your chiropractic care should be evaluated at every visit, as you talk with your doctor about how you are feeling and if any health issues or changes have come up in your care.

But no matter what your personal needs, your chiropractor should be focused on helping you feel better and enjoy your pregnancy more. With a good chiropractor on your pregnancy care team, you can experience less pain and discomfort, stay active throughout your pregnancy and could even experience a smoother labor.

If you’re ready to get started with a prenatal chiropractor nearby, it’s time to do your research! While most chiropractors can work with an expectant mother, finding a doctor who specializes in prenatal chiropractic care could be the best fit, as they’ll be more experienced in understanding health needs and common pain points during pregnancy.

If you’re looking for a prenatal chiropractor in Lincoln, NE, then look no further than Everwell Family Chiropractic. Our staff includes a Webster Certified chiropractor with years of experience helping pregnant moms feel better. 

We can offer pregnancy-safe pain relief for issues like sciatica, headaches and pelvic pain. We have also helped patients prepare the body for birth, make space for turning a breech baby and jump start labor naturally.

Contact us today to set up a free consultation and learn more about our prenatal chiropractor team.