Bringing a new life into this world is a joyful and rewarding experience but, most times, your body takes a big hit. Childbirth comes with lots of changes, both physical and mental. While some new moms are lucky not to experience postpartum pains, most do. Postpartum chiropractic care can help you recover from post-pregnancy trauma so that you can savor those precious moments with your bundle of joy. If you are in Katy, Fulshear, Brookshire, Cinco Ranch, and Sealy or its surroundings, a qualified chiropractor at HD Performance Chiropractic can help you get out of pain. A professional chiropractor will also advise you on the correct postures when carrying out several activities like carrying or feeding your baby. 

How Soon After Having a Baby Can You See a Chiropractor?

You can visit a chiropractor as soon as you're able to leave the house — but it also depends on your method of delivery and how complicated your pregnancy was. 

Vaginal delivery

If you had a vaginal delivery, you can see a chiropractor as soon as you can walk. A chiropractor should answer questions and concerns you may have about receiving chiropractic care. If you've experienced complications such as excessive placental or vaginal bleeding, get medical attention before seeing a chiropractor.

Cesarean section

When you undergo an uncomplicated C-section, you will usually need to wait between 1 and 3 months to see a chiropractor for lower back treatment, depending on how fast you recover. You can, however, get neck and upper back adjustments right away. If you underwent a C-section, a chiropractor should perform chiropractic adjustments when you are in a sitting position or lying on your back. Using pregnancy pillows can help relieve pressure on your belly and chest, especially if you are breastfeeding. The adjustments are very gentle so as to not aggravate any stitches.

The Benefits of Postpartum Chiropractic Care 

Some of the post-birth realities include a swollen uterus and disarranged organs. Hormonal changes affect your joints, posture, and ligaments. Studies show that as much as 80% of women suffer from lower back pain during and post-pregnancy. After birth, you also have to start a new routine of breastfeeding and carrying your toddler around on your shoulders or hips, all of which may leave you with slumped shoulders or a forward-leaning head and neck. Here are some benefits of chiropractic care post-pregnancy.

1. Posture-related advice

You adopt different postures during your pregnancy and after — you have a posture for walking, another for breastfeeding, sleeping, and so on. Staying in one posture for too long may cause continuous body strain and injury. Holding, feeding, and nurturing your baby can place a lot of stress on the muscles and joints of the upper back and neck. An experienced chiropractor can advise on the best posture you should practice for good alignment and to avoid pelvic, neck, and back pain. 

2. Helps you achieve pelvic stability

Your bump size grows as your pregnancy grows, altering the position of your pelvis to increase baby space. The increased pressure compromises your general core strength and pelvic stability, causing you to have weakened abdominal and pelvic muscles. The hormone relaxin, for instance, causes joint laxity, especially in the pelvis, leading to pelvic and lower back pain. Pelvic floor therapy can aid in tissue repair and the internal portion of the scar. Therapy can also balance the muscles that control continence and clear congestion. Therapeutic exercise is a great treatment modality that our chiropractors use to help strengthen the core.

3. Restores your body's biomechanics

You gain weight as the baby grows, which increases pressure in different areas of your body, including the spine, back, and hips and shifts your center of gravity. A chiropractor can help with these painful areas after birth by working through tight muscles and adjusting stiff joints. This will allow you to move more freely and with less pain. 

4. Relieves pain and headaches

You'll inevitably experience lots of pain as a new mom — from neck and shoulder blades to wrist and elbow pain from holding on to a baby who won't sleep through the night. You can also suffer frequent headaches because of several factors, like lack of sleep and hormonal changes. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve your pain so you can feel energized to continue with your motherhood journey. 

5. Helps treat sciatica

Sciatica is a condition where you experience nerve compression on your lower spine. Some symptoms of sciatica include a numbing and tingling pain in your leg and lower back pain. The symptoms often happen during pregnancy as the uterus expands, but can also happen after birth since the uterus is still enlarged. A chiropractor can try multiple different treatment approaches to help ease sciatica.

Receive Postpartum Chiropractic Care at HD Performance Chiropractic

Pregnancy and motherhood should not be a ticket to misery and poor health. Being in good health will help you give your newborn the best possible care. Some of the chiropractic options to support recovery include assisted stretching, corrective exercises, and soft-tissue mobilization for symptom management and a quick recovery.

Visit a reliable chiropractor at HD Performance Chiropractic to get the care you deserve. We serve clients in several areas, including Katy, Fulshear, Brookshire, Cinco Ranch, Sealy and surroundings. Our chiropractor uses safe and advanced techniques and technologies to restore your body to optimal health. Schedule an appointment with us today.