Rethinking Tylenol: Your Guide to a More Comfortable, Drug-Free Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of amazing and rapid changes. As your baby grows, your body works hard to create a nurturing environment. These changes, while beautiful, can put new stress on your muscles, joints, and spine, leading to the common aches and pains that might have previously led you to reach for a pain reliever.

Some of the challenges you might be feeling include:

• Lower back pain: As your beautiful belly grows, your center of gravity shifts forward. This causes the curve in your lower back to deepen, which can strain your joints and muscles.
• Sciatica: The natural shifting of your pelvis can sometimes put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing a sharp pain that can travel from your back down your leg.
• Pelvic Discomfort: Your body produces a wonderful hormone called relaxin, which softens your ligaments to prepare for birth. Sometimes, this can lead to an achy or unstable feeling in your pelvic joints.
• Neck Pain and Headaches: To balance your growing belly, you might find yourself unconsciously changing your posture, leading to new tension in your neck and shoulders that can trigger headaches.

These feelings are a normal part of the pregnancy journey and a sign of the incredible work your body is doing. While medication can temporarily mask the pain, it doesn't address the underlying physical shifts causing it. This is where gentle chiropractic care and soothing massage can offer a truly supportive alternative.

At Accident and Wellness Chiropractic here in SE Portland, we love supporting moms-to-be! While many know us for our work with auto accident injuries, our team has a special passion for and training in prenatal care. We are here to help you feel your best and enjoy your pregnancy with less reliance on medication.

How can chiropractic care help?

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a safe, gentle approach focused on keeping your spine and pelvis balanced and comfortable. We use special pillows and adjusting tables to ensure you and your baby are always safe and supported.

• Creating a Balanced and Comfortable Pelvis: We use specialized, gentle techniques to help your pelvis stay balanced and properly aligned. This can ease low back and sciatic pain and gives your baby plenty of room to grow and get into the best position for birth.
• Easing Nerve Pressure: By gently restoring motion to your spine, we can ease the pressure on irritated nerves, providing relief from that nagging sciatic pain.
• Soothing Headaches and Neck Pain: Gentle adjustments to your neck and upper back can release built-up tension, helping to relieve headaches and improve your posture.
• Guiding You With Stretches and Exercises: Your care extends beyond our office! We'll show you safe, simple stretches and exercises you can do at home. This empowers you to manage tightness between visits and helps your body stay strong and flexible as it changes.

Prenatal massage is a wonderful way to find comfort and relaxation during pregnancy. Our licensed massage therapists are specially trained to meet the unique needs of expectant mothers. To ensure your complete comfort, we use a special pregnancy bolster, which has cutouts that allow you to lie safely and comfortably face down, taking all the pressure off your lower back.

• Soothes Sore Muscles: Targeted massage can release knots and ease soreness in your back, neck, hips, and legs.
• Improves Circulation and Reduces Swelling: Massage helps improve blood flow and can reduce the puffiness and swelling that is so common in hands, feet, and legs.
• Promotes Relaxation: A soothing massage can lower stress hormones, helping you feel more relaxed, sleep better, and simply enjoy your pregnancy more.

With this new FDA guidance, taking a proactive, natural approach to your well-being is more important than ever. Choosing to reduce medication use doesn't mean you have to endure discomfort. By addressing the source of your aches and pains with chiropractic care and massage, you can find lasting relief and support your body for a healthier, happier pregnancy.

If you're expecting and looking for ways to feel your best, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our SE Portland clinic. Let our friendly team at Accident and Wellness Chiropractic show you how our safe and gentle treatments can become a cherished part of our prenatal care.