Combatting Pregnancy-Related Back Pain

 Nearly 80 percent of pregnant women suffer from back and neck pain. Many women feel this is just a natural part of pregnancy and do nothing to treat their symptoms. However, it is important to learn the benefits of proper spinal alignment to increase the likelihood of a healthier pregnancy and delivery. Atlanta area health specialist and chiropractor, Dr. Austin Cohen provided a few tips on pregnancy-related back pain, and what can be done to treat it.

What are the possible side effects of improper spinal alignment?
- During pregnancy, bad back and neck pain put a pregnant woman through added stress. She develops stress hormones that can be harmful to her and the baby. This pain is often caused by a misaligned pelvis. When the pelvis is misaligned it reduces the amount of room available for the developing baby. This restriction is called intrauterine constraint. A misaligned pelvis can also make it difficult for the baby to move into the best possible position for delivery.

What can you do at home to treat the pain?
- Sleeping on your side can be helpful to relieve the pain, but you don't to get used to the pain or try to numb the pain in some way. See a professional to combat serious pain.
- Try to eat anti-inflammatory foods including vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.), fruits (apples, strawberries, kiwi, etc.), nuts, and fish. Also include foods with little or no preservatives. You also want to supplement the Omega 3 in your diet by eating grass-fed meats and other dietary supplements (Nordic Naturals supplements).

Why should you see a chiropractor during your pregnancy?
- Currently, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association recommends that women receive chiropractic care throughout pregnancy to establish pelvic balance and optimize the room a baby has for development. With a balanced pelvis, babies have a greater chance of moving into the correct position for birth, and the crisis and worry associated with breech and posterior presentations may be avoided. The mother will also experience less pain during pregnancy and delivery.

Dr. Austin Cohen is a local health and wellness specialist and a practicing chiropractor. He speaks often about health-related topics at area public schools, and he has even appeared on CBS News and High Velocity Radio. For more information about his practice, visit http://www.cohenchiropracticcentre.com.