Pregnancy can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a woman’s life–and one of the most painful. This pain can occur not only during labor, however, but also in the months preceding a child’s birth, and for a sustained period afterward. While many women are aware of their pain, they often are unaware of the pain’s source and the solutions that exist to alleviate their condition.

For many expectant mothers, the common ailment of lower back pain is a condition that can be easily corrected through proper chiropractic care. Many moms-to-be write off spinal discomfort as a dark necessity that comes with the territory of pregnancy, rather than as a treatable condition.

Most back pain in pregnant women results from an increase in a hormone called relaxin that works like its name by softening the ligaments in the lower spine and pelvic region. While this loosening is necessary for the delivery of a baby, it often misaligns the spine as ligaments connecting lower vertebrae are stretched and distorted over time. This misalignment is at the root of most expectant mothers’ pain because when the spine is not in optimal condition, the rest of the body reacts accordingly.

As the home of the central nervous system, your spine is a center for pain management. When the spine is kept in proper working order through a series of gentle, non-invasive techniques called chiropractic adjustments, pressure is taken off vertebrae that may have been grinding against other vertebrae or restricting movement. Adjustments are a proven, natural solution to spinal pain management and are ideal for expecting mothers who want to avoid pain medication that could possibly have negative effects on the unborn child.

The benefits of chiropractic care extend beyond the duration of the pregnancy. Women who receive chiropractic care endure less pain than other mothers in labor do. Twenty-five percent of all first-time mothers who receive chiropractic care also enjoy shorter periods of labor. That number jumps up to almost forty percent in pregnant chiropractic patients who have had children before. The pain relief offered by chiropractic care does not stop with labor. After the child is born, regular chiropractic care can prevent postpartum backache and teach a mother back-safe baby lifting and carrying techniques.

Pregnancy should not be a time to struggle with needless back pain. Chiropractic care is affordably priced, but more importantly, it works to make your life better. One scientific study after another confirms what chiropractors and their patients have known for years: chiropractic care stops pain.

Considering the many issues that expecting mothers have to worry about, pain should not have to be one of them. Don’t let back pain interfere with how you want to live your life. If you’re pregnant, take the preventative approach to pain today and make an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation.