Prenatal chiropractic

Available at Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley

Prenatal chiropractic care uses gentle, pregnancy-safe adjustments and positioning to ease back, hip and pelvic discomfort as your body changes. Care adapts to each stage of pregnancy and continues after delivery if you need it.

Now welcoming new patients

Comfort as your body changes

As pregnancy progresses, your center of gravity shifts forward, you carry more weight and hormones relax the ligaments that hold the pelvis together. These changes often bring lower back pain, hip pain, pelvic discomfort and sciatica-like symptoms.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy aims to keep the spine and pelvis moving well and balanced, which may help you stay more comfortable when standing, sitting, walking and sleeping. Care is gentle and can continue throughout pregnancy, and it is a good option for many people who want to limit medication for their pain.

How care is adapted for pregnancy

Your chiropractor follows the same basic workup used for every patient, adapted for how far along you are. Your history, how you sit and stand, and how your spine and pelvis move all guide your care.

X-rays are not taken during pregnancy. Assessment relies on your history, posture, gentle movement checks and palpation.

Positioning changes as your pregnancy progresses. Instead of lying face down, you may be adjusted face up for the upper back or on your side for the lower back. Techniques avoid pressure on the abdomen.

The Webster Technique

The Webster Technique is a specific analysis and adjustment of the sacrum and pelvis used during pregnancy, along with gentle work on the surrounding muscles and ligaments. It is a chiropractic technique, not obstetric care. It does not turn or reposition a baby and does not guarantee any labor outcome.

Dr. Ron Merriel, DC at our San Diego office is Webster certified.

Postnatal chiropractic care

After delivery, hormones gradually settle and ligaments tighten again, and posture changes made during pregnancy can linger. Chiropractic care after birth can help ease the back, hip and pelvic discomfort that often follows.

Caring for a new baby brings its own strain. Many new parents feel fatigue and pain in the upper back, neck and lower back from feeding, lifting and carrying. Your chiropractor can suggest more comfortable positions and specific exercises while your core muscles recover.

Common pregnancy discomforts we see

Lower back pain
The growing weight of the baby pulls the lower back into a deeper curve and adds load to the joints and muscles.
Pelvic girdle and sacroiliac pain
Relaxed ligaments let the joints of the pelvis move more than usual, which can cause pain at the back of the pelvis, in the hips or at the front of the pelvis.
Sciatica-like pain
Tight muscles and pelvic changes can irritate the sciatic nerve, sending pain into the buttock and leg.
Round ligament discomfort
The ligaments that support the uterus stretch as it grows and can cause sharp or pulling pain at the front of the hips.
Upper back and neck tension
Changes in breast size, posture and sleep can leave the upper back and neck sore.
Rib discomfort
Later in pregnancy, the growing baby can put pressure on the ribs and the muscles between them.

What a prenatal visit looks like

At your first visit, your chiropractor asks about your pregnancy, your due date, any complications, your health history and what you are feeling. They check your posture and how your spine, pelvis and hips move, using gentle hands-on checks.

Treatment uses pregnancy-safe positioning, with cushions or supports as needed, and gentle adjustments and soft tissue work. Your chiropractor will check how you feel throughout and change positions whenever you need. Follow-up visits are adjusted as your pregnancy progresses.

Comfort at home and at work

Simple habits can make a difference between visits. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees helps keep the pelvis level. When you get out of bed, roll to your side first and push up with your arms. Supportive shoes, regular short walks and changing position often during the day can ease back and hip strain.

If you sit for work, a chair that supports your lower back or a large exercise ball can help, along with breaks to stand and move. When lifting, bend at the knees and keep the load close to your body. Your chiropractor can show you gentle stretches suited to your stage of pregnancy.

When to call your prenatal provider

Chiropractic care is for muscle, joint and nerve discomfort. If you have bleeding, fluid loss, severe or sudden pain, regular contractions, swelling of the face or hands, headaches that will not go away, or a change in your baby’s movements, contact your OB-GYN or midwife right away.

Patient case studies

Lower back pain through the final weeks of pregnancy

Patient
A woman in the last months of pregnancy.
Symptoms
Significant lower back aching and pain. Her pelvis felt like it was shifting, which made standing or sitting for long periods uncomfortable.
Findings
Pelvic imbalance linked to the relaxed ligaments of late pregnancy.
Care
Weekly visits for about three months, with positioning modified so she did not lie face down, and changes to how she sat during the day, including sitting on a large exercise ball instead of a chair.
Outcome
Each adjustment held for most of the week, and her care helped her manage her pain through the end of her pregnancy.

Individual results vary.

Book prenatal care

Offered at 3 Greenlight offices.

Your questions,
answered

About prenatal care at Greenlight.

Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?

Prenatal chiropractic care is considered safe when provided by a chiropractor trained in pregnancy-specific techniques. Care is gentle, low-force and adapted to each stage of pregnancy, and it avoids pressure on the abdomen.

When should prenatal chiropractic care begin?

Care can begin at any stage of pregnancy. Some people start early to support posture and comfort as the body changes, while others begin when back, hip or pelvic discomfort appears.

Can chiropractic care help with pregnancy-related back pain?

Pregnancy-related back pain is often linked to posture changes, pelvic imbalance and extra load on the spine. Prenatal chiropractic care focuses on spinal and pelvic function, which may help reduce strain and make movement more comfortable.

Does prenatal chiropractic care turn the baby?

No. Prenatal chiropractic care does not manually turn or reposition the baby. It focuses on the balance and movement of the pelvis and the comfort of the mother.

What techniques are used?

Gentle spinal and pelvic adjustments, pregnancy-safe positioning and support, soft tissue work for muscle tension, pelvic balancing approaches such as the Webster Technique, and posture and movement guidance, all adapted to your comfort and stage of pregnancy.

How often should I see a chiropractor during pregnancy?

It depends on your symptoms, stage of pregnancy and how you respond. Some people come periodically, while others come more often during times of increased discomfort.

Do I need X-rays during pregnancy?

No. X-rays are not used during pregnancy for chiropractic care. Your assessment is based on your history, a physical exam and movement checks, all done in a pregnancy-safe way.

Is prenatal chiropractic care painful?

No. Care is designed to be gentle and comfortable, and it is adjusted based on how you feel during treatment.

Can chiropractic care prepare me for labor?

Prenatal care may help you stay comfortable and keep your pelvis moving well during pregnancy. It does not guarantee any labor or delivery outcome.

Should I talk with my OB-GYN or midwife?

Yes. Let your prenatal provider know you are receiving chiropractic care, especially if your pregnancy is considered high risk.

Can chiropractic care help sciatica during pregnancy?

Sciatica-like pain in pregnancy is often linked to pelvic changes and tight muscles. Gentle adjustments and soft tissue work may help ease that pressure.

How soon after delivery can I come back?

Many people return a few weeks after birth, once they feel ready. After a cesarean birth, check with your doctor first. Your chiropractor will adapt care to how you are healing.

Is prenatal care offered at every office?

Yes. Prenatal chiropractic care is available at our Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley offices.