The Gift of Chiropractic Care Helping You to "Rest and Digest"

Stress + Pregnancy: A Chiropractor’s Perspective

“Relax.”

“Just breathe.”

Easier said than done, right? It can be hard. Women are pulled in a thousand different directions in a day. As a pregnant woman, your body is changing physically and hormonally at a such a significant rate, in addition to the daily stressors of life. Additionally, there may be concerns about your labor and delivery, bringing home the baby, and the new experience of motherhood.

Many expecting moms seek out a Webster-certified chiropractor because they know (or have heard) that this chiropractic technique can ease tension, relieve sciatica and balance the pelvis, maximizing space for the baby.

But did you know that chiropractic care during pregnancy can also help moms adapt to daily stress?

Chiropractic, at its core, revolves around the interplay between the body's structure—primarily the spine—and the overall functioning of the nervous system. This intricate system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and an extensive network of nerves connecting with every organ, tissue, and gland in the body. Among its components is the autonomic nervous system, which functions similar to a cell phone for seamless communication.

Consider the autonomic nervous system as your cellular lifeline during a road trip. Imagine being in a remote area, your phone suddenly losing signal strength, and Google Maps is unable to guide you or suggest a pit stop. In that moment, your phone's functionality is crucial for your journey to proceed smoothly. Likewise, your body's nervous system serves to connect the dots, facilitating communication between the brain and body.

The autonomic nervous system orchestrates the body's response to stress, maintaining a delicate equilibrium between the "fight or flight' and "rest or digest" modes.

To grasp this concept better, let's journey back a few thousand years. Picture yourself as an evolutionary pregnant cavewoman confronted by a sabre-toothed tiger. Instinctively, your body triggers the "fight or flight" response. Now, would you prefer to give birth in the midst of a potential tiger attack, or seek refuge in your cave, safeguarded from the threat? The latter, undoubtedly. Fast forward to the present, where the stressors have evolved from wild predators to the demands of a 9- 5 job, nursery preparations, reading baby books, and the occasional family tension.  The "rest and digest" mode is pivotal for ensuring a comfortable pregnancy. More significantly, it facilitates the production of the hormone relaxin, aiding in baby engagement, maternal dilation, and the progression of labor.

Utilizing advanced chiropractic technology, practitioners can now measure heart rate variability (HRV), a direct reflection of nervous system activity.

HRV assessment identifies imbalances and stress within the nervous system, indicating whether a mother is predominantly in "fight or flight", "rest and digest", or a balanced state of ease. Monitoring HRV offers us a comprehensive understanding of maternal adaptation and informs personalized care strategies.

Dr. Lauren Shelton is a doctor and co-owner of Rooted Chiropractic in Clarendon Hills. Her team specializes in neurologically-based family-centered chiropractic care that is gentle, specific and tailored to the age of the person- from moms and dads, to toddlers, infants and everyone in between! You can follow them at:
Website: https://rootedchiroch.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC22ilJ2mKE3KyxWTDxDmqUw