💙1.Chiropractic Care while you're pregnant is a game changer! Your hips, sacrum, and spine are essential aspects in preparing for a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth. Chiropractic will will not only reduce your aches and pains but it will prepare your body for an optimal labor and delivery. Chiropractic care has been shown to decrease labor times by 24 percent in first births and up to 33 percent for second or third births! (The effects of chiropractic treatment on pregnancy and labor: a comprehensive study. Fallon J. Proceedings of the world chiropractic congress. 1991; 24-31.)
💙2. Exercising while pregnant is important for a healthy pregnancy. Although no one expects you to have "abs" when your pregnant you still need strong muscles to push your baby out into the world. Light to moderate exercise can improve blood flow, reduce back pain, improve digetion, and help reduce anxiety. In addition, the American College of Obstetrics and Gyenecology states that exercise while pregnant can reduce the risk for pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes. Lastly, staying fit and active during your pregnancy will help you recover faster after the baby is here. Make sure you exercise safely and stick to a routine you are already familiar with.
💙3. Nutrient dense foods are vital to avoiding common pregnancy conditions. In particular, eating a healthy diet can reduce risks of extreme fatigue, high blood sugar, and excessive weight gain while promoting a healthy birth weight and good brain development. It's easy to think you are eating for two, but in fact your body is much smarter than that! You are actually able to absorb more nutrients from food while pregnant and your body takes exactly what it needs for the baby while leaving plenty for you as well. While it is recommended to increase your caloric intake by about 230 -450 in the second and third trimester, its important to make those extra calories high quality whole food based. Eating too many "empty calories" often leads to pregnancy complications.
💙4. Drinking enough water promotes a healthy pregnancy by helping transport nutrients, preserving optimal amnionic fluid levels, and decreases the risk of infection and muscle aches. The American Pregnancy Associated recommends drinking at least 10 glasses of water a day and an extra glass for each out of exercise! Dark urine is a tell tale sign you are dehydrated. Shoot for clear to pale yellow urine to ensure adequate water intake.
💙5. Learning as much about labor, birth, and parenting as you possibly can! If you know better, you will do better. Reading up on all things birth empowers you with the information needed to make choices that are right for you. Reading books, listening to podcasts, or taking birth classes are things you should carve out time for now. I highly recommend the Bradley Method Birth Class, TheBirthHour Podcast, and The Mama Natural Guide to Healthy Pregnancy).
From the desk of Dr. Lisette Miller Kondrad. Dr. Miller is a licensed Chiropractic Physician and Board Certified Acupuncture Provider who has been in clinical practice for 7 years. She has helped hundreds of patients via Chiropractic care and Acupuncture. Click here to contact Clark Road Chiropractic Center with any questions or to schedule your appointment!