ADJUSTING TO PREGNANCY Patricia Larson March 18, 2002 It was the blue stripe on our second home pregnancy test that convinced my husband we might soon be parents. Call it intuition, but I knew the instant we conceived -- a mere several months after I had put my birth control pills on hiatus. Overnight, my body had transitioned from a common temple into the Taj Mahal that would be home to our baby girl for nine months. All the typical emotions followed -- surprise, joy, anticipation and apprehension. Sure, we¼d planned to have children. Yet, as a woman in my mid-thirties, my mind swirled with more than a few concerns. When will morning sickness start? How long will I be able to work? Will I make it through delivery with little pain and swearing? I was already eating well and certainly never skimped on sleep, but my exercising regimen consisted of occasionally accompanying my husband to the gym and plopping on a LifeCycle while he pumped and pressed. Oh, I had great intentions. Upon learning we were expecting, I purchased a pregnancy aerobics tape and zealously used it for a solid two weeks before losing interest. I just couldn¼t find the willpower to stick to any routine. What ultimately saved me from suffering undue tiredness, aches and stress from my ballooning body shape and shifting hormones was chiropractic care. I already made regular visits to my chiropractor prior to pregnancy, so it seemed natural to continue. My chiropractor recommended I continue with weekly visits, adding that I should come in more often if I felt I needed it. It helped that his wife had recently had their first child, so she cheered me on, as did he, stressing that now more than ever I should get adjustments. When D-day arrived, I was determined to have a natural childbirth, even though I¼d never had more than a sprained ankle to test my pain tolerance level. I was somewhat disappointed when, at 8 centimeters of dilation, I succumbed to an epidural. However, minutes after I gave birth and admired our new baby girl, I announced to my husband, "I would definitely do this again." Jeffrey Ptak, Doctor of Chiropractic in Santa Monica, California, explains why chiropractic care can make such a positive difference, especially during pregnancy. "Chiropractic addresses the functioning nervous system. When the nervous system is not unduly stressed from environmental factors - - physical, emotional or chemical stress -- the body will work according to its unique genetic plan. A stressful birth will stress all parties involved and remain until the nervous system stress is cleared. Chiropractic, by allowing the body to handle stress, helps expecting mothers, new mothers and their newborn children handle life with greater ease." Once home from the hospital, I naturally swapped stories with friends and relatives who had already experienced the wonders of childbirth, and, because of the seeming baby boom around me, I was able to share with the many who delivered only weeks after I did. What I learned was shocking. More than a few women I spoke with, my age and younger, were bedridden as early as their first term. Several had delivered preemies or shared tales of excruciating labor. One friend experienced 30 hours of back labor. None of these women had chiropractic care during pregnancy. "Chiropractic can actually help with labor. Some women who run past their due date have used treatment to help start labor, rather than having a hospital induce them," explains Leslie Stewart, Certified Nurse-Midwife. She added, "Chiropractic treatment for infants can even help them nurse better." Having experienced such an uneventful pregnancy and problem-free breastfeeding, I wondered if maybe I was just a product of good genetics or if chiropractic really made a difference, which led me to another mother who shared her experiences after having had three children. Charlotte decided to become pregnant her first time knowing she had two damaged spinal discs since she was thirteen and had never had treatment. Doctors warned that if she became pregnant, she could end up on bed rest. She remained undaunted. "With my first child, carrying all that extra weightämy pain had reached a whole new level ‚ unbearable. And I couldn¼t take pain medication while pregnant. So I wore a back brace, which helped a little," she shared with me. Charlotte also had a desk job. Not too far into her pregnancy, she quit her job to stay home and spent the majority of her remaining term in bed just to get through the severe lower backaches. An epidural helped her manage pain during delivery. Then, once the baby was born, everything changed. She began chiropractic care shortly after the baby¼s two-month birthday. Charlotte¼s second pregnancy was worlds apart from the first. She received regular chiropractic adjustments, starting with her first trimester. Her back pain was minimal this time, and she stayed at work until a week before delivering. Intending to have a natural childbirth this time, she gave birth to her second child two hours after entering the hospital, without drugs and with a significant amount less stress than the first. And, Charlotte experienced a faster recovery this time around. Having been an expectant mother with and without, Charlotte can attest to the benefits of chiropractic as part of a healthy pregnancy. "Not only is Chiropractic a blessing for expecting mothers, but it benefits the baby as well. The healthier the mother and her immune system, the healthier the baby," she said. Her statement reminded me of own daughter. Madeline received regular adjustments her second week after entering the world. She never had colic, ear infections, colds or any symptoms of sickness throughout her first 12 months of life, when children are often most susceptible. Some people cringe when I tell them she sees a chiropractor, yet everyone agrees that she is one of the most alert, active babies they have ever seen. Some say I¼m lucky, but I tell them it¼s really very simple -- just stay well-adjusted!