6 TOP TIPS FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY & BIRTH
I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful weather? Please see below the 2nd of my summer guest blogs; Rebecca Nicholas, Chiropractor and owner of Back 2 Balance gives us her top 6 tips for a healthy pregnancy & birth. Rebecca is very experienced in this field so read on for some brilliant tips!
As a chiropractor specifically trained in pregnancy and paediatric care I see many pregnant women in my clinic, Back 2 Balance, located in Hove. Ladies come in, often distressed at the prospect of having a difficult labour or complications, let alone suffering with an uncomfortable pregnancy. The joy I get from helping these women improve their outcome is immense- the knowledge that their babies will be getting the best start in life, with the least amount of physical trauma, comfortable intra uterine positioning, and a calmer mother.
Here is what one of my client’s (Eva G) said “Seeing Rebecca Nicholas through the last 4 months of my pregnancy could not have been more helpful! I gained a lot of quality in my life that I had lost due to the pelvic girdle problem I have. She is not only very professional but also has a warm and helpful manner that puts you at ease right from the beginning”.
Below, are 6 of my top tips to help you have a more comfortable pregnancy and an easier birth.
- Your posture and positioning makes a massive difference to the baby’s position! So, sitting with your legs crossed should be avoided at all times. Avoid long car journeys and any repetitive movements. Don’t slump- Sit up on the tip of your tailbone, not with your pelvis rocked backwards. Always aim to sit with knees lower than your hips (beware of the soft sofas!). Try not to carry any if your other children especially on your hip.
- Keep strong by exercising efficiently and effectively during pregnancy. Having strong inner thighs helps reduce the chance of pubic symphysis dysfunction (SPD). Don’t do deep squats until the baby has engaged. Research and common sense would reason that the fitter you are the stronger and more endurance you will have during labour! Talk to your personal trainer, chiropractor, or someone with similar credentials wrt exercise
- Do abdominal breathing exercises to activate your diaphragm. This tends to reduce painful ribs and consequently help the symptoms of heartburn.
- Keep an eye on your nutrition. Increasing and reducing certain foods can help many common pregnancy symptoms. Adequate protein, high levels of omega 3, anti oxidants, Vit D3/K2/calcium help pre eclampsia. Celery, watercress, parsley, apples, Vit B, and reduction in salt helps fluid retention. Protein, ginger tea, omega 3 helps morning sickness.
- At home, get your partner to participate in preparing your body for labour. Areas to concentrate are gluteals (buttocks), perineum (area between your vagina and anus). These places should be regularly massaged to help muscle pain and stretching pain that occurs during the later stages of pregnancy and labour.
- During early labour keep moving! When you starting pushing towards the end, please try to refrain from lying on your back- it fixes the sacrum which makes pushing the baby through the birth canal much harder as well as having to push baby uphill! Make gravity your friend by squatting or being on all fours for example.
If you want to contact Rebecca Nicholas about safe and gentle chiropractic care during pregnancy, call 01273 206868 or email her info@chiropractorsbrighton.co.uk.
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Click here to see some of my other blogs on pregnancy and empower yourself towards better health.