Pregnancy is an incredible journey, but it also brings a wave of physical changes that can leave you feeling uncomfortable. If you're dealing with back pain, sciatica, or pelvic pressure, you're not alone. Specialized prenatal chiropractic care is a safe, gentle, and effective way to relieve those common aches and pains, while also preparing your body for a smoother labor and delivery. At Hershey Family Chiropractic, our local team is dedicated to restoring balance to your pelvis and spine, helping expecting mothers in Hershey, PA, feel their best through every single trimester.
Your Guide to a More Comfortable Pregnancy in Hershey
Pregnancy is a time of amazing transformation, but the rapid shifts in your body put a ton of stress on your spine, pelvis, and nervous system. As your baby grows, your center of gravity shifts forward, which increases the curve in your lower back and strains muscles you probably never knew you had. This often leads to that persistent discomfort that can disrupt your day and make it hard to enjoy this special time.
Many expecting mothers in Hershey, PA, and our neighboring towns like Hummelstown and Palmyra are often told that back pain, sciatica, and pelvic pressure are just a normal part of pregnancy that they have to endure. But you don't have to just "push through" the pain. There are natural, drug-free solutions out there to help your body adapt and thrive.
At Hershey Family Chiropractic, we're dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-informed care for expecting mothers. As your trusted chiropractor in Hershey, we understand the unique physical demands of pregnancy and offer specialized support to help you achieve:
- Relief from common pregnancy pains, including that nagging low back pain, sciatica, and pelvic girdle discomfort.
- Improved nervous system function, which supports overall well-being for both you and your growing baby.
- Better pelvic balance, which can create more room for your baby to grow and move into the best possible position for birth.
- A smoother postpartum recovery by addressing musculoskeletal imbalances before they turn into chronic issues.
Our goal is to be your local partner, giving you the support you need for a more comfortable and empowered pregnancy journey. While our focus is on musculoskeletal alignment, we know that overall well-being is key. For instance, learning how to safely manage hemorrhoids during pregnancy is another important piece of the puzzle. This guide will walk you through exactly how prenatal chiropractic care works and all the benefits it can offer you and your family, right here in Hershey.
How Pregnancy Changes Your Body's Alignment
Pregnancy is an incredible journey, but it asks a lot of your body. Think of your spine and pelvis as the core foundation of a house. As your baby grows, it's like adding a new, ever-expanding room—the entire structure has to shift and adapt to support the new weight. These natural, necessary changes are often the root cause of the aches and pains so many expecting mothers feel.
One of the biggest players in this transformation is a hormone you'll get to know well: relaxin. Its main job is to soften and loosen the ligaments throughout your body, especially in the pelvis, to get you ready for childbirth. While this is fantastic for delivery, it can also make your sacroiliac (SI) joints and spine feel a bit unstable, leaving them more prone to misalignment.
At the same time, your center of gravity starts to creep forward. To keep you from toppling over, your body instinctively increases the curve in your lower back. This posture, known as lumbar lordosis, puts a lot of extra strain on the small joints of your spine. For many expecting moms in Hershey, this is what leads to that all-too-familiar, persistent low back pain.
The Connection Between Alignment and Discomfort
These biomechanical shifts are absolutely essential for a healthy pregnancy, but they often create a domino effect of symptoms. When your pelvis is out of balance or your spinal vertebrae aren't moving freely, it can pinch nerves and lead to pain that shows up not just in your back, but also in your hips, down your legs (sciatica), and even in your ribs.
This map shows how interconnected these common pregnancy discomforts really are.
As you can see, the same postural and hormonal changes that trigger back pain can easily lead to sciatica and pelvic pain as your body's structure continues to adapt.
To help you visualize these shifts, here's a quick look at the primary changes and the symptoms they often cause.
Common Physical Changes and Symptoms During Pregnancy
| Physical Change | What It Means | Common Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Increased Relaxin | Ligaments become softer and more flexible, especially in the pelvis. | SI joint pain, pelvic instability, waddling gait. |
| Forward Center of Gravity | Your body's balance point moves forward as your belly grows. | Increased lower back curve (lordosis), upper back strain. |
| Increased Lumbar Curve | The lower back arches more to compensate for the forward weight. | Chronic low back pain, tight back muscles, nerve irritation. |
| Pelvic Widening | The pelvic bones gently spread to prepare for birth. | Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), hip pain, difficulty walking. |
| Uterine Growth | The uterus expands, placing pressure on surrounding structures. | Round ligament pain, pressure on the bladder, rib pain. |
Understanding this "why" behind the discomfort is the first step in finding real, lasting relief that works with your body, not against it.
How Misalignment Affects More Than Just Pain
Keeping your pelvis properly aligned is about more than just your own comfort—it plays a huge role in your baby’s development and positioning for birth. A misaligned pelvis can create tension on the uterus and the ligaments that support it. This is called intrauterine constraint, and it can limit the space your baby has to grow and move into the ideal head-down position.
Restoring balance to the pelvis doesn't just relieve pain; it helps create the optimal environment for your baby to move into the best possible position for labor and delivery, which can contribute to a smoother, more efficient birth process.
Imagine going through your first labor in less time. Studies have shown that women having their first baby who received chiropractic care had 24-25% shorter labor times on average. Considering that hormones like relaxin can cause spinal misalignments in up to 90% of women, it's clear how important this is. Gentle adjustments help restore pelvic balance, optimize uterine function, and reduce nerve interference, all of which naturally prepare your body for birth. Find out more about how chiropractic care supports a healthy pregnancy.
Ultimately, prenatal chiropractic care is about working with these foundational shifts to ensure your body can adapt as efficiently and comfortably as possible.
How Prenatal Chiropractic Care Works Safely and Gently
The thought of any kind of treatment during pregnancy naturally brings up questions about safety. When it comes to chiropractic care, you can feel confident knowing that prenatal adjustments aren't just safe—they're specifically designed to be gentle and supportive for both you and your growing baby.
At Hershey Family Chiropractic, our doctors are certified in specialized prenatal techniques, and your comfort and well-being are always our top priority.
Unlike standard chiropractic adjustments, our prenatal care uses modified techniques that avoid any pressure on your abdomen. We use specialized tables and supportive pregnancy pillows that allow you to lie comfortably on your stomach, even well into the third trimester. This setup gives us easy access to your spine and pelvis without compromising your or your baby's safety.
The entire focus is on gentle, low-force adjustments that restore proper motion, reduce stress on your nervous system, and create better balance throughout your body.
The Webster Technique: A Focus on Pelvic Balance
One of the cornerstones of prenatal chiropractic care is the Webster Technique. This is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment developed to restore proper balance and function to the pelvis. It’s a common misconception that this technique is used to "turn" a breech baby. In reality, its purpose is much more foundational.
The Webster Technique corrects sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, which in turn reduces tension and torsion in the uterus and its supporting ligaments.
By restoring balance to the pelvis, the Webster Technique helps to alleviate intrauterine constraint. This creates the optimal space and environment for your baby to move freely and settle into the best possible position for a safer, more efficient birth.
This process is entirely gentle and works by supporting your body’s natural design. It’s not about forcing anything; it’s about removing interference so your body and baby can work together seamlessly.
What a Gentle Adjustment Feels Like
For expecting mothers in Hershey who have never been to a chiropractor, it’s natural to wonder what an adjustment feels like. During your visit, you can expect:
- No Twisting or Popping: We use light, precise contacts and gentle pressure to guide your joints back into proper alignment.
- Comfortable Positioning: You’ll be fully supported by pillows to ensure there is no strain on your belly or back.
- A Focus on Relaxation: Our goal is to calm your nervous system, so the adjustments are designed to feel reassuring and relieving.
The adjustments are so gentle that many mothers tell us their sessions are one of the most relaxing parts of their week.
This specialized care offers a drug-free way to manage pain and improve your body’s function as you prepare for labor. Research backs up just how safe and effective these gentle techniques are. For example, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported that the Webster Technique has an 82% success rate in helping breech babies turn to the ideal vertex position. This is huge, as it can help many women avoid the need for a C-section and other interventions. Discover more insights about these pregnancy wellness findings on americanpregnancy.org.
Ultimately, prenatal chiropractic care works by honoring your body's incredible ability to adapt. By ensuring your pelvis and spine are properly aligned, we help you have a more comfortable, vibrant pregnancy and prepare for a positive birth experience.
How Chiropractic Support Evolves With Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy isn't a single event; it's a dynamic journey. Your body’s needs shift dramatically from the first flutterings of new life to the final push and beyond. Because of this, prenatal chiropractic care isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. It evolves right alongside you, offering targeted support for each unique stage.
At Hershey Family Chiropractic, we adapt our techniques to make sure you feel your best from conception all the way through your postpartum recovery.
First Trimester: Building a Strong Foundation
The first trimester is a time of incredible, often invisible, transformation. As your body ramps up production of hormones like relaxin, your ligaments start to soften and your pelvic structure begins to adapt for the journey ahead. This is the perfect time to establish a solid foundation of good alignment.
Early prenatal chiropractic care is all about creating balance in the pelvis before the significant weight gain of later trimesters sets in. Think of it as preventative maintenance. By correcting minor misalignments now, we can help head off more significant discomfort later on. For some women, gentle adjustments that improve nervous system function may even help ease common first-trimester woes like nausea by promoting better overall body regulation.
Second Trimester: Adapting to Your Growing Body
Once you hit the second trimester, your baby bump makes its grand entrance, and your center of gravity starts to shift forward. This change naturally increases the curve in your lower back (the lumbar spine), placing a whole new level of strain on your spine and pelvic joints. It’s no wonder so many expecting moms start to feel it in their back and hips!
During this phase, our care zeroes in on:
- Soothing Lower Back Pain: Gentle adjustments work to relieve pressure on the lumbar spine, which is working overtime to support your growing belly.
- Easing Hip and Pelvic Discomfort: We focus on maintaining proper sacroiliac (SI) joint function to reduce the sharp, nagging pains often felt deep in the hips and pelvis.
- Addressing Round Ligament Pain: As your uterus expands, the ligaments that support it stretch, often causing sharp, pulling sensations. Chiropractic care helps ensure the pelvis is balanced, which can reduce unnecessary strain on these hardworking ligaments.
Third Trimester: Gearing Up for Labor and Delivery
In the final stretch, the focus of our care pivots toward preparing your body for a smooth and efficient birth. This is when your body is under the most physical stress, making pelvic alignment more critical than ever.
Our goals for the third trimester are clear:
- Creating Optimal Pelvic Space: Using specific protocols like the Webster Technique, we work to ensure your pelvis is balanced and free of restrictions. This creates the maximum amount of room for your baby to get into the best possible head-down position for birth.
- Reducing Sciatic Nerve Pain: The baby's weight can put immense pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to that tell-tale pain radiating down the leg. Adjustments can relieve this pressure and ease the discomfort.
- Improving Overall Comfort: By keeping your spine and pelvis aligned, we help you stay as mobile and comfortable as possible in those final weeks leading up to delivery.
The "Fourth Trimester": Supporting Your Postpartum Recovery
The journey doesn't stop once your baby arrives. The "fourth trimester"—the weeks following birth—is a critical period of healing. Your body is recovering from the marathon of labor while also adapting to the new physical demands of motherhood, like holding, feeding, and carrying your newborn.
Postpartum chiropractic care is vital for helping your body realign. Those ligaments, still loose from relaxin, will begin to tighten again, and we want them to do so around a properly aligned structure. We help address the new aches and pains in your upper back, neck, and shoulders that often come from feeding positions and hauling around a car seat. Restoring proper alignment supports a faster, more comfortable recovery, helping you feel strong as you bond with your new baby.
Chiropractic Support Throughout Your Pregnancy Journey
To make it simple, here's a quick look at how our chiropractic support shifts to meet your needs as your pregnancy progresses. Each stage presents unique challenges, but with the right care, you can navigate them with greater comfort and ease.
| Trimester | Common Challenges | How Chiropractic Care Helps |
|---|---|---|
| First | Hormonal shifts, nausea, early pelvic changes. | Establishes pelvic balance, supports nervous system regulation. |
| Second | Growing belly, back pain, round ligament pain. | Relieves strain on the spine, reduces hip and ligament discomfort. |
| Third | Pelvic pressure, sciatica, preparing for birth. | Optimizes pelvic alignment for labor, reduces nerve pain. |
| Postpartum | Recovery from labor, new postural strains. | Realigns the pelvis and spine, eases neck and shoulder tension. |
From establishing that initial pelvic balance to helping your body heal after delivery, our goal is to be a supportive partner through every single trimester—including the fourth one.
What to Expect at Your Hershey Prenatal Chiropractic Visit
Stepping into a chiropractor's office for the first time while pregnant can bring up a lot of questions. We understand. That's why we’ve designed the entire experience at Hershey Family Chiropractic to feel comfortable, reassuring, and supportive from the moment you walk through our doors. Your needs—and your growing baby’s safety—are at the heart of everything we do.
From the second you arrive, our mission is to put you at ease and really understand your journey. We are here to listen, support, and partner with you for a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy.
Your First Visit: A Comprehensive and Caring Approach
Your initial appointment is all about getting to know you. We'll start with a thorough chat about your health history, how your pregnancy is progressing, and any specific symptoms you're experiencing—whether it’s sciatica, nagging back pain, or general pelvic discomfort. This conversation is key to building a complete picture of your health.
After our talk, we’ll move on to a specialized pregnancy examination. This assessment is gentle and non-invasive, focusing on your posture, spinal alignment, and pelvic balance. We pay close attention to the sacroiliac (SI) joints and uterine ligaments, since imbalances here are often the root cause of pregnancy-related pain.
Our patient-first approach means we listen carefully to your story and goals. We believe that understanding your unique experience is the first step toward creating a care plan that truly supports your well-being.
This detailed evaluation allows us to pinpoint areas of dysfunction and tailor our care specifically to you. To learn more about our general patient process, you can find helpful information on our page explaining what to expect at your chiropractor visit.
A Team of Dedicated Prenatal Experts
At our Hershey clinic, you’ll be cared for by a team with extensive training and a true passion for prenatal and pediatric wellness. Dr. Jennifer Davis, Dr. Jenifer Epstein, and Dr. Leanne Tressler are all certified in techniques specifically designed for expecting mothers, including the Webster Technique. Their expertise ensures that every adjustment is safe, gentle, and effective.
We are proud to serve our diverse community, and our team includes bilingual support in both English and Spanish, ensuring clear communication and a welcoming environment for every family.
Creating Your Personalized Care Plan
Based on what we learn during your consultation and exam, we’ll put together a personalized care plan just for you. This isn't just about adjustments; it's a supportive strategy for your entire pregnancy.
Your care plan may include:
- Gentle Chiropractic Adjustments: We use specialized tables and pregnancy pillows to make sure you are completely comfortable and supported. The adjustments are low-force and targeted to restore balance without putting any pressure on your abdomen.
- Therapeutic Massage: We often incorporate soft tissue work to release the muscle tension that contributes to pain and stiffness.
- At-Home Exercises and Stretches: We'll empower you with simple, safe exercises to support your progress between visits, helping you maintain alignment and build strength.
Your comfort is always our guide. We’ll walk you through every step, making sure you feel informed and confident in your care.
Your Partner for a Healthier Pregnancy and Beyond
Choosing the right support system during your pregnancy is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Here at Hershey Family Chiropractic, we’re more than just your local chiropractor—we’re your wellness partners, dedicated to supporting your family’s health long after your little one arrives. Our mission in Central Pennsylvania is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers you through every single stage of this incredible journey.
Prenatal chiropractic care isn’t just about getting rid of aches and pains; it's a safe, natural way to prepare your body for a smoother, more efficient birth. It's about setting the foundation for an easier postpartum recovery so you can focus on what matters most.
Your Next Step to a Better Pregnancy
For expecting mothers in Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, and our surrounding communities, feeling your best is just a step away. You don’t have to push through the discomfort of pregnancy on your own. Our team is right here, ready to provide the gentle, specialized support your body needs to thrive.
Your well-being directly impacts your baby's environment. By restoring balance to your own body, you are creating the best possible foundation for your baby to grow, develop, and prepare for birth.
We believe every mother deserves to feel strong, aligned, and empowered. Let us help you find natural pain relief, improve your body’s function, and prepare for a positive birth experience. And as you recover and adapt to the new demands of motherhood, chiropractic can also ease the transition. You can learn more about how we help with postpartum back pain relief in our other articles.
Don’t wait to find the comfort and support you deserve. Scheduling a consultation with our experienced prenatal team is simple. You can book your appointment online in just a few clicks or call our Hershey clinic directly to speak with our welcoming staff. We look forward to joining you on your path to a healthier, more vibrant pregnancy.
Your Questions About Prenatal Chiropractic Care, Answered
Making decisions about your health during pregnancy is a big deal, and it’s completely normal to have a lot of questions. We understand. To help you feel confident and clear, we’ve put together answers to the most common questions our expecting mothers in Hershey ask us. Our goal is to give you straightforward answers so you know exactly what to expect.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?
Absolutely. When performed by a chiropractor certified in prenatal techniques, chiropractic care is exceptionally safe. At Hershey Family Chiropractic, our doctors have specific training to provide gentle, non-invasive adjustments that protect both you and your growing baby.
We use specialized tables and supportive pillows that let you lie comfortably on your front without any pressure on your abdomen. Every adjustment is modified for each trimester to accommodate your body’s constant changes, ensuring the entire experience is safe and relaxing.
When Should I Start Prenatal Chiropractic Care?
You can start at any point in your pregnancy—it’s never too early or too late to feel the benefits. Some women come in during the first trimester to help their bodies adapt to the initial hormonal and postural shifts, which can often ease early discomforts. Others find their way to us in the second or third trimesters to get relief from back pain, sciatica, or pelvic pressure.
And don't forget about after the baby arrives! We strongly recommend postpartum care to help your body heal and realign after delivery. It’s a game-changer for supporting a smoother recovery as you adapt to the new demands of motherhood.
Will I Need a Referral From My OB-GYN?
No, a referral is not necessary to see a chiropractor in Pennsylvania. You can schedule an appointment directly with us whenever you feel ready.
However, we are big believers in a collaborative approach to your prenatal health. We’re always happy to communicate and coordinate with your OB-GYN, midwife, or doula. This keeps your entire care team on the same page, giving you integrated and comprehensive support throughout your pregnancy journey.
What Is the Webster Technique?
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment created just for pregnant women. It’s a gentle and safe method that focuses on restoring proper balance and function to your pelvis.
The main goal is to correct sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction. By doing this, we can reduce tension in the uterus and its supporting ligaments. This process helps alleviate what’s known as intrauterine constraint, which essentially means it creates more room for your baby to move freely and get into the best possible position for birth. It's not a technique to "turn" a baby, but rather one that creates the ideal environment for the baby to turn all on their own.
At Hershey Family Chiropractic, we are committed to providing safe, gentle, and effective care to support you through every stage of your pregnancy and beyond. If you have more questions or you’re ready to experience a more comfortable pregnancy, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our experienced team.
Schedule your prenatal chiropractic consultation online today.
