​Birth Interventions: Why They Matter and How Chiropractic Can Help

Modern medicine has made childbirth a much safer experience than it used to be, and many times it can save the lives of both mothers and babies. But it is also important to recognize when interventions like this are not necessary and question if they may have long-term effects. In fact, a new study from Australia has shown that birth interventions may be linked to health issues, in both the short and the long term. One way to protect against these effects is to reduce your risk for birth interventions through proactive care from an Urbandale chiropractor.

Impact of Birth Interventions 

From 2000 to 2008, Australian researchers looked at 500,000 women who had healthy, low-risk pregnancies but had interventions including induced labor, hormones to speed up labor, delivery by vacuum and forceps, and delivery by Cesarean section. Babies who were born with one of these interventions experienced more jaundice and feeding problems in the first 28 days than those born without. In addition, babies delivered by C-section had lower temperatures. 

While most of these risks had been commonly understood and communicated to the parents, the study also identified long-term risks that were not understood previously. The researchers found that children born by C-section were more likely to experience diabetes and obesity by age five. Children born with any intervention also had increased rates of respiratory infection, pneumonia, and bronchitis by age five. 

Avoiding Interventions Through Proactive Care 

While some interventions will be unavoidable and more helpful than harmful, it is also possible to take proactive steps to help avoid them. From the moment you find out you are pregnant, there are steps you can take to prepare for birth and optimize the chances of a low-intervention birth. 

One great way to prepare your body and baby for birth is to see a Des Moines chiropractor like Dr. Shane Hoffman regularly. In addition to reducing pain and discomfort, regular chiropractic adjustments can help the spine and pelvis stay balanced and aligned while it shifts to allow room for baby. It has even been found that many women under the care of a chiropractor had a shorter labor during their first pregnancy. 
Chiropractic care can also help with the positioning of your baby. A whopping 92% of women who had a breech baby and sought specialized care saw the baby turn into the correct position, allowing them to have a vaginal birth. 

From the time you know you are pregnant, you can begin receiving chiropractic adjustments that are non-invasive and entirely safe for both you and baby. While this will have the short-term benefits of relieving pain and discomfort, you can also encourage a birth that does not require risky interventions. 

At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we treat pregnant mothers with special attention and care. Dr. Shane Hoffman will meet you during your first appointment and walk you through your chiropractic care plan, ensuing you are comfortable along the way. We look forward to helping your baby enter the world gently and safely! 

Sources

Borggren, C.L. “Pregnancy and Chiropractic: A Narrative Review of the Literature.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 2007 Spring; 6(2): 70-74. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647084/.
Choahan, N. “Birth Interventions ‘Negatively Impact Child’s Long-Term Health.’” The Sydney Morning Herald, 2018 Mar. https://www.smh.com.au/national/birth-interventions-negatively-impact-child-s-long-term-health-20180325-p4z66i.html.