After 28 hours of labor with her first child, Elyn, Chelsey Graham did not reach the point where she could push, and underwent a C-section.

“That was never part of the plan,” Chelsey said. “Of course, I don’t think many people plan to have surgery at the last minute. But that’s what happened,” Graham said.

The birth of her second child, Dax, was a completely different experience - a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC.

“I pushed for only 20 minutes,” Chelsey said. “Everyone told me that’s really amazing for my first vaginal delivery.”

What was the difference? Chelsey added a chiropractor to her pre-natal care team, Dr. Wes Creech of Blessing Health.

Chiropractic care helps women better prepare their bodies for childbirth, increasing the likelihood of a vaginal birth, even after a C-section.

“The hips of pregnant women are tight. That’s the main thing we work on – opening up the hips and making sure the pelvis is moving properly,” said Dr. Creech. “This reduces constraint on the uterus. When that baby starts to come down, the pelvis has to open up.”

When a woman’s body is prepared for birth through chiropractic care before contractions begin, labor time can be reduced.

“If the muscles are not stressed and tight and the pelvic bones are moving properly, it should be a bit easier for the baby to get into position and come through,” the doctor said.

In addition to preparing for labor, chiropractic care helps women manage the aches and pains that come with pregnancy.

“Because many types of pain medications are not options for women during pregnancy, chiropractic care can control pain conservatively,” said Dr. Creech.

Chelsey experienced that benefit, too. Dr. Creech helped her manage lower sacroiliac (SI) joint pain during her pregnancy with Dax. It causes a sharp, stabbing pain that radiates from the hips and pelvis up to the lower back and down to the thighs. The pain interfered with Chelsey’s quality of life and with her ability to take care of Elyn, who was a year old at the time.

Blessing’s chiropractic team - which also includes Dr. Erik Nothold - helps women manage pain and prepare for child birth through:

  • adjustments to their spine if needed
  • Manipulation and movement of soft tissue to promote blood flow so muscles and joints can move more freely, known as Active Release Technique, and
  • exercises the woman does at home.

Dr. Creech says at-home exercise is a key to success.

“The woman puts in the effort. We’re just here to guide her through,” he said.

“The stretches he has you do, you’re not going to be folded up like origami or anything,” Chelsey said. “They are easy things that you can manage and fit in to your daily life.”

There is no set number of times a pregnant woman sees the chiropractor during her pregnancy. It depends on her needs.

Chelsey, a Blessing Health employee, is grateful for how chiropractic care benefitted her pregnancy with Dax.

“It was an amazing experience that I don’t think would have happened without chiropractic care,” she said. “From the VBAC standpoint, I really think there is a strong connection there.” Women who are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, are encouraged to talk with their OB/GYN about making chiropractic care a part of their pre-natal plan, and then to make an appointment with Drs. Creech or Nothold to discuss how chiropractic care could meet their needs and help them reach their goals. Click here or call 217-222-5800 for more information.