Why should a pregnant woman be seeing a chiropractor?
Reviewed August 2026
According to Katonis et al (1) ~
- 50% of pregnant women will experience low back pain (LBP)
- One third of these will experience severe pain which will reduce their quality of life
- The majority of women are affected in their first pregnancy
- 80% of pregnant women with LBP report that it affects their daily routine and 10% report they are unable to work
- Pregnancy related LBP usually begins between the 20th and 28th week of gestation, though it may have an earlier onset
- 38% of women who experience LBP during their pregnancies still have LBP 3 months after the birth of their baby; 13.8% have persistent LBP symptoms 12 months after the birth
- Existing literature shows LBP is the leading reason for pregnant working women to go on sick leave
The Australian Spinal Research Foundation published an article on chiropractic for the pregnant mother in January 2018 (2). The gems from this article ~
- Research shows that chiropractic adjustments improve the function of the pelvic floor muscles – this promotes better abdominal muscle coordination and function, which is related to a more stable lower back and less LBP
- Between 75% and 84% of women who have chiropractic care during their pregnancy experience relief from back pain
- Women who undergo spinal manipulative therapy prior to labour report less LBP during labour
- Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy may decrease the incidence of "back labour" (when a woman experiences her labour pains as back pain)
At the Adelaide Chiropractic Centre we work with many pregnant women. It is one of our joys. They can find us at any stage leading up to or during their pregnancy, often referred by a friend or loved one who has benefited from our care during their own pregnancies. They may begin care in the hope we can help with their lower back or pelvic pain, but they continue care because they appreciate both being more comfortable in their own skin as their body changes so much, and giving the baby space to move.
The female form is built to do some truly remarkable things as it builds a baby. The body prioritises the new life – everything the baby needs, it gets - and the woman's body is along for the ride. First there is a chemical upheaval, and as the baby gets bigger, a postural/biomechanical one. As chiropractors we can especially help with the latter.
Working to keep a woman comfortable as she grows new life is the key. Some of the things we also cover through a pregnancy include:
- sorting out the neck pain caused by morning sickness efforts
- advice on comfortable positions in bed so she can sleep better as the baby grows
- helping her walk, sit, breathe, move better
- reassuring her regarding the little changes that are happening to her body (normal things that no one mentioned in the fine print, often coming out of the blue as a worrying surprise)
- keeping an eye out for things that might need to be followed up on and referring appropriately
- reminding her that women's bodies are all different (so everyone and their dog will have an opinion about how they look ~ it's just hot air)
- reminding them that women's bodies are all built to carry babies and bring them safely into the world
- getting the pelvis ready to move the way it should during the birth.
After the baby is on the outside we're told it takes a woman's body 2 years to return to how it was before the pregnancy – and that's if you take care of it. The woman's body has been sapped of all the baby needed when in utero, she has endured the birthing process with or without damage, where possible she is providing breast milk for the growing infant (so if she doesn't eat well there will be consequences for both her and the bub) and is sleep deprived (there is a reason they use sleep deprivation as a torture technique!). Those first three months are a marathon. Chiropractic care can help promote recovery from the biomechanical changes a new mother's body has been through and help build a strong body into the future.
At the Adelaide Chiropractic centre it is our honour to be a part of the health team that supports pregnant women and their families as they grow. If anyone you know is pregnant get them to give us a call on 8221 6262. We can help them be more comfortable through their pregnancies and throughout their recovery.