Pregnant women across America walk into their OB’s office in the last few weeks of pregnancy and are bombarded with the importance of baby positioning. They’re hearing phrases like, “Your baby isn’t quite in the ideal position” or “We really need your baby to turn in order to have a vaginal birth.” Or our personal least favorite one, “Let’s just schedule the c-section now to make everything easier.”
Unfortunately, many schools have stopped teaching breech birth, and OBs are rarely trained in it anymore, which is why it has become a medical emergency. We are so incredibly grateful for chiropractic care in this season of life! That being said, do chiropractors turn breech babies?!?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
What is happening is chiropractic adjustments help mom’s nervous system regulate while also helping her neurospinal and neuromuscular system relax. This could lead to her becoming unsubluxated, which encourages more room for baby to move, and baby may choose to get into the positioning of their choice, which could be head down. Many OBs have now started to refer to prenatal chiropractors for this exact reason! BUT should it just stop there??
So to the mamas out there who tried chiropractic care and their baby ended up head down by turning on its own… Congrats! But most importantly, should that be the end of your chiropractic journey?!?
If you’re asking this question, you’re not alone! Many pregnant mamas out there look towards chiropractic adjustments for specific issues like breech positioning and aches and pains. In fact, studies show that approximately 3-4% of pregnancies involve breech presentation at term, and it’s one of the most common reasons pregnant women seek chiropractic care in the third trimester!
The Neurological Benefits of Continued Care
What many aren’t educated YET on is that the benefits of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care extend far beyond just baby positioning. Although that is so entirely important, the same care that helped create the optimal environment for your baby to flip continues to provide crucial support for both you and your baby throughout pregnancy, during birth, and into the postpartum period.
One of the most significant benefits of Neurologically-Focused Prenatal Care is nervous system regulation— a critical factor that affects both mother and baby during this transformative time.
Your nervous system as a pregnant mama directly influences your baby’s developing nervous system. Studies have demonstrated that prenatal stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy impacts the development of the fetus’s nervous system. This means that when a mother is adjusted by a PX Doc, her baby can benefit in the best of ways as well! This not only matters for pregnancy but also for birth outcomes, bonding postpartum, milk supply, latch, and so much more. Other studies have linked prenatal stress to child social development, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and more! So getting adjusted and keeping your nervous system regulated during pregnancy benefits not only you but your growing baby’s life out of the womb, too!
How Do We Measure Mom’s Stress During Pregnancy?
As PX Docs, we love to have objective findings and tests that also make sense to you as well! Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is one of the most important measurements and global health metrics to get tested while you/re pregnant. HRV reflects the body’s ability to adapt to stress and maintain balance between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems. By improving maternal HRV through Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, we can support the development of resilience and adaptive capacity in the baby’s nervous system as well.
This neurological optimization has long-term implications for your baby’s development, creating the foundation for:
- Healthier stress responses after birth
- Better sleep patterns
- Improved digestion and immune function
- Enhanced sensory integration and motor development
- Greater emotional regulation capabilities
The Three Neurological Phases of Birth
Now, let’s talk about birth! The big event that you’ve been waiting for is finally here! From a neurological perspective, the birth process involves three distinct phases, each requiring different aspects of the nervous system to function optimally.
The first phase involves the initiation of labor, which requires Parasympathetic Nervous System dominance—your body’s “brake pedal.” For labor to begin naturally, a mother needs to feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed. This triggers the release of oxytocin, which then activates the Parasympathetic Nervous system and allows labor to start and progress. Bright lights, unfamiliar environments, excessive monitoring, or feelings of danger can easily disrupt this delicate neurological balance and may completely stall labor. For some women, they will go in and out of this first phase multiple times, depending on where they are birthing, the environment surrounding them, the health of mom and baby, and how safe they feel.
The second phase—active labor and birth—requires a healthy sympathetic response. Both mom and baby need their Sympathetic Nervous Systems (“gas pedal”) engaged to provide the energy and coordination needed for the physical work of birth. If a baby’s sympathetic system is not functioning optimally, complications can arise, ranging from lethargy to excessive stress responses.
The third phase occurs immediately after birth when both mother and baby need to return to parasympathetic dominance to facilitate bonding, breastfeeding initiation, and recovery. This is why the “golden hour”—uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact immediately following birth—is so critical for both mother and baby. In our birth culture today, this is regularly interrupted when baby is getting their vitals checked, being taken away from mom, and other interventions occur. In the state of a medical emergency, mom and baby may need to be separated, but if mom and baby are both stable, then they should not be messed with the first hour after birth. This is a sacred time for both mom and baby to have with each other to establish co-regulation and the blueprint for development outside of the womb.
When getting adjusted throughout pregnancy, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care helps prepare both mother and baby for these essential transitions, potentially reducing the need for interventions that might disrupt these important and sacred moments. It’s important that both mom and baby’s nervous system can flow between both sides of the nervous system as not all births have a perfect three-part series to them. Many births will have interventions that are out of our control. What’s crucial is that mom and baby can adapt to the added stress and get through the storm quickly.
Why Continued Chiropractic Care Benefits Your Entire Pregnancy
The physical demands of pregnancy increase significantly as you progress through each trimester. Regular chiropractic adjustments help your body adapt to these changes, reducing common discomforts like back pain, sciatic nerve irritation, and pubic symphysis pain.
Beyond physical comfort, continued chiropractic care offers significant neurological benefits. Each adjustment stimulates the vagus nerve—the primary nerve of the Parasympathetic Nervous System—helping to counterbalance the stress response that often increases during pregnancy.
Women who receive regular chiropractic care throughout pregnancy often experience shorter labor times. Studies have revealed that first-time mothers who received chiropractic care experienced, on average, 25% shorter labor times than those who didn’t. For women who had given birth before, the difference was even more dramatic—31% shorter labor times.
Perhaps most importantly, continued chiropractic care builds resilience—your body’s ability to adapt to stress and maintain balance despite changing conditions. This increased adaptability doesn’t just benefit you during pregnancy; it creates the optimal internal environment for your baby’s development and prepares both of you for the challenges of labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
Postpartum Chiropractic Care
The journey doesn’t end with birth—in many ways, it’s just beginning. Birth is an athletic event and marathon that places enormous physical demands on a woman’s body. Whether you experience a vaginal birth or abdominal birth (c-section), your body has undergone significant strain and now faces the challenges of recovery while caring for a newborn.
To accurately identify and address nervous system dysregulation, our Neurologically-Focused Chiropractors use advanced INSiGHT Scanning technology. These non-invasive scans provide a “window” into the nervous system, enabling doctors to pinpoint the exact location and type of subluxation and neurological dysfunction that may have occurred during pregnancy and birth.
This precise information allows for creating customized care plans and selecting specific adjusting techniques for the best outcomes for both mother and baby. INSiGHT Scans typically measure thermal patterns, muscle tension, and HRV—all indicators of how well your nervous system is functioning during this critical recovery period.
For new mothers, postpartum chiropractic care supports:
- Physical recovery from the strains of pregnancy and birth
- Pelvic realignment after the significant biomechanical changes of pregnancy
- Nervous system regulation during the massive hormonal shifts of the postpartum period
- Support for breastfeeding challenges through improved posture and reduced tension
- Stress management during the adjustment to new parenthood
Pediatric adjustments are extremely gentle—nothing like adult adjustments—using no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. These subtle interventions can make a tremendous difference in a newborn’s comfort and function.
Perhaps most importantly, both mother and baby benefit from the neurological support that helps establish healthy co-regulation in the crucial early weeks. A mother with a well-regulated nervous system is better equipped to help her baby regulate, creating a positive cycle that supports bonding, breastfeeding, and emotional well-being for both.
From Pregnancy Through Postpartum
While a breech baby choosing to be in an optimal position is certainly cause for celebration, it represents just one moment in the incredible journey of pregnancy and birth. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care offers support throughout this entire journey, addressing not just positioning but the fundamental nervous system function that influences every aspect of this transformative experience.
By continuing care throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period, you’re investing in optimal nervous system regulation for both you and your baby. This neurological support creates the foundation for a more comfortable pregnancy, potentially easier labor and delivery, and a smoother transition into motherhood.
To find a qualified Neurologically-Focused Perinatal and Pediatric Chiropractor who can provide care for both you and your baby, visit the PX Docs Directory. These specially trained providers understand the unique needs of pregnant women and newborns and can offer the individualized care that supports optimal outcomes for your growing family.
