With decorating a baby room and shopping for cute onesies, pregnancy is certainly one of the most joyful times in a woman’s life. But with this joy comes a unique set of stressors. Many women experience mild to severe physical stress and discomfort during pregnancy.
Don’t let pain ruin this magical time – combat physical stress with these six tips:
- Receive Frequent Chiropractic Adjustments
A growing baby puts several new strains on your nervous system that didn’t exist before. Chiropractic care has been proven to help with a host of pregnancy-related issues, including but not limited to pelvic misalignment, increased back curve, poor posture, etc. Specialized care from our trained chiropractors can result in maintaining a healthier pregnancy, lessening nausea and reducing the time of labor and delivery. Remember, talk to your OBGYN first to make sure your unique pregnancy circumstances are safe for chiropractic adjustments.
- Get Plenty of Rest
Sleeping while a tiny human is kicking around? Yeah right. While pregnancy and sleep don’t always seem to go together, it is still important to aim for plenty of rest during this time period. Allow yourself the time for afternoon naps, and don’t fill your schedule with unnecessary, exhausting tasks.
- Engage in Some Physical Activity
Getting about 30 minutes of exercise multiple times a week can relieve stress in so many ways while pregnant. Not only are you giving your joints and muscles a chance to move around, but the endorphins released while exercising can also help with the mental stress many women experience due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Stretch Your Muscles
Before exercising – or even when you’re not exercising – slowly stretch your leg, back and arm muscles. Muscles tend to tighten up during pregnancy, which can result in more physical strain on your body. So take a deep breath and loosen up.
- Take a Bath
If there ever was a time to treat yourself to a little TLC and pampering, the nine months during pregnancy would be it! A soak in the bathtub can relax muscles to help reduce physical discomfort. To ensure the baby’s safety, keep the water warm but not hot, and avoid using oils or other substances. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend for you and your baby.
- Maintain Healthy Eating Habits
You might be craving six cheeseburgers at 3 a.m., but pregnancy is not a license to abandon any healthy eating habits you had beforehand. While it’s not necessary to dismiss every craving, be cognizant of the food that you – and your baby – are consuming. Make sure you get plenty of nutrition and maintain a balanced diet to improve your digestion and overall wellbeing during pregnancy.
Want to learn more about how prenatal chiropractic care can improve physical stress during pregnancy? Contact the Chiro Now! location closest to you today.