Pregnancy

image of pregnant woman holding her belly
Chiropractic care can help the spine and pelvis cope with the effects of pregnancy by restoring a state of balance.

During pregnancy, a woman's center of gravity shifts forward to the front of her pelvis. This additional weight in front, causes stress to the joints of the pelvis and low back. As the baby grows in size, the added weight causes the curvature of her lower back to increase, placing extra stress on the fragile facet joints on the back side of the spine. Any pre-existing problems in a woman's spine tend to be exacerbated as the spine and pelvis become overtaxed, often leading to pain and difficulty performing normal daily activities.

Studies have found that about half of all expectant mothers develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies. This is especially true during the third trimester when the baby's body gains the most weight. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experienced in pregnancy, and creates an environment for an easier, safer delivery. It is one safe and effective way to help the spine and pelvis cope with the rapid increase in physical stress by restoring a state of balance. In fact, most women have found that chiropractic care helped them avoid the use of pain medications during their pregnancy, and studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments help to reduce time in labor. Your chiropractor should be your partner for a healthy pregnancy. They can provide adjustments, as well as offer nutritional, ergonomic and exercise advice to help address your special needs.

Chiropractic Tips for Pregnant Women:

  • Be sure to get adjusted regularly. Chiropractic care is important to help maintain a healthy skeletal structure and nervous system function throughout a pregnancy and childbirth.
  • Do some gentle exercise each day. Walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are relatively safe cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women. Avoid any activities that involve jerking or bouncing movements. Stop exercise immediately if you notice any unusual symptom, such as nausea, dizziness or weakness.
  • Wear flat shoes with arch supports. Your feet become more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, partially due to a rapidly increasing body weight, but also because the ligaments that support the feet become more lax.
  • When picking up children, bend from the knees, not the waist. Your low back is much more prone to injury during pregnancy.
  • When sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back. Full-length "body pillows" or "pregnancy wedges" are very popular and can be helpful.
  • Eat several small meals or snacks every few hours, rather than three large meals per day. This will help alleviate nausea, stabilize blood sugar and allow your body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods that you eat.
  • Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day; 800 micrograms is even better. Folic acid has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any vitamin or herbal supplement to make sure it's safe for you and the baby.

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-11:30 am

2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Tuesday:

Closed

Wednesday:

9:00 am-11:30 am

2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Thursday:

Closed

Friday:

9:00 am-11:30 am

2:00 pm-5:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

  • "Dr. Dorais was recommended to me by a family friend and he has yet to disappoint! Not only are he and his staff courteous, but very professional in all that they do.

    Response from the owner
    Thank you very much for the kind words! It has been a pleasure working with you."
    Joleen M
  • "I recently had an emergency trip to the ER with spasms so bad in my back that it brought tears to my eyes. I followed up with Dr. Dorais. He was able to adjust my back over a short period of time."
    Kim F
  • "Dr. Dorais called me personally the morning after my first visit to see how the procedure he performed had affected my problem. He is very thoughtful and caring. His staff is friendly and professional."
    Gordon B
  • "First time going to a chiropractor, and it has been a great experience. Friendly and helpful staff.

    Response from the owner2 months ago
    Thank you, Lisa for the kind words. We do value the opinions of our patients😀"
    Lisa A
  • "I always feel better when I see Dr. Dorais regularly. Great staff. I rarely have to wait, and it’s a great value."
    Ron B
  • "Always treats me with smile. Does a great job"
    Joe R
  • "I have always had a few back issues,and have always just dealt with the issues myself. I was nervous at first to go to a chiropractor, but Dr. Dorais and the team showed me there was nothing to be nervous about. They welcomed me like I had been going there for years, but it was my first visit. My back issues have been getting better and I couldn't be happier with Dorais Family Chiropractic. I can only thank them for the help they have given me!!

    Response from the owner
    It has been our pleasure working with you Blake. Thank you for the kind words."
    Blake W
  • "Doctor Dorais is just short of a miracle worker. I will not let anyone else but him adjust my neck and back, and I have been seeing chiropractors for 25 years. He is kind, caring, educated on all things spine, and truly cares about his patients, and most of all his adjustments HELP me immensely.

    Response from the owner
    Thank you for the kind words Chantal. 😀"
    Chantal C
  • "I cannot say enough about the care I have received from Dr. Dorais since I began seeing him ten years ago. I would not have the nice, straight pain free spine I do if it weren’t for Dr. Dorais. The office is always so positive and welcoming. All around awesome!"
    Connor T
  • "Dr. Dorais does a great job and makes your visit as fun as it can be when you have a bad back. He's always in a good mood and singing and his staff is awesome too. I wouldn't go anywhere else!"
    Mark B