Pregnancy places extraordinary mechanical demands on the body. The center of mass shifts forward, the lumbar lordosis increases, the pelvis widens, and the ligaments — softened by relaxin — are asked to stabilize joints that are now under more load than they've ever carried. Low back pain, SI joint dysfunction, pelvic girdle pain, and round ligament tension are not inevitable features of pregnancy. They're biomechanical problems with biomechanical solutions.
Why so few pregnant patients get good care
Most OBs and midwives are focused, correctly, on the health of mother and baby through the pregnancy and delivery. Musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy is frequently treated as an unavoidable side effect: told to rest, told to use a support belt, told it will resolve after delivery. For many patients it does. For many it doesn't — and for all of them, it didn't have to be there in the first place.
Chiropractic care for pregnancy is safe, well-evidenced, and consistently underutilized. The techniques used in pregnancy are adapted to the changing body: no prone positioning, modified table setups, and specific protocols for the pelvic and lumbar region. The goal is the same as in any other presentation — identify the mechanical pattern creating the symptom and correct it.
Pregnancy-related pelvic and low back pain represents one of the largest gaps in musculoskeletal care. There are very few good options — and the options that exist are rarely offered. Chiropractic care, particularly with Webster Technique, fills that gap directly. Most patients are surprised it's available. Most wish they'd known sooner.
Webster Technique
Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment protocol developed for use during pregnancy. It addresses sacral mechanics and the tension in the round ligaments — the ligaments that support the uterus — with the goal of reducing intrauterine constraint and supporting optimal fetal positioning.
It is used specifically to address the pelvic mechanics and ligamentous tension that create discomfort during pregnancy and that can contribute to suboptimal fetal positioning in the third trimester. The adjustment is gentle, specific, and performed with positioning appropriate to the stage of pregnancy.
Presentations we treat
Pelvic girdle pain
Symphysis pubis dysfunction and posterior pelvic pain — some of the most acutely painful presentations in pregnancy. SI joint and pubic symphysis mechanics addressed directly.
Low back pain in pregnancy
Lumbar loading changes dramatically as the pregnancy progresses. Restoring lumbar and SI joint mechanics reduces the compensatory muscle tension driving the pain.
Round ligament tension
Sharp, pulling pain at the sides of the lower abdomen. Webster Technique addresses the ligamentous tension driving it.
SI joint dysfunction
The SI joints bear significantly increased load in pregnancy due to relaxin-mediated ligament laxity. Restoring mechanics and supporting stability.
Upper back and rib pain
Thoracic and rib mechanics change as the ribcage expands and posture shifts. Thoracic joint mobilization and soft tissue work.
Postpartum recovery
The mechanics don't automatically reset after delivery. Postpartum pelvic and lumbar assessment to restore function, particularly after difficult deliveries or C-section.
Safety
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is safe when performed by a clinician trained in prenatal technique. Dr. Cohen uses modified positioning, appropriate force levels for each stage of pregnancy, and specific protocols designed to avoid any risk to the pregnancy. If a presentation is outside the scope of safe chiropractic management during pregnancy, you'll be told directly and referred appropriately.