Post-Partum Pain

Pregnancy and the Lower Back

By: Dr Stan Pierce
Chiropractor, AIG Clinics Dubai

The beauty of childbirth and excitement of having a new baby can often be overshadowed by the physical difficulties which birth and post-partum changes may bring to a new mother’s lifestyle.

During the last trimester of pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called relaxin to begin loosening the pelvic ligaments in preparation for the baby to descend into the pelvis and eventually through and out of the birth canal.

Following birth, the mother’s body ceases the production of relaxin and begins the process of restoring lumbar and pelvic support by tightening muscles until the ligaments can re-stabilise.

Also following childbirth, physical demands on the mother increase with the carrying of the baby, baby’s car seat, the diaper bag, stagnant breastfeeding positions, bending over changing diapers, bathing the baby, changing clothes and much more.

Combine these with the sleep deprivation, hormonal changes and nutritional deficiencies associated with pregnancy, and you can see some of the more well-known complications of being a mother.

However, there is a lesser known, but extremely common condition, which is affecting almost every pregnancy, delivery and postpartum recovery. Many, if not all, women have a nerve condition which is causing their spines, pelvises and birth canals to twist and torque.

As the weight of a developing baby begins a forward pull on the mother’s lower back, her twisted spine grows weaker and weaker, especially as the baby’s weight continues to increase. When the relaxin hormone weakens the ligaments, the back and pelvis will twist further, complicating the pregnancy even more.

Once the pelvis begins expanding in preparation for birth, the twisted pelvis with weakened ligaments creates for a torqued birth canal. This same nerve condition can also disrupt the maximum contraction ability of the birthing muscles, and combined with the twisted birth canal, creates for a much more difficult delivery.

This nerve condition initially begins from spinal vertebra which have become misaligned and, instead of protecting the spinal cord and nerves like they are meant to do, they begin to interfere with the nerves.

As all muscles of the body are controlled by the nerves, this nerve interference begins causing the muscles on one side of the lower back and pelvis to tighten, and as one side tightens, it begins twisting the spine and pelvis.

This kind of twisting is incredibly common and can lead to back and leg pain, in addition to birthing complications. After the baby is born, relaxin hormone release ceases and the mother’s body begins the process of tightening and stabilising; however, tightening muscles around a twisted spine and pelvis can lead to ongoing back issues and difficulties.

Although this kind of misalignment condition is extremely common, most doctors are not trained to locate and correct these spinal misalignments. Therefore, most mothers are left trying to treat the symptoms of pain and spasms with little to no success because nobody is finding and correcting the actual cause of their problem.

As it becomes more difficult for the mother to find comfortable sleeping, breastfeeding and sitting positions and she has a more difficult time standing and holding her baby, the frustration of these physical struggles begins to compete with the joys of having a child.

While there are several possible ways to address a nerve condition, the Evolutionary Percussive Instrument Corrections (EPIC) spinal procedure is a gentle, painless, non-surgical solution. The aim of this procedure is to untwist the pelvis and create a healthy environment for a wonderful pregnancy, successful birth and beautiful start to motherhood.