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Infrared Sauna now available. Book solo or with friends
Average reduction in labour time for women who received regular chiropractic care during pregnancy
Reduction in pain medication required during labour compared to women who did not receive care
Lower rates of medical intervention, including forceps and caesarean, in women receiving regular prenatal chiropractic care
Pregnancy changes your posture, shifts your centre of gravity, and puts new demands on your pelvis, sacrum, and spine over nine months. For many women, this brings discomfort that ranges from a mild annoyance to something that affects sleep, movement, and daily life.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not about adjusting a pregnant belly. It is about making sure the structures supporting you and your baby are properly aligned and moving well. Your chiropractor has been caring for pregnant women at McLaren Vale Chiropractic Centre for years. They use specific, gentle techniques suited to pregnancy, including a specially designed pillow with a cutout for your belly so you can lie face-down comfortably throughout your care.
The research on chiropractic care and pregnancy outcomes is encouraging. Women who receive regular care during pregnancy report measurably shorter labours, lower rates of medical intervention, and less need for pain relief. The panel to the right shows the figures from published research.
Pregnancy chiropractic is not standard chiropractic with a few modifications. It requires specific training, specific equipment, and a thorough understanding of how the body changes across each trimester. Here is what you can expect at McLaren Vale Chiropractic Centre.
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment designed for pregnant women. It focuses on the sacrum and pelvis, with the goal of reducing tension on the round ligaments and ensuring the pelvis is balanced and properly aligned. A well-aligned pelvis gives your baby the best opportunity to settle into an optimal position for birth, and reduces the torsion on the uterus that can cause intrauterine constraint.
Much of the discomfort in pregnancy comes from postural changes as your body adapts to carrying a growing baby. Some of it is very common. None of it is something you simply have to put up with.
A well-aligned pelvis and reduced intrauterine constraint give your baby more room to move, grow, and settle into position. Beyond that, the birth process itself can be physically demanding on a newborn, and problems that originate there can show up in the days and weeks that follow.
We check newborns for birth trauma and help with early issues that are often connected to misalignments in the upper cervical spine. These techniques are completely gentle: nothing like adult adjustment. Most babies respond quickly and visibly.
The forces involved in birth, even straightforward ones, can create tension or misalignment in a newborn’s upper neck. An early check can identify and address this before it affects feeding, sleep, or comfort.
Dr Micah’s interest in pregnancy and paediatric care started long before she graduated. She came to chiropractic as a patient herself at age seven, and that experience shaped where she wanted to focus her clinical practice.
Since completing her Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic from Macquarie University in 2022, she has pursued specific postgraduate training in pregnancy and paediatric care. She works alongside Dr Kara at the clinic, and together they bring dedicated expertise across every life stage from newborn through to elderly.
“I find it highly rewarding to see the positive changes chiropractic care brings to people’s lives, from reducing pain to enhancing mental clarity. I want my patients to know that they have a chiropractor who will always advocate for their and their families’ wellbeing.”
— Dr Micah Williams, Chiropractor
Your first appointment starts with a full health history. We want to understand where you are in your pregnancy, what is bothering you, what you have already tried, and what your birth plan looks like. Nothing happens until we know your situation properly.
Your chiropractor will assess your posture, pelvis, and spine to identify what is out of alignment and what is contributing to your discomfort. For pregnancy patients this includes a specific assessment of the sacrum and round ligaments.
All adjustments are adapted to your stage of pregnancy and your individual presentation. You will lie on our specialised pregnancy table with the belly cutout, which makes the experience comfortable throughout. No technique used is the same as what we would use for a non-pregnant adult.
We will give you an honest recommendation for how often to come in based on your trimester, your symptoms, and how your body responds. Most pregnancy patients see us every two to four weeks. There is no pressure to commit to more than makes sense for your situation.
We encourage new mums to bring their babies in for a check within the first few weeks after birth. The assessment takes a few minutes, is completely gentle, and can identify any tension from the birth process before it becomes a longer-term issue.
The earlier, the better. Starting care in the first trimester means your body adapts with good alignment throughout, rather than trying to correct problems that have built up over months. That said, we see patients at every stage, including late in the third trimester. It is never too late to benefit. If you are in pain right now, call and we will get you in as soon as possible.