Expecting mothers are no stranger to body pain, especially as their pregnancy progresses. The growing child inside the womb and the significant anatomical and physiological changes in a woman’s body can result in aching in several body parts, including the neck. As your Morgantown neck pain chiropractor, Mountain State Wellness hopes to share a few tips that can help you work around neck pain and cope with your body changes as you welcome your bundle of joy.
Neck Pain Triggers for Pregnant Women
Several things can compromise the cervical spine during pregnancy. One example is the increased mechanical strain on the spinal column as the child continues to develop. The vertebral column has to compromise its original structure to make way for the growing uterus, causing slight discomfort in the neck, upper back, and hips.
Another factor that OB doctors point out as a neck pain risk factor in pregnant women is spotty sleep. Notably, the sleep patterns of expecting moms can get erratic as they go into the second and third trimesters. It gets harder to sleep and stay asleep due to the hormonal changes and the burgeoning baby belly.
Usual Types of Neck Pain that Affect Pregnant Moms
A painful neck can manifest due to different reasons. If you have a sore or tender neck, one or two of these conditions below may be the culprit:
Neck spasms
This neck pain often affects expecting mommies due to poor quality sleep. Tossing and turning at night or tilting the neck at an awkward angle to fall asleep can result in involuntary neck muscle spasms the following day.
Nerve compression
A woman’s body has to make necessary anatomical adjustments to help the baby grow inside the womb. Sadly, sometimes this can lead to nerve pinching along the spinal column. Unlike ordinary muscle pain or spasms, nerve pinching in the cervical spine can cause searing pain that spreads to the arms.
Hormone-related pain
Pregnant women produce hormones that prepare the body for childbirth. For example, relaxin and progesterone loosen the muscles, ligaments, and joints. Unfortunately, these hormones can trigger mild to severe body pain that only improves after the delivery.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and neck pain, request our by clicking the image below.
How to Cope with Pregnancy-related Neck Pain
While neck pain during pregnancy is inevitable for some women, plenty of remedies and techniques work wonders in relieving the aching and soreness. Some examples of these include:
Using a cold or hot compress
Heat and cold therapy are the best friends of soon-to-be mommies. Besides helping with sore breasts, both old-school remedies help relieve body pain, especially along the neck and back.
Doing stretching exercises
Gentle stretching exercises are essential for mothers, especially before childbirth. When done correctly, stretching exercises can provide numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced leg spasms
- Ease ligament and joint pain
- Improved blood circulation, especially on the hips and legs
- Better sleep quality
- Better stress, anxiety, and fatigue management
Joining prenatal yoga classes
Prenatal yoga has gained significant traction over the years. That’s mainly because it can boost flexibility, reduce neck or back pain, and train the muscles needed for childbirth. We strongly suggest finding a nearby yoga studio and checking programs specifically designed for expecting moms. You can also reach out to local communities and get a referral from your OB-Gyne doctor.
Seeking upper cervical care
Expecting moms sometimes develop cervical subluxation or neck bone misalignments. Unfortunately, this results in muscle tension and even puts the body at risk of pain hypersensitivity. Hence, you might find it helpful to tap into upper cervical chiropractic.
Take advantage of the pregnancy pillow
Pregnant women find it incredibly hard to sleep because of their protruding bellies. But thankfully, specially designed pregnancy pillows are now widely available in the market. The pillows come in various sizes, colors, and materials. More importantly, they provide ample neck and back support and ease pressure on the vena cava, the largest vein that supplies blood to the heart.
Most women who buy a pregnancy pillow are in their 20th week. But, you can use it at any point in your gestation period. You can also use it to support a side sleeping position while undergoing your recovery period after childbirth.
Call our Morgantown neck pain chiropractor today!
Neck pain during pregnancy can be a bit worrying, especially if it aspects other aspects of your health. So, if you have previously sustained neck trauma before pregnancy or notice unlevelled shoulders, we strongly suggest considering upper cervical chiropractic. It’s a gentle technique that applies to a broad spectrum of individuals, including soon-to-be mommies.
A visit to a Morgantown neck pain chiropractor will allow you to check for postural imbalances in the cervical spine. It will also help you assess how far the bones shifted so you can begin receiving tailored-fit adjustments. The technique employs gentle and precise strokes to the neck to dislodge fused C1 and C2 vertebral bones. As you complete your sessions, you can potentially relieve chronic neck pain without the need for invasive methods or oral medications. It can also provide additional benefits like improved pain perception, lesser pressure on the nerve roots, and healthy blood flow.
If you want to tap into this natural remedy for neck pain, we suggest connecting with our team at Morgantown State Wellness. Call (304) 244-1817 or send a message through our contact form to book your appointment with our Morgantown neck pain chiropractor. You can also drop by our office at 965 Hartman Run Rd. Suite 1101 Morgantown, West Virginia. We cater to patients on weekdays except for Tuesdays. Learn more about your holistic and drug-free option for neck pain relief by reaching out to us today!
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Lucas Watterson or Dr. Amy Watterson call our Morgantown office at 304-244-1817. You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
