Prenatal & Pediatric Chiropractic: A Guide for Families

One of the most common questions we hear at Pure Wellness is some version of: “Is chiropractic care safe for my baby?” or “Can I get adjusted while I’m pregnant?” These are questions we hear all the time, and we’re always happy to answer them.

As both a mom and a naturopathic practitioner, I understand the mix of curiosity and caution that comes with exploring chiropractic care during pregnancy or for your little ones. That’s why I want to walk you through what the research says and what we do here at Pure Wellness in Denham Springs.

Prenatal Chiropractic Care

Pregnancy is one of the most extraordinary things a body can do. It’s also one of the most physically demanding. As your baby grows, your center of gravity shifts forward, your pelvis widens, your ligaments loosen under the influence of the hormone relaxin, and your spine bears loads it has never carried before. These are normal, healthy changes — but they can also be uncomfortable.

Why It Matters During Pregnancy

Research suggests that 50 to 80 percent of pregnant women experience low back pain at some point during their pregnancy. Pelvic pain, hip discomfort, and difficulty sleeping are all common as the body adapts to a rapidly changing load. A systematic review by Stuber and Smith confirmed that chiropractic care is effective for pregnancy-related low back pain.

The goal of prenatal chiropractic care is straightforward: help your pelvis and spine stay balanced so your body can adapt to pregnancy with less pain and better function.

The Webster Technique

You may have heard of the Webster Technique, especially in pregnancy circles. Developed by Dr. Larry Webster, it’s a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment focused on the sacrum — the triangular bone at the base of your spine.

Here’s the key concept: when the pelvis is misaligned or the surrounding muscles and ligaments are imbalanced, it can reduce the space available for the baby to move and position itself. The Webster Technique uses a gentle sacral contact to restore pelvic balance and reduce tension in the round ligaments, which may help create a more favorable environment for the baby to settle into an optimal position.

A study by Pistolese found that 82% of practitioners using the Webster Technique reported successful outcomes when working with women whose babies were in a non-optimal position. The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique — not an obstetric procedure — that optimizes the mother’s pelvic environment. The baby does the turning on its own when given the room to do so. The ICPA provides excellent information on the technique for families who want to learn more.

Pain Relief Without Medication

For many pregnant women, one of the most appealing aspects of chiropractic care is that it offers a drug-free option for pain management. Conditions like symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), round ligament pain, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction can make daily life difficult, yet many common pain relievers are either restricted or discouraged during pregnancy.

Gentle, tonal chiropractic care — the kind we provide at Pure Wellness — uses no forceful manipulation, no twisting, and no cracking. It’s a light, precise approach that many of our pregnant patients find both effective and deeply relaxing. The American Pregnancy Association recognizes chiropractic care as a safe and beneficial option during pregnancy for conditions including low back pain, sciatica, and pelvic discomfort.

Can Chiropractic Care Improve Labor Outcomes?

This is one of the more interesting areas of research. A study by Fallon reported that women who received chiropractic care throughout pregnancy experienced a 24% reduction in average labor time for first-time mothers and a 39% reduction for women who had given birth before.

A well-aligned pelvis logically supports more efficient labor mechanics, and many of our patients report positive birth experiences.

Safety During Pregnancy

Chiropractic care is widely recognized as safe for uncomplicated pregnancies. At Pure Wellness, Dr. Nash modifies his approach based on where you are in your pregnancy — positioning, pressure, and technique are all adapted as your body changes. In the later trimesters, you’ll never be asked to lie face-down; we use positioning that keeps you comfortable and your baby safe.

As with any care during pregnancy, we recommend discussing chiropractic with your OB or midwife. We’re happy to coordinate with your birth team.

Chiropractic Care for Newborns and Infants

This is the area where parents tend to have the most questions — and understandably so. Pediatric chiropractic in general uses much lighter techniques than adult care, and with the tonal approach we use at Pure Wellness, it’s even gentler than most parents expect.

Why Would a Newborn Need Chiropractic Care?

Birth, even under the best circumstances, is a physically intense process for both mother and baby. Whether it’s a long labor, a rapid delivery, vacuum or forceps assistance, or a cesarean section, the forces involved can sometimes result in minor spinal tension in the newborn. Parents often bring infants to our office for concerns like:

• Colic — persistent, unexplained crying
• Latching or breastfeeding difficulties — sometimes related to jaw or neck tension
• Torticollis — a head tilt or preference for turning one direction
• General fussiness or difficulty settling

How Gentle Is It, Really?

This is the question every parent asks, and it’s the right one. Pediatric chiropractic — especially the tonal approach we use — is nothing like what you might imagine.

The amount of pressure used on a newborn is typically no more than what you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato — roughly two pounds of fingertip pressure. With instruments like the Integrator (a handheld tool that delivers a precise, low-force impulse), the contact is even lighter and faster than a manual touch. There is no cracking, no twisting, and no forceful movements. Many babies sleep right through their adjustment.

What the Research Shows

The evidence varies by condition:

Colic has the strongest research support. A randomized controlled trial by Miller and colleagues found that infants receiving chiropractic care cried approximately 1.5 hours less per day than those in a control group. A systematic review by Alcantara and colleagues found a number needed to treat (NNT) of 6.5 — meaning that for roughly every 6 to 7 infants treated, one experienced clinically meaningful improvement beyond what would be expected from natural resolution alone. These are encouraging results.

Breastfeeding difficulties have moderate support. Case reports and smaller studies suggest that addressing cervical and cranial tension in newborns can improve latching, and more research is underway.

Reflux, sleep issues, and ear infections in infants are areas where the evidence is largely anecdotal. Parents frequently report improvements, and we look forward to more research in these areas.

Safety

Pediatric chiropractic care has a strong safety record. The most commonly reported side effects are mild and brief — some babies may be a little fussy after an adjustment, but this typically passes within minutes. The American Academy of Pediatrics has acknowledged the growing use of integrative and complementary therapies in pediatric care.

Chiropractic Care for Children

As children grow, their bodies face new demands — growth spurts, sports, heavy backpacks, and increasingly, long hours hunched over screens. Chiropractic care can play a supportive role in helping children navigate these physical challenges.

Common Reasons Parents Bring Children In

The most common reasons families bring their children to Pure Wellness include:

• Growing pains — aches in the legs and back that accompany rapid growth
• Posture concerns — especially related to screen time and heavy school bags
• Sports injuries — sprains, strains, and the cumulative impact of athletics
• Headaches — tension-type headaches that may respond to spinal care
• Ear infections and bedwetting — conditions where many parents have reported positive results

A systematic review of chiropractic care for pediatric conditions found supportive evidence, particularly for musculoskeletal complaints.

What to Expect at Pure Wellness in Denham Springs

If you’re considering bringing your family to Pure Wellness, here’s what a visit looks like.

Dr. Rick R. Nash has over 30 years of chiropractic experience and specializes in tonal techniques that are ideal for patients of all ages — from newborns to grandparents. His approach is gentle, precise, and never forceful. There is no cracking, no twisting, and no sudden movements.

For pregnant patients, Dr. Nash takes a thorough history, performs a gentle evaluation, and adapts his technique to your stage of pregnancy. For infants and children, the assessment includes observing posture, movement patterns, and areas of tension. The adjustments themselves are quick, light, and often over before your child even realizes anything happened.

As a naturopathic practitioner and chiropractic assistant, I’m here to support you through the process — answering questions, explaining what’s happening, and making sure you and your family feel comfortable and cared for. We also offer massage therapy that can complement chiropractic care beautifully during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Every family is different, and we tailor our recommendations to your specific needs.

Ready to learn more? Call our Denham Springs office at (225) 435-9229 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation. We’d love to help your family feel their best.