Questions to ask before starting chiropractic care during pregnancy

If you're pregnant and considering chiropractic care, asking questions before you start is the right instinct. Here's a guide to the questions worth asking, and what good answers look like.

Is chiropractic care during pregnancy something you have specific training in?

This is the first question to ask. General chiropractic training covers pregnancy care to a degree, but there's a significant difference between a practitioner who has completed additional training in pregnancy-specific assessment and care, and one who sees pregnant patients occasionally as part of a general practice.

A practitioner with relevant training will be able to tell you specifically what that training involved, and how they adapt their approach during pregnancy. If the answer is vague, that's useful information.

How do you adapt your assessment and care during pregnancy?

Assessment and care during pregnancy should look different from standard adult care. The positioning needs to accommodate a growing abdomen, typically using specially adapted tables or bolstering that allows a woman to lie comfortably without pressure on the belly. The techniques used should be adapted in force and approach to account for ligament laxity and the structural changes of pregnancy.

A practitioner who can explain clearly how they adapt their approach, and why, is one who has thought about this carefully. A practitioner who says it's basically the same as usual is giving you important information about their experience level in this area.

What would prompt you to refer me to another provider?

This question tells you a lot about a practitioner's clinical judgment and their awareness of scope. A good answer involves specific scenarios: significant pelvic floor involvement that requires a women's health physiotherapist, obstetric concerns that need to be managed by a midwife or obstetrician, symptoms that suggest something beyond musculoskeletal origin.

A practitioner who is willing to say there are situations where I'd refer rather than treat is one who has a clear and honest sense of where their skills are most useful and where other expertise is needed. That's a practitioner worth trusting.

How do you communicate with my primary care team?

Chiropractic care during pregnancy should sit alongside, not separate from, your primary maternity care. If a practitioner doesn't mention your midwife, GP or obstetrician at all, or seems uninterested in what's happening in your broader care, that's worth noting.

At minimum, your chiropractor should be aware of your pregnancy status and any relevant clinical information, and should be willing to communicate with your primary care team if something arises that requires it.

What should I tell my midwife or obstetrician?

Tell them you're considering or receiving chiropractic care. Most midwives and obstetricians are aware that musculoskeletal support during pregnancy is something many women find helpful. If your primary care provider has specific concerns, those are worth discussing with any chiropractor you're considering.

Integrated care, where all the people looking after you are aware of each other, is better care.

What does a typical session involve, and how often would I need to come?

You should be able to understand clearly what happens at each visit and why. You should also receive a realistic picture of how many visits are likely to be involved and what the plan looks like, rather than an open-ended commitment with no defined endpoint.

Asking these questions isn't being difficult. It's being an informed participant in your own care, which is exactly what you should be. The right practitioner will answer all of them without hesitation.