Category: Pregnancy

Many women who have delivered a baby by Caesarean section wonder whether they can safely have a vaginal birth in a future pregnancy. This option is commonly known as a vaginal birth after Caesarean, or VBAC. In recent years, VBAC has received growing attention because repeat Caesarean surgeries can increase the risk of complications such as infection, blood loss, and longer recovery times. Because of these concerns, healthcare providers and expectant mothers are increasingly exploring safe ways to support natural birth when appropriate.

Research shows that many women who attempt labor after a previous Caesarean can successfully deliver vaginally. In fact, studies have found that about 60–80 percent of these attempts result in a successful VBAC when the pregnancy is considered appropriate for it. A successful VBAC often offers several benefits, including faster recovery, fewer surgical risks, and a lower likelihood of complications in future pregnancies. For many mothers, it can also provide a more satisfying and empowering birth experience.

A case series published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic on February 9, 2026, explored how chiropractic care may support women who hope to achieve a VBAC. The study followed several pregnant women who had previously delivered by Caesarean section and were experiencing pregnancy-related discomfort such as low back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, or abnormal fetal positioning. These women sought chiropractic care during their pregnancies to help improve comfort and support their goal of having a vaginal delivery.

During care, spinal restrictions and vertebral subluxations were identified and addressed as part of a program designed to support proper spinal and pelvic function. As care progressed, the women experienced improvements in their musculoskeletal symptoms, including reductions in back pain and pelvic discomfort. In cases where the baby was not initially positioned head-down, the fetal position eventually corrected to the optimal position for birth.

Most importantly, all of the women in the study went on to give birth vaginally after their previous Caesarean deliveries. Labor began naturally without medical induction, and no adverse events were reported during their chiropractic care. These outcomes suggest that improving spinal and pelvic balance through the correction of subluxation may help create a more favorable environment for both the mother and baby during pregnancy and childbirth.

While this case series involved only a small number of patients and more research is needed, it highlights an encouraging possibility. Chiropractic care aimed at restoring proper spinal alignment and nervous system communication may support healthier pregnancy function and potentially contribute to successful VBAC outcomes. For expectant mothers hoping for a natural birth after a previous Caesarean, this type of conservative care may become an important part of a comprehensive approach to pregnancy wellness.

On July 1, 2024, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case that documented a toddler’s improvement, with chiropractic, of a variety of neurological issues and developmental delays.

The study begins by explaining, “Developmental delay occurs when a child does not achieve developmental milestones in comparison to children of the same age.” Another measure of delayed development is the retention of “primitive reflexes.” These are reflexes that are present before birth and start to disappear in the weeks and months after birth. If these reflexes remain present, it is considered a form of developmental delay.

In this case, a 3-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor for help with a variety of developmental issues. Those issues included delayed speech, sleep disturbances with frequent nighttime awakenings, lack of eye contact, vomiting and reflux, and picky eating habits where she would only eat certain foods.

The history revealed that the child was born to a mother that suffered from gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This led to complications which necessitated a C-section delivery at just over 39 weeks of pregnancy. The baby had difficulties in breastfeeding and later had delays in sitting, crawling and walking.

The examination showed a decrease in facial tone on the left side along with a noticeable left head tilt. Overall, the girl had low muscle tone and was observed to be walking on her toes. It was also noted that her eye movements were abnormal. The examination also showed that a number of the primitive reflexes were still present well beyond the time when they should have disappeared.

Specific age-appropriate forms of chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations that were found to be present in the girl’s spine. Additionally, several forms of sensory integration therapies, speech therapy, and auditory stimulation were also a part of the multidisciplinary approach in this case.

Over time, the girl showed multiple area of improvement due to her care. This included significant speech improvements. Initially, the girl was only able to speak 15-20 words and was not able to create a single sentence. After care, she could maintain and initiate conversations.

The girl’s emotional regulation and sleep routines improved to where she could sleep for 8-9 hours in a single night. Additionally, her motor coordination improved as did her ability to maintain eye contact. Also, her digestive issues and picky food preferences both improved.

The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented a case study of a woman who was trying to get pregnant and had been through multiple failed IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts. With the addition of chiropractic care, the woman was able to successfully become pregnant.

The authors of this study begin by noting that infertility is generally believed to be the result of stress and/or hormonal abnormalities. In many cases, it can be a combination of both factors that leads to infertility. In describing how chiropractic might have a positive effect on this situation, the authors state, “A central tenet of chiropractic care is that the brain is the master controller of the body, and that when we adjust subluxations, we eliminate distortions and allow the body to better express health.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define infertility on their website as “In general, infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer) of unprotected sex.” The CDC further explains how common this issue is by stating “In the United States, about 1 in 5 (19%) married women aged 15 to 49 with no prior births in the United States are unable to get pregnant after 1 year of trying. Also, about 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.”

In this case, a 32-year-old woman videographer, who had been under chiropractic care, decided to seek a different form of chiropractic care for her long-term problem of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The woman additionally reported that she had suffered from General Anxiety Disorder and a feeling of a “brain fog” that she had since childhood. She was also given a medical diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the thyroid gland and create hormonal issues. The woman reported that she had a history of infertility and had previously attempted in vitro fertilization (IVF) five times without success. She had also suffered one ectopic pregnancy that was unsuccessful.

Because the woman had been under chiropractic care, her new chiropractor approached her issues using a different analysis and adjusting procedure. A chiropractic examination was performed which included several procedures to help monitor various aspects of her physiology. This was intended to see if the new chiropractic care would have an effect on her hormonal issues that could have an impact on her infertility. Based on her examination findings, an intensified specific 2-week regime of chiropractic care was performed.

Re-examinations showed that there were changes to the woman’s physiology following the chiropractic care. Additionally, the woman underwent another IVF procedure and was able to conceive shortly after the intensified chiropractic care. Ultimately, the woman’s baby was born without requiring medical intervention and without any complications.

The researchers described this outcome by saying, “Given the five failed rounds and the ectopic pregnancy, it is plausible that the systemic picture of health, regulation and nervous system function was part of this successful outcome, especially given the patient had made no other meaningful changes to her regime.” They concluded, “It is important for the discipline that subluxation-based chiropractic care be established in the literature as a safe and effective treatment option for function loss in conditions such as infertility.”

A case study reported in the third quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documents the case of a woman suffering with infertility who was able to become pregnant with the addition of chiropractic care.

The researchers in this study begin by explaining “Infertility is broadly described as a condition of the reproductive system in which there is an ‘inability to conceive or an inability to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected intercourse’.” They note the complexity of this issue that can involve neural, hormonal, biomechanical, and psychological issues.

With the nervous system being the master controller of the body, it is plausible that all causes of infertility can be affected by nerve system interference from subluxation. Subluxation is when there is some form of interference to the nervous system function, primarily due to spinal misalignments. Chiropractic care focuses on the location and correction of subluxations to allow proper nerve transmission and facilitate the body’s return to normal function and health.

In this case, a 28-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for her primary concern of infertility. The woman, a salon owner, also reported a history of chronic stress, poor metabolism with weight control, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, causing her to wake up stiff and tired. She and her husband had undergone fertility testing without any definitive reasons as to why she could not become pregnant.

A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that subluxations were present. A regular series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started at the frequency of twice per week for 12 weeks. At the 13th week, a re-evaluation was performed to check on the woman’s progress.

At the re-evaluation, the woman reported improvements in her stamina and energy level, as well as a better overall attitude and improved appetite control. However, the most exciting news was that the woman reported that she was now five-weeks pregnant. The study notes that the woman was thrilled that she responded so quickly to chiropractic care. She later was able to give birth to her first child.

In their study discussion, the authors explained, “Fertility is a process that requires the proper function of the female reproductive system as well as hormonal regulation, all of which may be impacted by stress and subluxation.” They continued, “Given that the autonomic nervous system governs organ function, and the parasympathetic/sympathetic balance impacts hormones, it is feasible that chiropractic care and the reduction of subluxations may have contributed to an improvement in function that allowed a viable pregnancy to be achieved and maintained.”

The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case study in their third quarter 2023 issue that documented the successful resolution of infertility from chiropractic care. The authors of the study explain infertility by saying, “Infertility is broadly described as a condition of the reproductive system in which there is an inability to conceive or an inability to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of unprotected intercourse.”

Infertility is a common problem. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “In the United States, among married women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility). Also, about 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.”

In this case, a 28-year-old woman went to a chiropractor to see if she could get help for her infertility. She reported that she had a history of chronic stress, a poor metabolism with weight control issues, and difficulty sleeping which would cause her to wake up stiff and tired. The woman owned a salon and was having issues with anxiety, neck stiffness, shoulder pain and lower back pain. Her medical history noted that both her and her husband had undergone fertility testing, but she was still unable to conceive.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, spinal palpation, digital thermography, surface EMG, Heart Rate Variability and spinal x-rays. From this examination, it was determined that spinal subluxations were present.

Specific forms of chiropractic care were started at the rate of two visits per week with the goal of correction of subluxation. As the study authors stated, “Clinical care aims were targeted at improving neuro-spinal function through the reduction and correction of vertebral subluxations.”

A re-evaluation was performed after 12 visits. At that time, the patient reported that she had pain relief, improved stamina, energy, and attitude. She also noted that she had an improved appetite control, as well as clearer skin. Most importantly, the woman reported that as of the time of her re-evaluation, she and her partner were now expecting a baby.

In explaining how chiropractic care can help with fertility, the authors stated, “Fertility is a process that requires the proper function of the female reproductive system as well as hormonal regulation, all of which may be impacted by stress and subluxation. Given that the autonomic nervous system governs organ function, and the parasympathetic/sympathetic balance impacts hormones, it is feasible that chiropractic care and the reduction of subluxations may have contributed to an improvement in function that allowed a viable pregnancy to be achieved and maintained.”

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on March 7, 2023, documenting the elimination of severe pelvic pain with chiropractic in a woman who was 26 weeks pregnant. The study was titled, “Resolution of Symphysis Pubis Pain & Dysfunction in a Pregnant Patient Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Subluxation.”

The symphysis pubis is where the two bones of the front of the pelvic come together to form a strong fibrous stabilizing joint. During pregnancy, certain hormones are released to create a laxity of pelvic ligaments in order to make childbirth somewhat easier. If there are more of the hormones than needed, the pelvic joints can become too lax and create pain or other issues. Specifically, the symphysis pubis can separate too far and become extremely painful. The study reported that it is estimated that 31.7% of pregnant women will suffer some form of symphysis pubis pain.

In this case, a woman, who was 26.4 weeks into her pregnancy, sought chiropractic care for help for severe pelvic pain in her symphysis pubis region. The woman reported that the pain started at about the 10th week of her pregnancy. She rated her pain as a 10 out of 10 (worst possible) and characterized it as a constant, sharp, throbbing, burning, and aching pain. Movement, especially walking, made her pain even worse. The woman reported that in addition to her pelvic pain, she was also experiencing secondary symptoms of lower back and neck pain, but she said that these were not as severe as her pelvic pain.

The woman’s obstetrician diagnosed her with symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) and told that her pain was normal for pregnancy. The obstetrician offered no treatment for her issues. The woman noted that swimming provided her with some relief, but as soon as she left the water, her pain would return.

During the woman’s chiropractic examination, she became very emotional and started crying while describing how severe her pain was. She stated that the pain was so bad that she did not want to be pregnant, or ever get pregnant again. The woman had pain during the entire exam process and multiple areas of her pelvis and spine were very sensitive to the touch.

Based upon the finding of her examination, it was determined that chiropractic care would be appropriate and was started. Specific forms of chiropractic care were started including a procedure known as the “Webster Technique.”

The patient reported that she immediately felt some relief following her first adjustment. She was scheduled to return in a week; however, she went into labor and had her baby. Upon returning to the chiropractor after her delivery, the woman reported that she no longer had any of the pelvic pain she was previously suffering with from the time of her first adjustment through her delivery.

The above is the title of a case study documenting the successful results of chiropractic care in a case of infertility. The study was published on November 1, 2022, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic.

The study authors noted that 20% of couples in the United States have had an issue with infertility. Of those, they estimate that 60% of those cases are related to female factors as the primary causation leading to infertility. They define infertility by saying, “Infertility is described as the inability to achieve pregnancy while having unprotected intercourse for a period of 12 months.”

Common medical care for infertility can involve in vitro fertilization (IVF), surgery, drugs, and other assisted reproductive therapies (ART). One of the big hurdles of these medical procedures is that they are expensive, making them cost prohibitive to many couples.

In this case, a 31-year-old woman originally sought chiropractic care for help with migraine headaches and neck pain. She had been receiving chiropractic for help with these issues intermittently for the previous seven years. Two years later, the woman returned to her chiropractor seeking help for her wrist pain and infertility.

Her history revealed that she had been trying to get pregnant for over a year with no success. She also reported that prior to trying to conceive she had been taking oral birth control pills for 10 years.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, both motion and static palpation, surface electromyography (sEMG), thermal imaging, and spinal x-rays. From this examination, it was concluded that the woman had multiple areas of vertebral subluxation. Specific chiropractic adjustments were then started to address the subluxations found during the examination.

After the woman had received six chiropractic adjustments, she reported that she had become pregnant. Chiropractic care was continued on a regular basis though her pregnancy. The woman gave birth to healthy baby girl weighing 7lbs, 9oz, and both the mother and the new infant remained under chiropractic care.

In their conclusion, the study authors summed up their results and recommendations by saying, “The current medical model for infertility of drugs and surgery has helped many couples conceive but is quite invasive and expensive. As demonstrated by this case, after experiencing infertility, this woman was able to conceive and successfully carry a full-term pregnancy without any other medical interventions. Subluxation based chiropractic care should be considered as potential management of patients experiencing infertility prior to more costly and invasive procedures.”

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on May 14, 2020, documenting the resolution of a breech presentation pregnancy following chiropractic care utilizing the Webster technique. The normal position for a fetus prior to birth is with the head downward, known as the “vertex position.” When the fetus has the head upward, it is known as breech.

According to the study “The most common fetal malposition is breech. About 30% of all fetuses will present as breech before 28 weeks of gestation, but by the 34th week a majority will flip to vertex presentation, the ideal position for delivery.” When discovered, most breech presentations result in a cesarean birth instead of the vaginal one.

The medical approach to turning a fetus when the mother is close to birth is a procedure known as external cephalic version (ECV). This is when the physician physically pushes the baby inside the mother in an attempt to return the baby to a normal position. This procedure is not without a high risk of complications and, according to the study, has a fairly low success rate.

In this case, a 28-year-old woman in the 33rd week of her pregnancy went to the chiropractor to see if she could get some help with her breech pregnancy. The woman had been seeing a midwife who was present when the woman came to the chiropractor. This was the woman’s first pregnancy, and she had never experienced chiropractic care before. The woman was also suffering from hip pain on both sides.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a visual postural inspection, range of motion examinations, spinal palpation, a temperature thermal scan, and a surface EMG scan of the woman’s spine. The woman was also analyzed using the Webster Technique analysis.

With the determination of the presence of subluxations, specific adjustments utilizing the Webster technique were performed on the woman on a series of visits. After eight visits, the woman reported that the fetus had turned head down into the normal vertex position. The woman continued her chiropractic care through her pregnancy and was able to deliver her baby vaginally.

In the discussion section of the study, the authors explain chiropractic care for pregnancy by saying, “Chiropractic has a history of benefit to the pregnant woman. Chiropractic adjustments are intended to remove or reduce vertebral subluxations from the spine.” They continue the explanation, “Chiropractors determine the subluxations through appropriate instrumentation, objective and subjective analysis. Chiropractic subluxations can have health alterations present with and without symptoms.”

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “Over a one-month period the fetus turned from breech presentation to vertex presentation with the only change in care being the addition of chiropractic adjustments. After 7 chiropractic adjustments it was confirmed by ultrasound the fetus had moved to a vertex position. Continuing under chiropractic care the mother went on to have a normal vaginal birth without complications.”

The headline above is from an article published on August 20, 2019, in the publication, The Scientist. It is based on scientific study published the day before in JAMA Pediatrics with the title, Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada.

The study, which was also reported on in many news outlets, used data that was collected as part of a program in Canada called the “Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals program.” The program reviewed information on pregnant mothers and their children born between 2008 and 2012 in six Canadian cities.

The researchers examined the mothers’ fluoride exposure during their pregnancy and compared that information with IQ studies of their children at 3 or 4 years of age. The study looked at 601 mother-child pairs recruited from 6 major cities in Canada. In those cities, 41% of the mothers lived in communities supplied with fluoridated municipal water.

The scientists assessed the amount of fluoride exposure for the pregnant women in two ways. One way was to measure the amount of fluoride in the womens’ urine samples during pregnancy. The second way was to calculate the fluoride consumption based on how much was in their city’s water supply and how much the women recalled drinking.

The pregnant women who lived in cities with fluorinated water showed 0.69 milligrams per liter of fluoride in their urine, compared to only 0.4 milligrams per liter of fluoride in the urine of women living in cities without fluoridated water.

The results showed that at between ages 3 and 4, the children of the mothers who were exposed to fluoride in their water supply had a lower IQ score. This finding was more pronounced in boys than in girls. In boys, it was shown that 1 ml increase of fluoride in the pregnant mother’s urine resulted in a 4.6-point drop in their son’s IQ level when tested 3-4 years after birth.

Christine Till, a co-author and associate professor of psychology at York University in Toronto stated in a NPR article on the study, “Only boys were affected when we looked at urinary fluoride,” she said, “but both boys and girls were affected when we looked at maternal fluoride intake or water fluoride concentration.”

Another study author, Rivka Green, a neuropsychology doctoral candidate at York University in Toronto, Canada, commented in the Scientist article “We tried to be as cautious and careful as possible,” she says. “We’re not coming in saying that fluoride is poison or anything like that. We’re just … letting the data tell the story.”

The conclusion of the study stated, “In this study, maternal exposure to higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy was associated with lower IQ scores in children aged 3 to 4 years. These findings indicate the possible need to reduce fluoride intake during pregnancy.”

A case study was published on August 1, 2019, in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documenting the improvement of a pregnant woman who was helped by chiropractic care after an injury during her pregnancy.

The authors of the study begin by reporting that traumatic injuries complicate 6% to 8% of pregnancies. This results in approximately 30,000 pregnant women having to seek care for their injuries. The breakdown shows that 54.6% are from motor vehicle accidents, 22.3% from violent assaults, 21.8% from falls, and the remainder from a variety of other incidents.

Accidents and trauma during pregnancy can affect the mother and the unborn infant. Studies have shown that the infant survival rate after a serious trauma is reduced to 56% following the trauma with most of the fetal deaths occurring in the 2nd trimester. The study points out the serious consequences, “Among pregnant women who sustained severe injuries, there is 17-fold increased risk for placental abruption and a 30-fold increased risk for fetal death.”

In this case, a 36-year-old woman who was in the 33rd week of her pregnancy presented herself for a chiropractic evaluation and possible care. Two weeks prior to her visit, she fell down a 15-step set of stairs. After the fall, she went into premature labor and was taken to the hospital. She was released two days later and told that she would probably have her baby early.

One week later, the woman developed pain in her hips, lower back and pelvis. She reported that it was becoming increasing difficult to lift her toddler son as well as perform her daily activities. She rated the pain as between 8 and 10 on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being the worst.

A chiropractic examination showed several postural abnormalities including a forward position head and an increased curve on the lower back. Palpation of the woman’s spine showed multiple areas of sensitivity and tight musculature. Her spinal range of motion was both restricted and painful.

It was determined that subluxations were present and specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were given appropriate for her subluxations and being pregnant. It was recommended that she be adjusted 2-3 times per week for the remainder of her pregnancy.

The woman reported that within the first three chiropractic visits, she had a significant improvement in her pain and quality of life. After three visits, her pelvic pain had resolved as did her lower back pain after five visits. She delivered a baby girl just one day short of 38 weeks, which was longer than expected by her medical physicians and longer than for her first child.

In their discussion, the authors relate how common chiropractic care is becoming for pregnant women. “Since the inception of chiropractic, the care of the pregnant patient has taken place. In the modern era, the popularity of chiropractic for this patient population is justified in terms of chiropractic’s effectiveness in addressing pregnancy-related musculoskeletal complaints and improvements in quality of life.”