Pregnancy
Prenatal care: easing pelvic and low back pain
Why pregnancy changes your mechanics, and what safe, gentle care looks like through each trimester.
What changes, mechanically
Relaxin loosens ligaments, your center of mass moves forward, and the low back curve deepens to compensate. Those three things together explain most pregnancy-related low back, pelvic, and sciatic pain — it isn't something you're doing wrong.
What care looks like
Adjusting is modified for comfort and safety: pregnancy-specific tables and pillows, side-lying positions, and low-force techniques. Nothing about it involves pressure on the abdomen.
- First trimester: mostly assessment, gentle mobility, and symptom management
- Second trimester: pelvic balance work as your mechanics shift fastest
- Third trimester: comfort, pelvic alignment, and preparation for labor positioning
At-home support
- Side sleeping with a pillow between the knees
- Short walks over long standing
- Hip hinging instead of bending at the waist
- Avoid prolonged single-leg standing while dressing
After delivery
Postpartum is its own phase — carrying, feeding posture, and core recovery all put new demands on your spine. Many patients find the first few months after birth the most valuable time to be in care.
This article is general education, not medical advice for your specific case. If you want an honest answer about your spine, book a new patient exam and we'll measure first.