The Benefits of Chiropractic Care in the Fourth Trimester
The “fourth trimester”—the first 12 weeks after giving birth—is a powerful, emotional, and often overwhelming time. While your focus naturally shifts to your newborn, it’s also a time when your body is healing, adjusting, and recovering from the massive transformation of pregnancy and birth.
Unfortunately, many new moms are told that once they’ve had their six-week postpartum checkup, they’re “cleared” and good to go—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The fourth trimester is not the end of your journey—it’s just the beginning of your healing.
Chiropractic care during this season can be a gentle, supportive, and essential part of your recovery. Here’s how:
1. Supports Postpartum Alignment and Recovery
During pregnancy, your body undergoes major postural changes: the pelvis tilts forward, your center of gravity shifts, and ligaments loosen to accommodate your growing baby. After birth, it doesn’t all snap back overnight.
Chiropractic adjustments during the fourth trimester can help:
· Realign the pelvis and spine
· Relieve pressure from the low back, hips, and tailbone
· Reduce discomfort after vaginal or cesarean birth
· Support better posture (especially important for feeding and baby-carrying)
2. Helps You Move and Function More Comfortably
Whether you’re lifting a car seat, nursing around the clock, or getting up multiple times a night, your body is working hard. It’s not uncommon to feel aches and pains in new places—from your neck and shoulders to your wrists and low back.
Chiropractic care can help:
· Reduce muscle tension
· Improve mobility
· Ease repetitive strain from infant care
· Help you move more comfortably through your day
3. Regulates the Nervous System
The postpartum period isn’t just physically demanding—it’s emotionally intense too. Sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and the responsibility of caring for a new life can affect your mood, focus, and overall well-being.
Chiropractic adjustments support the nervous system, helping your body shift out of “fight or flight” mode and into a more calm, regulated state. Many patients report better sleep, improved energy, and a greater sense of balance after an adjustment.
4. Provides Dedicated Time for You
It’s easy to feel lost in the whirlwind of caring for a newborn. Chiropractic visits give you a moment to pause, reconnect with your body, and receive care—without having to explain or “be okay.”
Your visit isn’t just about adjustments—it’s about:
· Being seen and supported
· Having your concerns taken seriously
· Getting customized care in a safe, judgment-free space
5. Supports Breastfeeding and Babywearing Posture
Feeding and holding a baby for hours a day takes a toll. Many new moms develop tension and discomfort in the neck, shoulders, upper back, and wrists. Poor posture while feeding can also contribute to headaches and nerve compression.
Chiropractic care can help by:
· Releasing tension in the upper body
· Promoting better posture and ergonomics
· Offering tips or stretches to do at home
Final Thoughts
Your body just did an incredible thing—growing and birthing a human being. But your recovery doesn’t happen overnight. The fourth trimester is a tender, important phase, and you deserve support every step of the way.
Chiropractic care is one gentle, effective way to honor your healing, relieve discomfort, and feel more like yourself again.
Ready to feel supported in your postpartum journey? Schedule your fourth trimester chiropractic visit and give your body the care it needs to heal, realign, and thrive.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Take care,
Dr. Gina