Your First Pregnancy or Postnatal Chiropractic Visit: What to Expect

Maybe your pelvis has started catching when you turn over in bed. Maybe your back aches by the end of every workday, or your wrists tingle at night. Or perhaps your baby is a few months old and the back pain from pregnancy still hasn’t gone.

Whatever brings you in, it helps to know what to expect. Here’s what happens at a first pregnancy or postnatal visit at our practice.

Before you come in

You can book online or call us, with no referral needed. Both our chiropractors treat pregnant and postnatal patients, so you can book with whoever suits your diary. Dr Kirsty Anley has a special interest in pregnancy and family care.

Your first appointment takes about 45 minutes.

What to wear

Wear something comfortable you can move in, such as leggings or loose trousers. A top that lets us see your back can help, and we’ll always explain what we’re doing first.

What to bring

Any scans, X-rays or letters about your back or pelvis
Notes from your midwife, obstetrician or GP if anything has been flagged
A list of questions, because it’s easy to forget them on the day
If you need to bring your baby to a postnatal visit, let us know when you book

Your story comes first

We start by listening. We’ll ask about:

Where it hurts, when it started and what makes it better or worse
How far along you are, or how long ago your baby was born
Any previous pregnancies and births, and whether you had pain then
How you’re sleeping, working and moving day to day
What you’d like to get back to, whether that’s a walk, the gym, your job or just turning over in bed without wincing

Your history matters. Back pain before pregnancy and pain in a previous pregnancy both make pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain more likely (Wu et al., 2004), so it helps us understand what’s going on.

The examination

Next we’ll examine you, gently and with your comfort in mind. We’ll look at how you stand and move, check your back, pelvis and hips and use a few simple tests to see which joints and muscles are involved. Pain at the back or front of the pelvis is the most common type in pregnancy, followed by low back pain (Wu et al., 2004), and telling them apart shapes your treatment.

After the birth we’ll also check how your tummy muscles are coming back together, as abdominal separation is common for the first months after having a baby.

Then we’ll explain what we’ve found in plain language and talk through a plan before anything else happens.

Treatment, adapted to you

If it suits you, treatment can start on the first day. We’ll position you on your side, sitting or with support, so you’re comfortable with a bump or a healing body. Depending on what we find, treatment may include:

Gentle joint mobilisation of the back, pelvis and hips
Soft tissue work for tight, tired muscles
Gentle adjustments, where they suit you
The Webster Technique, a specific pelvic technique Dr Kirsty Anley has trained in

Our approach follows best-practice recommendations for chiropractic care in pregnancy and after birth, agreed by an international panel of 78 experts from 7 countries (Weis et al., 2022).

What you take home

You’ll leave with a plan for between visits. Exercise is a big part of it: a review that pooled 32 studies found women who exercised during pregnancy had less severe back and pelvic pain during pregnancy and soon after the birth (Davenport et al., 2019).

We’ll give you exercises that suit your stage and adapt them as you go, along with practical advice on:

Sleeping positions and pillows
Sitting, standing and getting in and out of the car
Lifting, carrying and feeding positions after the birth
Staying active and, if you want to, returning to sport

Working with your midwife or doctor

We work alongside your midwife, obstetrician or GP, never instead of them. If anything we find needs their attention, we’ll tell you and refer you. If you have pelvic floor symptoms, we can suggest seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist alongside your care with us.

Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit rather than booking with us if your pain comes with a fever, a severe headache or changes in your vision, if you have regular painful tightenings before 37 weeks, if your baby is moving less than usual or if anything feels wrong.

Ready to book?

Read more about how we care for you on our pregnancy and postnatal care page, or book an appointment with Dr Kirsty Anley or Dr Matthew Proctor at our Sandton practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a first pregnancy chiropractic appointment?

About 45 minutes. That gives us time to hear your story, examine you properly, explain what we find and, if it suits you, start treatment on the same day.

What should I wear?

Something comfortable you can move in, such as leggings or loose trousers and a top that lets us see your back if needed. We'll always explain what we're doing and make sure you're comfortable.

Will I have to lie on my tummy?

No. We position you on your side, sitting or with support so you're comfortable with a bump, and change positions as your pregnancy goes on.

How soon after giving birth can I come in?

Whenever you feel ready and your pain is bothering you. After a caesarean we work around your scar and follow your doctor's advice about what you can do and when.

Which chiropractor should I book with?

Either. Dr Matthew Proctor and Dr Kirsty Anley both treat pregnant and postnatal patients, so book with whoever suits your diary. Kirsty has a special interest in pregnancy and family care.

References