#103: Aligned for Birth: How Chiropractic Care Supports Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond - with Dr. Emily Loughery

Pregnancy is one of the body’s most profound transformations—beautiful, powerful, and sometimes uncomfortable. In this episode, Clara sits down with Dr. Emily Loughery (she/her), a perinatal and pediatric chiropractor, to explore how gentle chiropractic care can support the body (and nervous system) through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.

You’ll learn how alignment affects not only comfort but also pelvic balance, fetal positioning, and emotional well-being—and how restoring communication between the brain, spine, and body can help you move through pregnancy with more ease and trust.

💫 You’ll Learn

• What chiropractic care actually is—and why it’s about the nervous system, not just bones

• How pelvic and spinal alignment influence baby’s position and labor progress

• What the Webster Technique is and how it supports balanced biomechanics

• The difference between “turning a baby” and creating space for baby to move

• How chiropractic care can ease common discomforts (low-back pain, sciatica, rib tension, pelvic instability)

• Why gentle adjustments are safe throughout pregnancy

• When to start care—and how it supports postpartum healing

• The emotional and energetic benefits of trauma-informed, mindful chiropractic care

Listen to the episode now:

Pregnancy is a time of rapid transformation. In just nine months, the body adapts to nurture new life, stretching, shifting, and accommodating in ways that can feel miraculous—yet sometimes uncomfortable. In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Emily Loughery, a chiropractor specializing in perinatal and pediatric care, to explore how chiropractic care can support birthing people through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Below, I’ve distilled some of the most important takeaways from our conversation. Whether you’re pregnant yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about holistic approaches to perinatal health, this episode will help you understand how chiropractic care fits into the bigger picture of pregnancy wellness.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

At its core, chiropractic care is about supporting the nervous system. The brain communicates with every part of the body through the spinal cord and nerves. When that communication is interrupted—what chiropractors call a vertebral subluxation—it can create imbalance, pain, or dysfunction. Gentle chiropractic adjustments aim to restore this connection so the body can do what it already knows best: heal, grow, and function optimally.

For pregnancy, this often means ensuring that the pelvis and spine are well-aligned, muscles and ligaments are balanced, and the nervous system is operating at its best.

Why Chiropractic Care Matters in Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings dramatic physical and hormonal changes. One key player is relaxin, a hormone that loosens ligaments to make space for the growing baby and prepare the pelvis for birth. While relaxin is essential, it can also make joints less stable and increase the risk of discomfort or injury if the body becomes misaligned.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy can support:

• Pain relief: addressing common issues like low back pain, sciatica, pelvic instability, and rib discomfort.

• Optimal biomechanics: ensuring pelvic alignment, which can influence how the baby engages and positions in the womb.

• Comfort and relaxation: gentle adjustments can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and help prepare the body for labor.

• Postpartum recovery: restoring pelvic balance and supporting healing after birth.

Addressing Baby’s Position

One of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care late in pregnancy is concern about a baby’s position (e.g., breech or transverse). Dr. Emily clarified an important point: chiropractors don’t “turn” babies. Instead, they create balance in the pelvis and soft tissues, which can make space for a baby to settle into the position they are meant to be in.

Sometimes that position isn’t head down—and for good reason, like a short umbilical cord. The focus remains on supporting the birthing parent’s body so baby can choose the safest position possible.

What to Expect from a Prenatal Chiropractic Visit

For those new to chiropractic care, the first visit often includes a detailed consult and exam to understand your health history and current concerns. During pregnancy, adjustments are very gentle. Specialized pillows with belly cutouts allow clients to lie comfortably face-down while the chiropractor uses light pressure—often no more than the weight you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato.

Many practitioners, including Dr. Emily, are trained in the Webster Technique, a method that focuses on pelvic balance by addressing bones, muscles, and ligaments. This technique is widely recommended for pregnancy and has been associated with shorter labor times, increased comfort, and improved postpartum recovery.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?

The short answer: yes. Research and clinical experience show chiropractic adjustments are safe throughout pregnancy, with no increased risk compared to adjustments outside of pregnancy.

Most people experience only mild, temporary soreness if anything at all.

Chiropractors are also trained to screen for “red flags” (such as bleeding, severe cramping, or sudden changes in bowel/bladder function) and will refer clients to appropriate providers if needed.

When to Begin and How Often to Go

The best time to begin care? As soon as possible. Like brushing your teeth before you get a cavity, chiropractic can be proactive—not just reactive. Many pregnant clients see a chiropractor weekly, with frequency adjusted depending on symptoms, lifestyle, and stress levels.

Even postpartum, care can be valuable. Gentle adjustments help restore pelvic alignment, regulate the nervous system, and support healing during the demanding early weeks of parenthood. Babies can also benefit from gentle chiropractic, especially for feeding challenges, digestion, sleep, or head shape concerns.

Emotional and Energetic Benefits

Pregnancy and birth are not just physical experiences—they are deeply emotional and often layered with past trauma or fear. Dr. Emily emphasizes the importance of creating a trauma-informed, empowering space. A simple but powerful question she asks clients is: “How do you want to feel during birth?”

By addressing not only physical alignment but also supporting emotional well-being, chiropractic care can help birthing people enter labor feeling safer, calmer, and more in control.

Finding a Prenatal Chiropractor

If you’re curious about exploring chiropractic care during pregnancy, a great starting point is the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) directory, which lists chiropractors trained in the Webster technique and pediatric certifications. Search by zip code to find providers near you.

For those local to Massachusetts, Dr. EmilyWebster Technique  practices at Community Chiropractic of Acton, where she supports families through pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood.

Pregnancy doesn’t have to mean suffering through discomfort. Chiropractic care offers a safe, gentle, and effective way to support the body through its incredible changes, prepare for labor, and promote long-term health for both parent and child.

As Dr. Emily reminds us, discomfort and pain are not just something to “put up with”—they’re signals from the body asking for support. By addressing alignment, reducing stress, and creating balance, chiropractic care can be an invaluable part of a mindful, empowered pregnancy journey.

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