Healthy Birth, Baby & Body Begin with Your Nervous System: A Chiropractic Approach

…And 7 Tips for a Calmer, Healthier Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of profound physical and emotional change. As your body adapts to support new life, you may experience discomfort, anxiety, or sleep disruption. But this experience doesn’t have to be defined by struggle. Chiropractic care offers a natural way to support your body’s innate intelligence, ease common pregnancy challenges, and help you feel more connected, comfortable, and resilient.

Safe, Gentle, Nervous System-Based Care

Chiropractic doesn’t have to be intimidating. Dr. Michelle practices NetworkSpinal, a gentle, non-invasive approach with no cracking, popping, or twisting. This technique helps the nervous system release stored tension, reorganize, and function at a higher level—creating more ease throughout the pregnancy journey. She combines this technique with Webster technique which is the highest standard of pregnancy care when receiving chiropractic.

What the Research Says

A survey of 343 pregnant women under chiropractic care found:

Less musculoskeletal pain
More energy
Improved sleep
Better mood and emotional balance
Enhanced connection with others

The Webster Technique & Baby Positioning

The Webster Technique is a specialized chiropractic analysis and adjustment that helps:

Balance the pelvis
Reduce tension in the uterus
Create more space for baby to settle into an ideal position

When pelvic alignment improves, the ligaments supporting the uterus relax, and baby can move more freely—often resulting in greater comfort and a smoother labor.

Often people will ask, “How can a chiropractic adjustment affect baby positioning?” The answer is by improving pelvic balance. When the mother’s pelvis is out of alignment, the ligaments that connect from the pelvis to the uterus increase their tension (tone) resulting in a distortion to the uterine space. Don MacDonald, D.C. offers a great analogy: “Increased tone is like sleeping in a bed with someone sitting on the sheets beside you. Can you turn over freely? No.” For the baby, the surrounding walls of the uterus tighten with pelvic imbalance, becoming more and more like tight bedsheets that restrict her motion. The chiropractic adjustment to the pelvis releases tension to the ligaments and uterus so that the baby can move freely and assume the best possible position for birth.

Dr. Michelle Green DC is a Webster certified chiropractor and you can find other webster certified chiropractors here: https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/

Power, Passage, and Passenger: A Nervous System-Centered Perspective on Birth

In traditional obstetrics, the three components that influence labor and birth are known as Power, Passage, and Passenger. As a chiropractor focused on the nervous system, I see this framework through a different lens—one that honors the intelligence of the body, the adaptability of the nervous system, and the collaboration between mother and baby.

Let’s break it down:

POWER: The Nervous System’s Role in Labor

In this context, “power” refers to the strength and coordination of uterine contractions—what actually propels the baby downward. But those contractions don’t happen in isolation; they’re regulated by your nervous system.

When the nervous system is under stress, communication between the brain, uterus, and hormones can be disrupted. This can lead to uncoordinated or inefficient contractions, exhaustion, and prolonged labor.

Chiropractic care supports the nervous system by:

Reducing interference in the spine and nerves
Helping the body shift out of “fight or flight” and into a calmer, more regulated state
Supporting the natural rhythm and flow of labor hormones (like oxytocin)

When your nervous system feels safe, it can do what it was designed to do—guide your body through birth with strength and ease.

PASSAGE: Creating Space Through Pelvic Balance

The “passage” refers to the bony pelvis and soft tissues that baby must move through during birth. If the pelvis is misaligned—even slightly—it can impact the shape and mobility of the birth canal. That can mean more discomfort for you and a harder journey for baby.

Through techniques like the Webster Technique, chiropractic care:

Balances alignment of the pelvis
Eases tension in the muscles and ligaments that support the uterus
Creates more space and flexibility for baby to descend
Reduces back pain, sciatica, and pelvic tension

This isn’t about “forcing” anything—it’s about restoring balance so that the body can move the way it was meant to, making labor more comfortable and effective.

PASSENGER: Helping Baby Find the Best Position

Your baby is not just along for the ride—they are an active participant in birth. Their position, movements, and engagement with the pelvis all influence how smoothly labor progresses.

Chiropractic care helps the baby by:

Encouraging optimal positioning (head down, chin tucked, facing your spine)
Creating a relaxed uterine environment so baby has freedom to move
Supporting the connection between mom and baby through co-regulation

When your body is balanced and your nervous system is calm, your baby receives those messages too. It becomes easier for them to settle into the best possible position for birth, reducing the likelihood of interventions.

Birth Is a Collaborative Dance

Ultimately, birth isn’t just something your body does—it’s something you and your baby do together.

Your baby is not passive in this process. They have built-in reflexes, known as primitive reflexes, that activate during labor and assist in their own birth. One example is the Spinal Galant Reflex, which is triggered when the side of a baby’s back is stimulated. This reflex causes the baby to arch their back and even release their bladder.

Here’s the amazing part: as your baby moves through the birth canal, your pubic symphysis naturally strokes their back, activating this reflex. In response, the baby arches—helping themselves move through the pelvis—and empties their bladder, which can even reduce their body size slightly to ease passage.

This is just one of the many examples of how brilliantly birth is designed.

When your nervous system is supported, your pelvis is balanced, and your baby has the space to move and respond, birth becomes less about force and fear—and more about flow, rhythm, and trust.

Beyond Pain Relief: A Nervous System Perspective

Chiropractic isn’t just for back pain—it’s a tool for optimizing your nervous system. Adjustments can help regulate:

Stress responses
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Digestion and sleep
Emotional adaptability

When your body is more regulated, everything works better—from hormones to muscle coordination to mindset.

Your Nervous System Is Your Birth Ally

The nervous system plays a vital role in how you process stress and experience safety. Polyvagal theory teaches us that a sense of connection and safety can transform our experience of pregnancy and labor. Gentle chiropractic care helps build this foundation by restoring calm and improving nervous system communication.

Before we do anything else, our first job is to invite the nervous system to the table—because that’s where true change begins. In my office, I don’t just ‘adjust’ spines—I work with your body, your rhythms, and your unique story to help you feel safe, calm, and more connected.

If you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, I get it—there can be a lot of assumptions. But here’s the truth: many of us are the listeners, the educators, the ones reminding you that you have choices. Some of us, like myself, have sought out additional training to serve pregnant women safely and gently.

Chiropractic, when practiced with intention and deep respect for the nervous system, is about so much more than relieving discomfort. It’s about creating the kind of connection and regulation that allows your body—and your baby—to thrive. That’s the work I love to do. And it’s why I believe chiropractic has such an important role in reshaping how we experience pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Signs Your Nervous System May Be Out of Balance

Many common pregnancy symptoms are nervous system messages asking for support. If you’re experiencing any of the following, your body may benefit from gentle chiropractic care:

Feeling easily overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally reactive
Disrupted sleep or restlessness
Headaches, neck or shoulder tightness
Digestive issues or irregular bowel movements
Pain that comes and goes (hips, low back, pelvis)
Difficulty feeling connected to your body or baby
Heightened sensitivity to sounds, lights, or touch

Chiropractic care doesn’t just help relieve symptoms—it helps restore communication and ease in your body.

Real Life, Real Results: Jackie’s Story

Jackie, an elementary school teacher and mom, came into care with headaches, reflux, anxiety, and sciatica. After gentle adjustments:

Her symptoms resolved
She felt emotionally balanced
Her birth was efficient and empowering

Post-birth, her baby experienced reflux. Chiropractic care helped resolve it in just a few visits, supporting both the baby's digestion and bringing her to a better place of calm.

Chiropractic as Part of the Birth Team

More childbirth educators now include chiropractors in their curriculum. As one instructor from Birth Boot Camp curriculum put it:

“When we say birth team, that includes the midwife, doula, and chiropractor.”

Pregnant people who add chiropractic to their prenatal care often report:

Shorter labors
Fewer interventions
Better baby positioning
More positive postpartum outcomes

When to Start Care: A Pregnancy Timeline

1st Trimester
- What’s Happening: Hormonal changes, nausea, emotional shifts
- Chiropractic Supports: Nervous system balance, easing tension, reducing nausea
2nd Trimester
- What’s Happening: Posture shifts, growing belly, energy boost
- Chiropractic Supports: Pelvic alignment, improving sleep, adapting to changes
3rd Trimester
- What’s Happening: Baby growth, fatigue, preparing for birth
- Chiropractic Supports: Positioning support with Webster, emotional grounding, optimizing for labor
Postpartum
- What’s Happening: Recovery, hormone reset, breastfeeding
- Chiropractic Supports: Aiding recovery, reducing pain, supporting mood and bonding
Baby’s First Visits
- What’s Happening: Nervous system adapting to life outside the womb
- Chiropractic Supports: Gentle support for digestion, latch, sleep, and calmness—foundational for healthy development

7 Tips for a Calmer, Healthier Pregnancy

Practical ways to support your nervous system during pregnancy:

1. Breathe Low and Slow
Inhale through your nose for 4 counts, exhale through your mouth for 6. Deep breathing regulates your nervous system and creates calm.

2. Honor Your Need for Rest
Fatigue during pregnancy is normal. Rest supports nervous system repair and baby’s development.

3. Get Adjusted Regularly
NetworkSpinal and Webster adjustments help restore balance, reduce stress, and support optimal body function.

4. Ground Yourself Daily
Walk barefoot on the earth. Grounding has been shown to reduce inflammation and regulate your body’s rhythms.

5. Connect with Baby Through Touch
Placing your hands on your belly and sending love can co-regulate your nervous systems and deepen your bond.

6. Protect Your Inputs
Avoid media or stories that cause anxiety. Choose uplifting, encouraging content during this time.

7. Trust Your Intuition
Your body knows. Chiropractic care enhances body awareness and helps you stay in tune with your inner voice.

A Joyful Pregnancy and Empowered Birth Are Possible

Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, you deserve to feel safe, supported, and strong throughout your pregnancy. Chiropractic care offers a gentle, research-supported path to help your body do what it was designed to do—naturally and powerfully.

Book a consult or call/text us at 720-722-1622

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