From Bump to Baby: How Chiropractic Supports Pregnancy, Postpartum, Infants & Children with Dr. Emma Swartling

Jul 21

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When you’re pregnant, it feels like everyone has an opinion: “Just do yoga,” “Take more naps,” or the classic, “Sleep now before the baby comes!” (insert eye roll). But what if your discomfort, your round ligament pain, your back twinges—or even your baby’s reflux after birth—could all be supported by something surprisingly simple?

Let’s talk about chiropractic care in pregnancy and postpartum, and why it deserves way more credit than it gets. In a recent episode of Doula Talk, I chatted with Dr. Emma Swartling, a pediatric and perinatal chiropractor and total nervous system nerd (in the best way). And y’all—it was eye-opening. So let’s break down the juicy takeaways, especially for families who want more support, better sleep, and smoother postpartum transitions.

What Is Prenatal Chiropractic Care—And Is It Safe?

First thing’s first: no, it’s not about cracking your bones. In fact, Dr. Emma described her approach as being more like waiting for cold butter to melt. It’s gentle, intentional, and aimed at helping your body move and feel the way it was meant to.

During pregnancy, your body is undergoing some serious changes, like shifting your entire center of gravity and producing a hormone called relaxin that loosens up your ligaments. While that’s important for birth, it can also cause instability and discomfort in the pelvis, hips, and spine.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy—especially from a provider trained in the Webster Technique—can:

Improve pelvic balance and alignment
Reduce lower back, hip, or pubic pain
Support optimal fetal positioning
Help prepare your body for labor and delivery

In short? It’s about supporting your whole system so you can move through pregnancy with more ease and less ouch.

Pelvic Pain, Sciatica & That Weird Sneezing Thing

If you’ve ever felt like your pelvis might just fall apart when you sneeze, you’re not alone.

Pregnancy pelvic pain—especially in the sacroiliac joint or pubic symphysis—is incredibly common and, according to Dr. Emma, often linked to misalignment in the sacrum and surrounding muscles. And that annoying “round ligament pain” that catches you off guard when you cough or roll over in bed? Yep, chiropractic care can help with that too.

When your pelvis is aligned and your nervous system is supported, your muscles don’t have to overcompensate. That means less pain, more stability, and—hopefully—fewer “I just sneezed and saw stars” moments.

What About After Birth?

Postpartum recovery is a whole different rollercoaster. After giving birth, your body is trying to recalibrate, while you’re also navigating sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, and a baby who may or may not want to sleep unless they’re in your arms 24/7.

Here’s where things get really interesting. Dr. Emma shared how postpartum chiropractic care helps:

Realign the pelvis after birth
Support the core and pelvic floor healing process
Address nursing and baby-holding posture issues (hello, hunchback!)
Ease tension from feeding positions or baby-wearing

And this isn’t just about you—your baby can benefit too.

Chiropractic for Babies? Yes, It’s a Thing (And It’s Magical)

Let’s bust a myth: infant chiropractic care is not about bone cracking. It’s incredibly gentle and looks more like holding pressure points with your fingertips than anything intense. Babies often sleep through the entire appointment.

So why do babies even need this? Because birth is hard work for both of you.

Babies may experience tension patterns or restrictions in their bodies from how they were positioned in the womb or the way they were born. This can show up as:

Feeding difficulties (like only nursing on one side)
Reflux or colic
Seeming “tight” or hard to soothe
Trouble lying flat or constant discomfort in the car seat

Gentle adjustments can help release that tension, support their nervous system, and improve their body’s ability to regulate.

💛“Your baby’s feeding problems are not just a ‘you’ problem,” Dr. Emma said. “Often, it’s about how their body is processing and moving through stress.”

Boom. Mic drop.

Tongue Ties, Tummy Trouble & That Fourth Trimester Fog

Let’s get into one of the biggest hot topics for newborns: tongue ties. Whether or not your baby ends up needing a tongue tie revision, chiropractic care is an incredibly helpful piece of the puzzle. Bodywork can prep the muscles and fascia before a release, and help retrain the nervous system afterward.

Dr. Emma explained it perfectly: “That restriction started way back in the first trimester of pregnancy. So when we finally release it at birth or later, their body has to learn a whole new way to move—and it often needs help to get there.”

So if your baby has:

Trouble latching
Reflux or gas
Sleep challenges
Feeding on just one side
A general “I’m not happy in my body” vibe

…this is your sign to get them evaluated by a pediatric chiropractor who gets it.

How Chiropractic Supports Regulation (And Sleep 🙌)

One of the best-kept secrets in early parenthood is how big a role the nervous system plays in everything from feeding to digestion to, yep, sleep. Babies are born in a heightened state of stress (hello, fight-or-flight mode) and need help learning how to regulate.

Chiropractic adjustments, especially when paired with nurturing care from a provider who specializes in infants, can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system (aka rest and digest mode). That’s why so many parents report better sleep, fewer meltdowns, and more poop after a session.

Yes, chiropractic care can literally help your baby poop and sleep better. You’re welcome.

Looking for Pregnancy & Postpartum Support in Tacoma?

If you’re in the South Sound, Dr. Emma Swartling of Lumos Chiropractic is a gem of a provider who blends science, intuition, and deep respect for the parent-child connection. She offers prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric care, including gentle bodywork for tongue ties, feeding challenges, and overall nervous system support.

You can also check out her beautiful Mindful Mama Guides journals—low-pressure, once-a-week prompts for reflecting through pregnancy and postpartum. (Available on Amazon, link below!)

And of course, if you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or that blurry in-between, I’m here for you too. My First Year Support Program offers virtual check-ins, sleep guidance, and compassionate, evidence-based support from bump to baby’s first steps.

TL;DR: Chiropractic Care = Nervous System Magic

Pregnancy and postpartum are wild enough—you deserve tools that truly support your body and your baby’s development. Chiropractic care might not be the first thing you think of when you’re waddling into your third trimester or wiping spit-up off your third shirt of the day… but maybe it should be.

✨ It’s safe.

✨ It’s gentle.

✨ And when done right, it’s transformational.

Warmly,

Doula Deb

Podcast Guest: Dr. Emma Swartling

Dr. Emma is passionate about helping women, parents, and children lead healthier lives, so that we can all grow and shape a healthier community. She aims to help you and your family reach their healthiest and happiest potential.

As part of her commitment to serving mothers, parents, children, and families, she maintains Webster Technique certification and membership with the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). She holds Certification by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP), is Focus Academy Certified, and will be a certified Dynamic Body Balancing provider this year.

Dr. Emma also proudly offers the Brain Blossom Program, an online, at-home brain and body exercise and educational program. This service is especially helpful for children who are struggling with learning, socialization, behavioral, or developmental challenges.