Pregnancy can be an exciting and joyous experience for most women. But for those with scoliosis, it is often fraught with anxiety. Common concerns include the risk factors in developing scoliosis during pregnancy. Can it affect your chances of getting pregnant? Will you be able to go through childbirth safely? Does the condition have any effect on the baby? The reality is that risks are a natural part of pregnancy, whether a woman has an abnormal spine or not. Decades of study on scoliosis suggest these fears are unfounded.
In most cases, scoliosis does not adversely impact pregnancy. Researchers have found that women who have been successfully treated for scoliosis have minor to no additional risks at all for complications. However, there can be instances wherein symptoms of severe scoliosis might get more painful during pregnancy. This is because the center of gravity shifts. The body naturally leans back to support the extra weight of your growing belly. If you have scoliosis, you should take extra precautions to ensure that your pregnancy is as comfortable as possible.
Here’s why individuals with abnormal curvature may need scoliosis physiotherapy treatment during your pregnancy:
- Back pain – Women whose scoliosis involves the hips, pelvis, or shoulders, or have severe curvature of the spine may experience more pain and discomfort during pregnancy, particularly in the later stage. If this is the case, doctors advise you to stay off your feet as much as possible and take warm baths for relief. Physiotherapists help by developing exercises specific to the scoliosis-related pain you may be experiencing.
- Curve progression – Women with scoliosis may wonder whether pregnancy will make their curvature worse. According to research, if the curve has already stopped progressing, the weight gain from pregnancy won’t affect curve progression. It is believed to be linked to a hormone called relaxin, which the body releases during pregnancy. Relaxin’s function is to relax your ligaments throughout the pelvis and spine to add stress to the scoliosis curve.
- Breathing issues – As a normal part of pregnancy, breathing may be affected by the increase in progesterone, a steroid hormone believed to stimulate respiration. In addition, the growing uterus also exerts pressure on the diaphragm. This causes you to breathe in more deeply and feel like you’re working harder to get air. Part of the scoliosis treatment for adults is developing breathing techniques and exercises to improve oxygen intake and not compromise oxygen supply to the fetus.
- Labor and delivery – In the past, pregnant women with scoliosis were automatically scheduled for C-sections. But now, doctors are discovering natural delivery can be done successfully without unusual complications. Delivery can be the same for women with and without scoliosis, with only a few differences. For instance, those with crooked hips due to scoliosis may experience stalls during labor. Abnormal curvature can also make it challenging to receive an epidural.
Women with scoliosis who are trying to get pregnant and are going through pregnancy should consult their doctors about the best treatment for scoliosis. You will most likely be referred to physiotherapists to get relief from pain and discomfort and develop an awareness of your posture. NorAlign Functional Rehabilitation Center offers spinal services, orthopedics, and other specialties to help you in your pregnancy journey. Contact +971 4 340 0017 today to book an appointment.