Pape Chiropractic & Wellness Center, LLC

Call Us:  +1.860.739.3600

As a Chiropractic Physician specializing in family, maternity and pediatric care, Dr. Pape believes that chiropractic treatment during pregnancy is vital to the normal physiological functioning of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy and birth. Since our brain and nervous system control the function of every cell, tissue, and organ of our bodies (and our unborn baby's body), it is critically important for our nervous system to operate at 100% for optimal health. Our spine protects our spinal cord and when a spinal bone shifts out of normal alignment it may produce abnormal motion and damaging pressure on spinal nerves. This condition is known as vertebral subluxation and if present, it may interrupt vital nerve flow within our bodies and to the developing baby.

Are adjustments safe during pregnancy? Adjustments are safe during pregnancy. There is a minimal risk with any adjustment, but that risk is not increased by pregnancy. Chiropractors go thorough exams to discover what the problem is and help determine if adjustments will be safe and beneficial for each patient.
      During pregnancy there are many different ways in which we adjust so that the uterus, and the child, are not put under unnecessary pressure. There are adjustments that can be done seated or standing as well as lying down. The chiropractic table is adjustable so that the mother can lay comfortably face down without any pressure on her belly. Most moms find this to be a very relaxing position especially since it has usually been a while since she could lay face down.

Chiropractic care corrects subluxations which interfere with normal body function. Studies have shown that this approach during pregnancy helps alleviate common discomforts (such as back pain, sciatica, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome), decreases pain during labor and delivery and reduces mean labor time. Other benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include decreased likelihood of breech delivery, reduced cesarean rate and less labor intervention.

Manipulative therapy...shortens labor by 50 to 60% and lessens medication requirement by at least 50%. Postpartum depression is a rarity in patients receiving...manipulative therapy.1

Today we find more parents bringing their children to Doctors of Chiropractic for wellness care as well as the day-to-day health concerns we're all familiar with; ear infections, asthma, colic, allergies, bedwetting, growing pains, scoliosis, sports injuries, car accidents, etc. 

It is estimated that about 50% of children experience low back pain at some  point in their childhood, with nearly 15% reporting frequent or continual pain. Canadian chiropractors provided researchers with data on 54 patients with low back pain, all between the ages of 4 and 18. All patients were treated with spinal manipulation. Using the pediatric visual analog scale, 62% of the patients reported "important" improvement; using a subjective rating scale patients reported an 87% "important" improvement within 6-weeks of treatment.18, 19, 20

It is most important to understand that chiropractic is not a treatment of disease. It's purpose is to remove spinal nerve stress to provide increased immune function and optimize healing potential.

Contact Dr. Pape to discuss the benefits of chiropractic care for you and your family. 


1 Guthrie RA, Martin RH. Effect of pressure applied to the upper thoracic (placebo) versus lumbar areas (osteopathic manipulative treatment) for inhibition of lumbar myalgia during labor. JAOA. 1982;82(4):247-251.

18, 19, 20 References available at: www.fcer.org/Reference/2388.htm

Pediatric-Maternity Care

"Pain is inevitable, misery is optional."

Pape Chiropractic & Wellness Center, LLC
Tel. 860-739-3600
Fax 860-739-3400
Email: drpapechiro@att.net
305 Flanders Road, Suite 6
East Lyme, CT 06333