Pregnancy changes the way the body moves, carries load and responds to everyday activities. It is common for women to have questions about whether chiropractic care may be appropriate during pregnancy, particularly when experiencing lower back, pelvic or other musculoskeletal discomfort.
At Geebung Family Chiropractic, these are some of the questions we are most commonly asked by pregnant patients.
1. Can chiropractic help back pain during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care may help some pregnant women experiencing back, spinal or other pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain.
Pregnancy places changing demands on the lower back, pelvis, hips and surrounding muscles and joints. As the abdomen grows, changes in posture, movement and load can sometimes contribute to pain or discomfort.
Whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate depends on the individual person and the cause of their symptoms.
Your chiropractor will take a history and assess your clinical presentation before discussing whether chiropractic care may be suitable or whether another form of healthcare would be more appropriate.
Headaches can also occur during pregnancy, but there are many possible causes. Where a headache appears to have a musculoskeletal component involving the neck or surrounding tissues, chiropractic assessment may be relevant. New, severe or unusual headaches during pregnancy should be discussed with an appropriate medical or maternity healthcare provider.
2. Is chiropractic care considered safe during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is generally regarded as a low-risk form of musculoskeletal care when clinically appropriate, provided by a registered chiropractor and modified for the individual patient.
Your chiropractor will consider your stage of pregnancy, health history, symptoms and clinical findings before recommending treatment, and techniques and positioning can be modified accordingly.
If something in your history or examination suggests chiropractic treatment is not appropriate, we may recommend that you speak with your GP, midwife, obstetrician or another healthcare practitioner.
3. When should I see a chiropractor during pregnancy?
There is no particular week of pregnancy when everyone should start seeing a chiropractor.
Some women consult a chiropractor because they develop a specific musculoskeletal concern such as:
lower back pain
pelvic or sacroiliac discomfort
hip or gluteal pain
musculoskeletal stiffness
difficulty with particular movements or positions.
Others may choose to have a musculoskeletal assessment even when they are not experiencing significant symptoms, particularly as the physical demands of pregnancy change.
An assessment includes more than simply asking whether something hurts. Your chiropractor can examine movement and musculoskeletal function and discuss any relevant clinical findings with you.
Whether treatment is recommended should then depend on the individual assessment, clinical justification, your preferences and the expected benefit of care.
The decision should be based on your individual circumstances rather than following a predetermined pregnancy treatment schedule.
4. What chiropractic techniques can be used during pregnancy?
There is no single “pregnancy adjustment”.
At Geebung Family Chiropractic, our chiropractors use a variety of techniques and modify their approach according to the individual patient, their stage of pregnancy, examination findings, comfort and preferences.
Techniques may include:
Webster Technique
Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic assessment and adjusting approach focusing on the mother's sacral and pelvic region.
It is not a technique for turning a breech baby and treatment is not performed on the unborn child.
Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT)
SOT includes a range of chiropractic approaches that can incorporate supported positioning and lower-force techniques.
Activator Technique
Activator is an instrument-assisted chiropractic technique allowing a targeted, low-force contact.
Manual chiropractic techniques
Manual techniques may also be used when clinically appropriate and can be adapted as pregnancy progresses.
The technique chosen should depend on the person being treated rather than simply the fact that they are pregnant.
5. Can I lie on my stomach at the chiropractor while pregnant?
For many women, yes.
Our treatment rooms have pregnancy-specific support pillows designed to accommodate the abdomen while supporting the body comfortably.
Many pregnant patients particularly enjoy being able to lie face down again.
However, you never need to remain in a position that feels uncomfortable.
As pregnancy progresses, assessment and treatment can also be adapted using side-lying, seated or other positions where appropriate.
6. Do I need to tell my chiropractor that I'm pregnant?
Yes.
Please tell your chiropractor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Pregnancy can influence clinical decision-making, positioning and which techniques may be appropriate, so it forms an important part of your health history.
Your health information is treated confidentially in the same way as other information you provide during your consultation.
7. Can I see a chiropractor throughout my whole pregnancy?
Chiropractic assessment and treatment can be modified throughout pregnancy where it remains clinically appropriate.
As pregnancy progresses, your body, comfort and ability to use certain positions will naturally change. The chiropractor can adapt treatment accordingly.
However, there is no requirement to continue chiropractic treatment simply because you are pregnant.
The frequency and duration of care should reflect your individual clinical needs, response to treatment and preferences.
8. Do I need a GP referral to see a chiropractor while pregnant?
Generally, no.
You can make a private appointment with a registered chiropractor without a GP referral.
Some Medicare-funded care arrangements require a referral from your GP, and different eligibility requirements apply to those programs.
Private health insurance extras may also contribute towards chiropractic treatment depending on your insurer and level of cover.
Geebung Family Chiropractic has HICAPS facilities for participating health funds.
9. What if my baby is breech?
Concerns about your baby's position should be discussed with your midwife, obstetrician or maternity healthcare provider.
Webster Technique is sometimes incorrectly described as a technique for turning a breech baby.
It isn't.
Webster Technique is directed towards the mother's sacral, pelvic and surrounding musculoskeletal structures. Chiropractic treatment should not be represented as treatment of the unborn child or as a method for correcting fetal position.
If you are interested in the technique, we explain it in more detail here:
[Webster Technique During Pregnancy: What It Is and What It Isn't]
10. How soon after giving birth can I see a chiropractor?
There is no universal timeframe.
Every pregnancy and birth is different, so the appropriate timing depends on how you feel, the circumstances of your birth and the reason you are seeking care.
After birth, new physical demands such as feeding positions, carrying your baby, changes in sleep and recovering from pregnancy and delivery can place different stresses on the body.
Some women seek musculoskeletal assessment for concerns such as lower back, pelvic, neck or shoulder discomfort.
If you have had complications, surgery or have concerns about your recovery, it may be appropriate to speak with your GP, obstetrician or other maternity healthcare provider before commencing treatment.
Pregnancy chiropractic care at Geebung Family Chiropractic
Geebung Family Chiropractic is located on Brisbane's north side near Chermside.
Our chiropractors have experience assessing pregnant patients with musculoskeletal concerns, and our treatment rooms include pregnancy support pillows to help adapt positioning as pregnancy progresses.
We regularly see patients from Geebung, Chermside, Aspley, Zillmere, Wavell Heights, Carseldine, Taigum, Boondall, Nudgee and surrounding North Brisbane suburbs.
Geebung Family Chiropractic
117 Copperfield Street
Geebung QLD 4034
Phone: (07) 3359 4510
If you have questions about whether chiropractic assessment may be appropriate during your pregnancy, you are welcome to contact our clinic.
About the author
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mark Townsend, Chiropractor
Dr Mark Townsend graduated from RMIT University in 2006 and has extensive experience in chiropractic practice, including family chiropractic care and the assessment of pregnancy-related musculoskeletal concerns.
Last reviewed: September 2026
