Is It Safe to See a Chiropractor While Pregnant? Hurstville Chiropractors Explain
Dynamic Chiropractic NSW, Hurstville | Clinically reviewed by Dr Amy Norman (Chiropractor), October 2026
The short answer: For most healthy pregnancies, yes. Chiropractic care that is adapted for pregnancy is generally considered low risk when it is provided by a practitioner with training in prenatal care. It is not right for everyone, though, and your pregnancy history matters. If you are unsure, check with your midwife or obstetrician first.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
Pregnancy changes the body quickly. The centre of gravity shifts, ligaments soften under the influence of hormones such as relaxin, and the lower back and pelvis take on a lot more work. It makes sense that many women look for hands-on care.
Research on chiropractic care in pregnancy is still developing, and the evidence that it relieves back and pelvic pain is limited. Reviews of the available studies have generally reported few serious adverse events, with mild, short-lived soreness being the most common reaction (Stuber et al. 2012; Weis et al. 2021). That is not the same as saying there is zero risk, and a good practitioner will talk this through honestly before any treatment.
What matters most is who is providing the care and how. Care for a pregnant woman should look different from care for anyone else.
Can I start chiropractic care in early pregnancy?
Yes, if your pregnancy is progressing normally. Women are welcome to come in as soon as they feel comfortable, whether that is at 6 weeks, 16 weeks or later. Dr Amy Norman and Dr Yiyao Sun care for women at every stage of pregnancy and modify treatment to suit each stage. If nausea or fatigue is making things harder, let the team know and your visit can be planned around how you are feeling.
Before booking, please read the section below on when chiropractic care is not suitable or needs a conversation with your care team first.
What does pregnancy-adapted chiropractic care look like?
Many people picture twisting and cracking. In pregnancy, care is usually much gentler than that.
Adapted positioning. Pregnancy pillows, side-lying positions and tables that allow for the bump are used, so you are never lying flat on your stomach, or on your back, for long.
Low-force techniques. Many of the techniques used at the clinic involve light pressure rather than rotation or high-force movements.
Soft tissue work and movement advice. Treatment often includes releasing tight muscles around the hips and lower back, plus simple exercises and positions to use at home.
Pregnancy-specific techniques. Dr Norman and Dr Sun are trained in the Webster Technique, a gentle sacral and pelvic assessment with soft tissue work and adjustment, used to support comfort and pelvic function. It is not a treatment for the baby or for breech position.
Ongoing checks. Your comfort and your symptoms guide each visit, and care is adjusted as your bump grows.
If a practitioner uses the same approach at 34 weeks as they would on someone who is not pregnant, that is a red flag.
When chiropractic care is not suitable, or needs a conversation first
Some situations mean chiropractic care should wait, or should only happen with input from your midwife or obstetrician. These include:
Vaginal bleeding or unexplained fluid loss
Placenta praevia or placental abruption
Signs of pre-eclampsia, such as severe headaches, vision changes, sudden swelling or high blood pressure
Threatened or recurrent preterm labour
A cervix that has been shortened or stitched, or concerns about cervical insufficiency
Severe or unexplained abdominal pain
Any condition your care team has asked you to avoid physical treatment for
Seek urgent medical care, rather than a chiropractic appointment, if you have heavy bleeding, constant severe abdominal pain, your waters break, you notice reduced baby movements, or you feel something is wrong. Trust your instincts and call your midwife, your hospital's maternity line, or 000 in an emergency.
Can I see a chiropractor if I have a high-risk pregnancy?
Possibly, but it needs more care and more communication. If you have a high-risk pregnancy (for example gestational diabetes, a history of preterm birth, a multiple pregnancy or a low-lying placenta), let your chiropractor know at the start. With your consent, Dr Norman and Dr Sun are happy to coordinate with your obstetrician or midwife, and they will tell you honestly if waiting is the safer option.
How do I choose a pregnancy chiropractor?
A few questions are worth asking before you book:
Do you have training in pregnancy and postnatal care, and how often do you treat pregnant women?
How do you adapt treatment as my pregnancy progresses?
Will you ask about my pregnancy history and screen for warning signs at every visit?
Are you comfortable working alongside my midwife or obstetrician?
Can you explain the treatment and the risks in plain language before we start?
Be wary of anyone who promises results they cannot back up, such as turning a breech baby, speeding up labour or avoiding a caesarean. Honest practitioners talk about what the evidence shows and what it does not.
What to expect at your first visit at the Hurstville clinic
Your first appointment starts with a conversation about your pregnancy so far, your symptoms, your medical history and what you are hoping to get from care. This is followed by a gentle physical assessment. Your chiropractor will explain what they find and what they recommend before any treatment happens.
Where: Suite 254, Level 5, 7–11 The Avenue, Hurstville
How long: 30 minutes
Cost: Initial consultation $125 (adults). Subsequent pregnancy appointments $99. Prices accurate as of 27 October 2026.
Private health rebates: You can claim your private health rebate on the spot, depending on your extras cover.
Referral: You do not need a GP referral to see a chiropractor.
Communicating with your GP, midwife or obstetrician: This is guided by you. The clinic will only share your information with your other health practitioners when you are comfortable with it and have given consent. The only exceptions are the rare situations where the law requires or permits disclosure, such as a serious threat to someone's life, health or safety.
The approach at Dynamic Chiropractic NSW is to tailor every visit to you and to what you are comfortable with. Between them, Dr Amy Norman and Dr Yiyao Sun use a range of techniques, so they can choose what suits your stage of pregnancy and how your body feels that day. Care is backed up with practical advice on posture, stretches, sleeping positions and ergonomics.
Many mums also join Dynamic Aquanatal, small pregnancy-specific water-based classes taught by Dr Norman, which include pelvic floor education and can be started from 12 weeks. After your baby arrives, the clinic also offers postnatal care for mums.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell my chiropractor I am pregnant?
Yes, and as early as possible, even if you are not showing yet. It changes how you are positioned and which techniques are chosen.
Can I see a chiropractor in my third trimester?
In most healthy pregnancies, yes. Many women find the later months the most uncomfortable, and treatment is adapted to your size and comfort.
Will it hurt?
Pregnancy-adapted care is gentle. Some people feel mild tenderness afterwards, similar to light muscle soreness, which usually settles within a day or so. Tell your practitioner if anything feels uncomfortable during treatment.
Should I tell my midwife or obstetrician?
Yes, it is a good idea. They know your full pregnancy picture, and open communication between everyone involved is better for you.
How often should I come?
It depends on your symptoms and how your pregnancy is going. Some people come for a short block of visits to settle a specific problem; others prefer regular check-ins. A plan is agreed at your first visit and reviewed as you go.
Book a pregnancy chiropractic appointment in Hurstville
If you are pregnant and dealing with back, hip or pelvic discomfort, or you simply want to talk through whether chiropractic care is right for you, Dr Amy Norman and Dr Yiyao Sun would love to help. Book online or call 0407 992 119.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results vary, and chiropractic care is not suitable for every person or every pregnancy. Please speak with your doctor, midwife or obstetrician about your own circumstances. Chiropractic care carries some risk, and a practitioner should discuss this with you before treatment.
References
Stuber K, Wynd S, Weis CA. Adverse events from spinal manipulation in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a critical review of the literature. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2012. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3348005
Weis CA, Stuber K, Murnaghan K, Wynd S. Adverse events from spinal manipulations in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a systematic review and update. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2021;65(1):32–49. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8128327
Hall H, Cramer H, Sundberg T, et al. The effectiveness of complementary manual therapies for pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5044890
Weis CA, Pohlman K, Draper C, et al. Chiropractic care of adults with postpartum-related low back, pelvic girdle, or combination pain: a systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2020;43(7):732–743. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32873418/
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