Pregnancy Chiropractor on the Gold Coast

Name: Zest Chiropractic
Address: Suite 3/29 Commerce Dr, Robina, QLD, 4226, AU
Telephone: 07 5625 7070
Price range: $$

Pregnancy asks a lot of the body. Across nine months, significant structural and hormonal shifts take place, and many women find that their spine, pelvis, and nervous system feel the pressure long before labour arrives. At Zest Chiropractic, we work with women throughout pregnancy and into the postnatal period, because the demand on the body doesn’t stop at birth.

Care here is genuinely modified for pregnancy, not simply a standard adjustment delivered more carefully. Techniques, positioning, and the focus of each visit are adapted to where you are in your pregnancy, and to how your body is responding at that point in time.

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A Different Kind of Physical Demand

Pregnancy hormones, particularly relaxin and progesterone, increase joint laxity throughout the body. This is a normal and necessary part of preparing for birth, but it also means the sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis, and lower back are more responsive to load and position than they would otherwise be.

As the centre of gravity shifts forward through each trimester, the lumbar spine often compensates with increased curve, the pelvis tilts anteriorly, and the upper back and neck may carry additional tension as posture adjusts. Common complaints shift across the trimesters too: sacroiliac joint discomfort and round ligament tension tend to appear earlier, while pubic symphysis dysfunction, sciatic discomfort from positional nerve compression, and rib tension often become more prominent in the third trimester.

Understanding these changes is central to how care is delivered here.

How Care is Modified

Prone (face-down) positioning is avoided later in pregnancy. Instead, pregnancy-appropriate pillows, tables with belly cutouts, side-lying positions, and seated techniques are used to keep you comfortable throughout your visit.

Low-force adjusting approaches like the Thomson technique are prioritised. Gentler myofascial and low-force methods are used instead of higher-velocity techniques. Every visit begins with a thorough assessment to ensure the approach is appropriate for where you are right now.

The Webster Technique

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the sacrum and pelvis. Its aim is to reduce tension in the pelvic joints, muscles, and ligaments, particularly the round ligaments, to help restore pelvic balance and spinal function during pregnancy. It is commonly used across all three trimesters.

pregnant mom sitting on bed with plant over belly

Our Chiropractors

Care for pregnant and postnatal women is a priority for this practice, as part of a broader commitment to family health at every stage of life.

Dr Laura Priestley

Dr Laura Priestley has completed postgraduate training in Spinal Paediatric and Elevate Paediatric, in addition to her undergraduate studies in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic at RMIT.

MEET DR LAURA

Dr Scott Vatcher

Dr Scott Vatcher has postgraduate qualifications in pregnancy and paediatric chiropractic. Dr Scott holds a Diplomate in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCP), a three-year postgraduate diploma from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.

MEET DR SCOTT

Postnatal Care: The Period That Often Gets Overlooked

Many women access chiropractic during pregnancy and then let care lapse once their baby arrives. It is understandable, given how much is happening in those first weeks and months. But the postnatal period brings its own physical demands, and for many women, it is when the body needs the most attention.

Joint laxity does not resolve immediately after birth. Relaxin may remain elevated for months, and for breastfeeding mothers, the hormonal influence on ligament laxity may persist longer still. This means that “everything is a little more mobile than usual”; so consideration carries well beyond delivery.

What Changes Postnatally

Feeding positions, carrying, repeated bending to cots and pram frames, and disrupted sleep all contribute to what is sometimes called “mum posture”: rounded shoulders, a forward head position, and persistent lower back strain from repetitive lifting and twisting.

For women who have had a caesarean, scar tissue may develop around the incision site and, once cleared by their surgeon (generally around six weeks post-delivery), gentle mobilisation of the surrounding area can help with adhesions that affect posture and movement.

Return to standard-force adjustments postnatally is individual, not based on a fixed timeline, and guided by how each person is healing and their body’s response.

Postnatal care at this practice may be appropriate if you are experiencing:

Lower back, pelvic, or sacroiliac discomfort following birth
Neck and upper back tension from feeding and carrying positions
Postural changes that have persisted since delivery

Recovery following a caesarean section (once cleared by your treating doctor)
A general check-in for the nervous system and spinal function after birth

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chiropractic care appropriate during pregnancy?

Yes. Care is adapted to each stage using pregnancy-appropriate techniques and positioning. No pressure is ever applied to the abdomen, and your chiropractor will tailor the approach to where you are in your pregnancy.

I’m nervous about being adjusted while pregnant. What should I know?

This is one of the most common questions we hear. The short answer is that the approach used here looks quite different from a standard adult adjustment. Prone positioning is avoided, low-force techniques are used, and the focus and pressure at each visit are adapted to your stage of pregnancy and how your body presents. A thorough assessment takes place before any adjustment, and you are always in control of what happens during your visit.

Why see a chiropractor if I’m not in pain?

Pregnancy involves significant structural and hormonal changes across all three trimesters. Chiropractic focuses on spinal movement and nervous system function, helping the body adapt throughout, rather than waiting for discomfort to arise.

What is the Webster Technique?

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the sacrum and pelvis aimed at reducing tension in the pelvic joints, muscles, and ligaments. It is commonly used across all three trimesters to help restore pelvic balance and spinal function.

When should I bring my newborn in?

When you feel ready after the birth. Even in uncomplicated deliveries, the birth process places physical demands on a baby’s cranium, neck, and spine. A newborn check involves very gentle assessment and, where appropriate, light fingertip pressure.

Do I need to keep coming in after my baby is born?

That is entirely your choice. The postnatal period brings its own physical demands, and many women find their bodies continue to need attention well after birth, particularly with the postural load of feeding, carrying, and sleep disruption. Your chiropractor will assess how your body is tracking and discuss what, if anything, they would recommend.

How long will I need care?

That depends on your goals and how your body is responding. Some women come in for a specific concern and are discharged once it has been addressed. Others choose to continue with periodic check-ups across pregnancy and beyond. We will always be upfront about what we are seeing and what we would recommend, and you stay in control throughout.

Ready to Book an Appointment?

Whether you are in your first trimester, weeks away from your due date, or a few months postpartum and finally getting a moment to yourself, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with the team at Zest Chiropractic in Robina to book your first visit.
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