Prenatal Chiropractor in Naples, FL
Gentle Care for Pelvic Balance and Pregnancy Comfort
Prenatal Chiropractic Care in Every Trimester
Dr. James Bergtold, DC has practiced in Naples since 2000 and has treated more than 5,000 patients over 25+ years, including expecting mothers at every stage of pregnancy. He works in low-force, side-posture positioning with pregnancy pillows so no pressure reaches the abdomen. You can read about Dr. Bergtold's training and approach before your first visit.
When Pregnancy Pain Calls for Prenatal Chiropractic
By the second trimester most mothers know the feeling: a deep ache low in the back, a sharp catch in one hip when rolling over at night, or a burning line down the back of the leg that makes standing at the kitchen sink unbearable. Relaxin softens the pelvic ligaments, the growing uterus pulls the lumbar spine into a deeper curve, and your center of gravity moves forward. Sleep breaks up, walks get shorter, and most of the medications you would normally reach for are off the table.
Prenatal chiropractic care works with those changes rather than against them. Dr. Bergtold evaluates how your pelvis, sacrum and low back are moving, then uses gentle, low-force adjustments and soft tissue work to reduce joint restriction and muscle guarding. You rest on a side-posture table supported by pregnancy pillows, so nothing presses on your abdomen. Many patients report easier movement and better sleep within the first few visits, and the plan is adapted as your pregnancy progresses.
What Is Prenatal Chiropractic?
The Biomechanics of Pregnancy
Prenatal chiropractic care is hands-on evaluation and adjustment of the spine and pelvis, adapted for pregnancy. It addresses the joint restriction and ligament strain behind pregnancy-related low back pain, pelvic girdle pain and sciatica, three of the most common complaints of the second and third trimesters.
Dr. Bergtold assesses how the sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis and lumbar spine move, then uses low-force, side-posture adjustments on pregnancy pillows so nothing presses on the abdomen. The Webster Technique, a sacral analysis and adjustment that targets sacroiliac restriction and round ligament tension, is used when the exam supports it. Relief usually builds across several visits.
Prenatal Chiropractic Treatment Areas
Common Pregnancy Complaints
Low Back Pain
Eases lumbar joint restriction from the deepening spinal curve
Pelvic Girdle Pain
Restores motion at the sacroiliac joints and pubic symphysis
Sciatica
Reduces irritation of the sciatic nerve behind hip and leg pain
Neck and Upper Back
Relieves strain from posture changes and growing breast tissue
Round Ligament Pain
Softens tension in the ligaments supporting the growing uterus
Rib and Mid-Back Pain
Frees restricted rib joints compressed as the uterus rises
Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care
Drug-Free Pregnancy Relief
- 01
Drug-Free Relief
Addresses pain without medication during pregnancy
- 02
Gentle Positioning
Side-posture tables and pillows keep pressure off the abdomen
- 03
Better Sleep
Less hip and low back pain often means fewer night wakings
- 04
Improved Mobility
Easier walking, stair climbing and getting in and out of a car
- 05
Pelvic Balance
Reduces sacroiliac restriction and uneven pelvic muscle tension
- 06
Care After Delivery
The same care continues through postpartum recovery
Prenatal Chiropractic vs. Alternatives
Who Is a Good Candidate for Prenatal Chiropractic?
Finding Your Best Comfort
Ideal Candidates for Prenatal Chiropractic Care
- Expecting mothers with low back, hip or pelvic girdle pain in any trimester
- Patients with pregnancy-related sciatica or a pinched nerve causing leg symptoms
- Mothers who want a drug-free option while pregnant
- Patients with an uncomplicated pregnancy cleared for routine activity
- Women planning to continue care through postpartum recovery
Who Should Wait or Speak With Their Obstetrician First
- Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or suspected placental abruption or previa
- Preeclampsia, severe or poorly controlled hypertension
- Preterm labor, cervical insufficiency, or an active ectopic pregnancy
- Any acute abdominal pain or fever of unclear cause
What Happens During a Prenatal Chiropractic Visit
Step-by-Step Process
- 01
History
Dr. Bergtold reviews your due date, prenatal history and where the pain shows up.
- 02
Exam
He checks sacroiliac and lumbar motion, pelvic symmetry and muscle tone by hand.
- 03
Positioning
You lie on a side-posture table with pregnancy pillows placed to unload the abdomen.
- 04
Comfort Check
Dr. Bergtold confirms you are settled and comfortable in the position before any contact is made.
- 05
Adjustment
Low-force adjustments, including Webster Technique when indicated, restore joint motion.
- 06
Home Plan
You leave with sleep positions, stretches and a schedule sized to your trimester.
Risks and Side Effects
What to Know
Common Prenatal Chiropractic Side Effects
The most frequent reactions are mild and short lived: local soreness at the treated joint, a temporary increase in stiffness, or brief fatigue. These typically settle within 24 to 48 hours and often fade as care continues. Some mothers feel light headed if they sit up quickly, which is managed by changing positions slowly.
Rare Complications
Serious adverse events from spinal manipulation are rare, and the pregnancy-specific literature reports no consistent pattern of harm from gentle, low-force care. Even so, any new abdominal pain, contractions, bleeding or fluid leakage after a visit warrants immediate contact with your obstetric provider rather than a return to the clinic.
Safety and Scope
Chiropractic care is drug-free and non-surgical, so there is no FDA drug approval attached to it. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes spinal manipulation as generally well tolerated when performed by a trained clinician. Dr. Bergtold screens for obstetric red flags at every visit, avoids abdominal pressure entirely, and does not take X-rays of pregnant patients.
Prenatal Chiropractic Cost in Naples
Pricing and Payment Options
How Much Does Prenatal Chiropractic Care Cost in Naples?
Cost depends on what your first visit finds: how many regions are involved, whether soft tissue work is added, and how often you need to be seen through each trimester. A first visit includes a full history and exam and runs longer than follow-up visits, which are usually short. Exact pricing is confirmed before care begins, and you will never be committed to a plan you have not agreed to. Call (239) 593-6788 for a quote for your situation.
Insurance Coverage
Bergtold Chiropractic accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna. Chiropractic benefits vary widely by plan, including visit limits and copays, so our front desk verifies your coverage before your first appointment and tells you what to expect out of pocket.
Flexible Payment Options
For anything insurance does not cover, we keep payment simple.
- CareCredit - healthcare financing with monthly payment plans
- Self-pay visits - straightforward per-visit pricing with no long-term contract
Many mothers combine prenatal visits with pelvic floor therapy with Emsella after delivery, and our team will explain how those plans fit together.
Why Choose Bergtold Chiropractic for Prenatal Care in Naples, FL
Naples' Trusted Chiropractor
More Than Two Decades of Practice
25+ years of hands-on adjusting experience in Naples, Florida
Pregnancy-Adapted Care
Side-posture setup, pillows and low-force technique every visit
No Imaging in Pregnancy
X-ray is never used on expecting mothers, exam findings guide care
One Clinic, Full Support
Postpartum, pediatric and pelvic floor care under the same roof
Rated 5.0 by Patients
A 5.0 Google rating from more than 200 Naples patient reviews
Insurance Friendly
Major plans accepted, with CareCredit financing also available
Related Services
Care that pairs well with prenatal visits before and after delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prenatal Chiropractic
Your Questions Answered
Is it safe to see a chiropractor while pregnant?
Gentle chiropractic care is widely used during uncomplicated pregnancies and is generally well tolerated. Dr. Bergtold uses side-posture positioning and pregnancy pillows so no pressure reaches the abdomen, screens for obstetric red flags at every visit, and never takes X-rays of pregnant patients. Conditions such as bleeding, preeclampsia or preterm labor need obstetric clearance first.
How much does prenatal chiropractic care cost in Naples?
Cost depends on how many regions are involved and how often you need to be seen. First visits include a history and exam and cost more than short follow-ups. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, verify your benefits before you arrive, and offer CareCredit financing. Call (239) 593-6788 for a quote.
How long does relief from prenatal chiropractic last?
Relief between visits usually lengthens as care continues. Many mothers feel a change after one to three visits, with steadier comfort over four to six weeks. Because ligaments keep loosening and your center of gravity keeps shifting, relief is maintained with periodic visits rather than fixed permanently during pregnancy.
Does a prenatal chiropractic adjustment hurt?
Most mothers describe the adjustment as a quick, gentle pressure rather than pain. Low-force technique is used throughout pregnancy, and positioning is adjusted until you are comfortable before anything is done. Mild soreness for a day afterward is common and usually fades faster than the pain you came in with.
When will I see results from prenatal chiropractic care?
Many patients notice easier movement or better sleep within one to three visits. Deeper, more consistent relief typically builds over four to six weeks. Mothers who start earlier in pregnancy tend to have fewer flare-ups later, though results vary with how long the pain has been present and how much it has changed your posture.
How often should I come in during pregnancy?
Most mothers start weekly while symptoms are active, then taper to every two or three weeks once things settle. Visits often increase again in the third trimester as weight and ligament laxity peak. Dr. Bergtold sets the schedule from your exam and trimester, not from a fixed package.
What is the Webster Technique?
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the sacrum paired with work on the round ligaments and surrounding soft tissue. Its purpose is to reduce sacroiliac joint restriction and pelvic muscle tension. Dr. Bergtold applies it when the exam supports it, as part of a broader prenatal plan rather than as a standalone treatment.
What is the difference between prenatal chiropractic and prenatal massage?
Chiropractic care targets joint motion in the pelvis and spine, while massage targets muscle and fascia. Massage often feels good immediately but does not change how a restricted sacroiliac joint moves. Many mothers use both. Our chiropractic adjustments can also be combined with soft tissue work in the same visit.
Can chiropractic care help pregnancy sciatica?
Can I keep seeing a chiropractor after I deliver?
Yes, and most mothers do. Postpartum care addresses the low back and pelvic changes that linger after delivery, plus the neck and upper back strain from feeding and carrying. Newborns can be checked as well through our pediatric chiropractic care.
Schedule Your Consultation
References
- Weis et al., J Manipulative Physiol Ther. (2020). Chiropractic Care for Adults With Pregnancy-Related Low Back, Pelvic Girdle Pain, or Combination Pain: A Systematic Review. PMID: 32900544.
- Licciardone et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol. (2014). Manual therapy, exercise, and education for low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy. PMID: 24607754.
- Stuber et al., J Manipulative Physiol Ther. (2008). Chiropractic treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain: a systematic review of the evidence. PMID: 18722200.
- Bernard-Giglio et al., Chiropr Man Therap. (2023). Drivers, barriers, and response to care of Australian pregnant women seeking chiropractic care for low back and pelvic girdle pain: a qualitative case study. PMID: 37789336.
- Shiri et al., Eur J Pain. (2018). Exercise for the prevention of low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PMID: 28869318.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2026). Patient guidance on the causes and management of back pain during pregnancy.