The Emotional Load of Motherhood — Supporting Mental Health Through Chiropractic
All of the pregnancy chiropractors at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman have additional perinatal training and are Webster Certified. We care for mums and mums-to-be from all over Sydney including the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Greater Sydney.
There’s no doubt that motherhood is deeply rewarding. But it’s also intense.
From the minute you give birth (and honestly, long before that), the mental load begins. You’re navigating sleep deprivation, identity shifts, feeding challenges, emotional highs and lows, and the constant pressure to “do it right.” Add to that a recovering body and a nervous system on high alert, and it’s no wonder so many mothers feel overwhelmed.
This blog explores how chiropractic care supports emotional wellbeing and stress resilience during pregnancy and postpartum—not just by easing the physical tension, but by regulating the nervous system and reconnecting the brain-body loop.
Understanding the Mental Load
The mental load refers to the invisible cognitive labour that mothers often carry:
Anticipating needs (nappies, feeds, appointments)
Managing household tasks and emotional regulation
Remembering everything—for everyone
Feeling solely responsible for the baby’s wellbeing
While often dismissed as “just part of motherhood,” this ongoing mental pressure has real physiological effects. It drives the nervous system into sympathetic dominance—fight, flight, or freeze mode. Over time, this can lead to:
Anxiety and hypervigilance
Irritability or emotional numbness
Sleep disruption and fatigue
Immune suppression and inflammation
The Nervous System Needs Regulation—Not Just Relaxation
Unlike a bubble bath or a massage (both lovely but fleeting), chiropractic adjustments aim to recalibrate the nervous system itself.
Heidi Haavik’s research shows that spinal adjustments affect the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, focus, and executive function. This means that the brain can better adapt to stress, and the body can shift more easily into a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state【Haavik, 2014】.
Postpartum women often feel like they’re constantly “on.” Chiropractic care helps the brain switch gears—so you can access calm, connection, and recovery.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve is the body’s main parasympathetic nerve, running from the brainstem to the heart, lungs, and gut. It influences:
Heart rate and breathing
Digestion and immune function
Oxytocin and emotional bonding
Stress recovery
Chiropractic adjustments, especially in the upper neck and thoracic spine, have been shown to stimulate vagus nerve activity, helping you feel calmer, more grounded, and better able to handle the demands of motherhood【Australian Spinal Research Foundation, 2020】.
Co-Regulation: The Science of Being Seen
In early motherhood, you’re not just managing your own emotions—you’re co-regulating with your baby. Your baby’s nervous system develops in response to yours. If you're constantly stuck in stress mode, it’s harder to attune, soothe, and connect.
This is why it’s so important to support mothers—not just babies. At Nomad, we create space for mums to feel seen, safe, and supported, because emotional regulation starts with feeling connected and validated.
As Dr. Rachel Reed and Sara Wickham both remind us, postnatal care is not just about checking for infection or bleeding. It’s about supporting the woman as a whole—body, brain, and being.
Signs You May Benefit from Chiropractic for Nervous System Support
Feeling wired but tired
Difficulty relaxing, even when the baby sleeps
Frequent headaches, jaw tension, or clenched posture
Difficulty “feeling present” or grounded
Experiencing emotional outbursts or shutting down
These are all nervous system cues, not signs of weakness. Chiropractic care here in Mosman offers gentle input that helps reset those patterns and supports a more integrated, adaptable state.
What to Expect at Nomad
Our approach at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman is gentle, collaborative, and attuned to where you’re at. Every session is:
Trauma-aware and informed by your birth story
Focused on nervous system support and structural balance
Welcoming of all emotions (tears, silence, overwhelm—all normal!)
Designed to help you reconnect with your body and reclaim your strength
In Summary
Motherhood isn’t just a physical shift—it’s a neurological transformation. And you don’t have to carry the weight alone.
Chiropractic care supports your emotional wellbeing by calming your nervous system, easing mental overload, and helping you feel more resilient—so you can show up fully for yourself and your baby.
Coming up in Part 6: we'll explore how to build your empowered birth and postpartum support team, and how chiropractic fits beautifully into holistic, woman-centered care alongside midwives, doulas, and physios. Missed the last one? Go back to #4 here
References:
Haavik, H. (2014). The Reality Check: A Quest to Understand Chiropractic from the Inside Out. Haavik Research.
Australian Spinal Research Foundation. (2020). The Vagus Nerve and Chiropractic Adjustments. Retrieved from https://spinalresearch.com.au
Wickham, S. (2020). In Your Own Time: How Western Medicine Controls the Start of Labour and Why This Needs to Stop. Pinter & Martin.
Reed, R. (2014). Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage. Pinter & Martin.
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Chiropractic and the Fourth Trimester. Retrieved from https://icpa4kids.com
Karp, H. (2002). The Happiest Baby on the Block. Bantam. (Fourth trimester terminology origin)
Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (2003). The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing. Da Capo Press.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Yes. Chiropractic adjustments can influence the nervous system, supporting better stress recovery, emotional regulation, and mental clarity.
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The vagus nerve governs rest, digestion, and emotional calm. Chiropractic adjustments may help stimulate vagal tone and support regulation.
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No—chiropractic doesn't replace emotional counselling, but it complements it by supporting the physiological foundation for emotional wellbeing.
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Absolutely. Nervous system stress often shows up as overwhelm, poor sleep, anxiety, or fatigue. Chiropractic can help your body reset.
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Yes. There’s no expiry date on support. Whether you’re 6 weeks or 6 years postpartum, we’re here to help your body and mind reconnect.
We can adjust you during as soon after you’ve given birth as you like as well. All our techniques are tailored to to where you’re at.