Pregnancy and Scoliosis: What You Should Know Before, During, and After

This post was inspired by 3 of our amazing patients carrying and delivering healthy babies in 2025: Two girls and a boy: congrats to our strong SchrothDC mamas!

Pregnancy is an issue we are asked about all the time by our patients, sometimes even by our teen patients (with a little fear in their eyes that they won’t be able to have kids). Let us be clear, women with scoliosis get pregnant and deliver babies ALL. THE. TIME, so this is intended to help break down the ins and outs of pregnancy with scoliosis and debunk any myths about scoliosis being a barrier to this magical process.

Before Pregnancy: Preparing Your Body and Spine

1. Get a Baseline Assessment
Before trying to conceive, it’s helpful to meet with your healthcare team: a scoliosis-trained physical therapist, your OB-GYN, and if needed, an orthopedic specialist. They can review your curve type, spinal alignment, and any history of progression or surgery. A baseline X-ray (if appropriate) gives you and your providers a starting point.

2. Strengthening and Stability
Core stability, hip strength, and postural awareness all play key roles in supporting the spine during pregnancy. Strength training, scoliosis-specific exercises (such as Schroth-based corrections), and flexibility work can help prepare your body for the added demands of pregnancy and delivery.

3. Breathing and Lung Capacity
If your curve affects your ribcage, you may already notice breathing difficulties or asymmetries. Practicing diaphragmatic breathing exercises before pregnancy can improve lung capacity and help manage shortness of breath later on, when baby grows large enough to compress the thoracic cavity where your lungs reside.

4. Education and Daily Strategies
Understanding your curve provides valuable insight into how your body compensates and what you can do to correct it. Learning posture strategies before pregnancy sets you up for success—not only during pregnancy, but also afterward, when you’ll be caring for an infant and adjusting to life as a sleep-deprived parent. Proper positioning strategies early on can make feeding, carrying, rocking, lifting baby up and down off the ground, washing bottles, and laundering endless baby clothes easier on your spine.

During Pregnancy: What to Expect

1. Back Pain and Posture Changes
Some pregnant women experience low back or pelvic pain, and scoliosis might increase this prevalence. The growing uterus shifts your center of gravity forward, which may feel different if you already have spinal asymmetry. Supportive braces, maternity belts, and posture-focused and pelvic floor physical therapy can help.

2. Exercise and Movement
Staying active is important - gone are the days when pregnant women were told to put their feet up for 9 months. Low-impact cardiovascular exercises like walking, swimming, or stationary cycling are important for blood circulation between mother and placenta and fetus. Continuing strength training, perhaps with a slight decrease in weights, is appropriate so long as you began before getting pregnant (most OB’s won’t want you to start something new while pregnant. Always clear any new exercise with your OB provider first.) Working with a pelvic floor Physical Therapist trained in all things pregnancy is a fabulous option - Caroline worked with 2 skilled Pelvic Floor PT’s during and after both pregnancies, and credits them for giving her a stronger core after pregnancy than she had before! And of course, tailored scoliosis-specific exercise programs can help maintain symmetric 3-D posture, reduce discomfort, and keep the trunk muscles balanced.

3. Anesthesia Considerations
Women with scoliosis can face challenges with epidurals or spinal anesthesia, particularly if they’ve had spinal fusion surgery. It doesn’t mean anesthesia isn’t possible, but anesthesiologists may need to adjust their technique or call in a more experienced colleague. It’s best to discuss this with your OB well before your delivery date, and possibly meet with the anesthesiology team at the hospital with your x-rays in hand.

4. Monitoring Your Curve
In most cases, pregnancy does not worsen scoliosis curves. However, some women—especially those with larger or progressive curves—note scoliotic changes in their torsos after having children. Whether that occurs from the pregnancy itself, caring for a newborn, or lack of time for fitness in the postpartum years, is hard to say. Your Primary Care Physician or your Orthopedist can help decide whether annual monitoring via x-ray is needed.

After Pregnancy: Recovery and Beyond

1. Postpartum Core and Spine Care
Pregnancy stretches and weakens the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor and significantly alters spinal posture. For ALL women, especially those with a preexisting spinal condition like scoliosis, this recovery stage is critical. Your OB will likely clear you to return to all exercises 6 weeks after delivering, but our opinion is that every woman should begin postpartum Physical Therapy at the 6 week mark, like they do in France as a standard protocol. A tailored postpartum exercise plan can help restore alignment, stability, and strength safely, so that you can return to your preferred sport or exercise routine without injury.

2. Daily Demands of Motherhood
The postpartum period is busy and often exhausting. Lack of sleep, changes in routine, and the constant demands of caring for your baby can make it harder to take care of yourself. This can lead to prolonged positions and reduced activity often causing you to lean or shift into your curve without realizing it.

• Carrying Baby: If you have a pelvic shift, you may naturally rest your child on that side of your hip. While this feels “comfortable” or natural to you, it unfortunately reinforces curve patterns. Alternating sides or using ergonomic carriers can help. Knowing which side you will naturally deviate baby to is imperative, so ask your Schroth PT ahead of time.

• Nursing and Feeding: The slumping forward of the shoulders during nursing places prolonged stress on the spine and can even cause muscle imbalances: the chest muscles (pectorals) tighten up and the upper back and shoulderblade muscles become stretched out and weak. Using supportive pillows and practicing upright positioning can make a difference. Lactation Consultants are trained in propping and cueing their clients into better postures while nursing. Caroline’s favorite nursing position was sidelying as it placed the least stress on the spine/posture.

3. Long-Term Spine Health
Many women are motivated after pregnancy to invest in their health. Continuing scoliosis-specific exercises, strength training, and mindful posture habits can improve comfort and reduce risk of curve-related issues later in life. With the right strategies, you can support both your immediate postpartum recovery and your long-term spinal health.

Key Takeaways

• Most women with scoliosis have normal, healthy pregnancies.

• Preparing with core strength, postural awareness, and breathing exercises before pregnancy can make a big difference.

• During pregnancy, prioritize low-impact activity, supportive positioning, and early conversations with your anesthesiologist if planning on epidural/spinal anesthesia.

• After pregnancy, be mindful of daily habits like nursing positions and how you carry your child, as these can influence curve patterns.

• Ongoing scoliosis-specific care supports both your immediate recovery and your long-term spine health.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will my scoliosis get worse during pregnancy?
For most women, pregnancy does not cause curve progression. The spine is more influenced by long-term growth (adolescence) than by the temporary physical changes of pregnancy. That said, it’s important to stay active, use supportive positions, and follow up with your provider if you have a larger curve or a history of progression.

Can I have a natural birth if I have scoliosis?
Yes. Most women with scoliosis can have vaginal deliveries. The main consideration is anesthesia. If you’ve had a spinal fusion or have significant curvature, epidurals or spinal blocks may be more technically challenging. Discuss this with your anesthesiologist early in your pregnancy so there are no surprises on delivery day.

Is exercise safe during pregnancy with scoliosis?
Absolutely! Staying active supports your spine, reduces back pain, and promotes a smoother pregnancy. Low-impact cardio, gentle strength training, and scoliosis-specific corrective exercises are often safe, but always check with your OB provider before starting or modifying a routine.

What about back pain? Will scoliosis make it worse?
Some women with scoliosis do notice more back or pelvic pain during pregnancy, especially as their body changes shape. However, with good posture strategies, supportive braces/belts if needed, and guided exercise, discomfort can often be managed very effectively.

Will carrying or nursing my baby affect my scoliosis?
It can if not done mindfully. Many new moms naturally lean into their curve when holding their baby, or slump forward during nursing. Alternating sides, using supportive pillows, and learning ergonomic positions can protect your spine and prevent bad habits from reinforcing your curve.

Do I need to see a scoliosis specialist postpartum?
It’s not mandatory, but highly recommended. Pregnancy and postpartum recovery place unique demands on the spine. Working with a scoliosis-trained physical therapist can help you rebuild core strength, restore posture, and avoid slipping into curve-related habits when life gets busy with a newborn.

Final Thought: Pregnancy with scoliosis is not something to fear. It is something to prepare for. With the right education, support, and daily strategies, you can navigate pregnancy, delivery, and motherhood while protecting your spine and feeling confident in your body.