Final answer:
Chiropractic care is noted for potentially reducing labor pains and delivery times; it involves spinal manipulation and other manual techniques as part of treatment. The labor process includes cervical dilation, expulsion of the baby, and afterbirth, and may involve synthetic oxytocin if needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to 'A guide to evidence-based integrative and complementary medicine', chiropractic care before, during, and after pregnancy is said to have helped decrease labor pains and delivery times significantly, although the exact reduction percentage is not provided in the provided information. Chiropractors offer a drug-free, hands-on approach to patient diagnosis and treatment which includes spinal manipulation and other manual techniques. They can also recommend therapeutic exercises and might incorporate acupuncture, massage therapy, or ultrasound into the treatment program. During childbirth, stages include cervical dilation, expulsion of the newborn, and afterbirth, with uterine contractions and cervical stretching playing significant roles in facilitating labor. Synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, can be used if labor stalls to restart and maintain contractions.