"Life After Birth"

.... For Mom

After a birth and delivery, some mothers may assume they are out of the woods when it comes to discomfort and health challenges. Whether a mother is under chiropractic care during pregnancy or not, postpartum chiropractic care is crucial for her after a birth.

Chiropractors remove nervous system interference to allow for optimal health and well-being. Impaired nerve function and bio-mechanical imbalance in the pelvis can lead to pain, discomfort and poor health. Many women may “feel fine” after the birth of their children, overjoyed and excited about this new life. This exuberance may mask problems until they are noticed later on. It’s important to be checked by a chiropractor as soon as possible after the delivery.

This is also a stressful time in a woman’s life as she is now challenged with looking after her newborn baby and experiencing a changing family dynamic with emotional highs and lows. These stressors can wreak havoc on a woman’s health if not addressed early.

For many women who have not had their nervous system stress and pelvic biomechanics addressed after birth, symptoms and pain for subsequent pregnancies can become increasingly severe as this misalignment and stress compounds. Being checked by a chiropractor after each birth gives a woman confidence knowing she is in her best health going forward.

With the hormone Relaxin still present for awhile after the birth process, there is a window of opportunity to gently set the pelvic bones into balance and ensure proper alignment before ligament support is enhanced. However, adjustments to the spine and pelvis may be done any time after Relaxin has been diminished.

For more difficult deliveries with intervention or surgery, rehabilitation of the spine, pelvis, and associated muscles and ligaments may be needed. Once a woman has healed and is well enough to visit the chiropractor, gentle adjustments can be made to the pelvic structures and recommendations for exercise and rehabilitation of the core musculature can be addressed to ensure proper healing and restoration.

... For Baby

Parents are turning to chiropractic care for their children for the same reason they choose chiropractic care for themselves: increased health and vitality through enhanced spinal health and nervous system function.

Chiropractors are trained to make proper adjustments to the spine and pelvis to relieve stress from the nervous system. If the nervous system is out of balance from undue stress in the spine, we see various symptomatic presentations. By maintaining that balance, chiropractors can alleviate symptoms for patients—including children.

Three main factors can cause stress on our bodies:

•    chemical stress (environmental, toxins, epidural)

•    emotional stress (school, work, home)

•    physical stress (falls, accidents, trauma, birth process)

For children, the best time to be checked for stress in the spine and nervous system is as soon as possible after birth. Birth, even vaginal births free of complications, can be traumatic for both the mother and baby and the first spinal stress often occurs during this time. If added force, traction or intervention is needed during the birth process (ie. c-section, forceps, vacuum extraction) the stress is amplified. Having a child checked by a certified Doctor of Chiropractic afterwards allows parents the comfort of knowing their child is free of nervous system interference and is at her best for development.

Children’s spines and health concerns are different than adults. Thought, preparation and training have been done to take care of these patients. Little ones require only little adjustments, either by hand or instrument. Wellness check-ups to maintain good health occur along developmental milestones and with any added stress in the child’s life.

Frequency may vary for specific concerns such as ear infections, digestive issues or other concerns.

According to research, the top benefits of chiropractic care for children are better overall mood, better sleep patterns and increased immune system function. Research and experience also shows that chiropractic care for children helps with common health concerns such as asthma, allergies, ear infections, colic, autism, attention deficit disorder, torticollis, and more.