What are the best ways to care for yourself and your baby while you’re pregnant? Hope Clinic practitioners have some great ideas for before, during, and after a pregnancy. Whether this is your first baby, second, or fourth—it’s never too late to find out how natural care can positively effect the health of your growing family.
Chiropractic adjustments
Remember when you were a kid? How your body was super flexible and bendable? Well, guess what! During pregnancy, your joints become pliable and mobile again, like they were when you were a kid. This pliability makes it easier for the body to readjust into proper alignment. Some women who have suffered from chronic neck or back problems their entire lives have come into the clinic for chiropractic care during a pregnancy. After being adjusted, those neck and back issues were completely corrected! Cool, huh?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is also key for protecting your basic structure. If a woman’s structure is off, it will hinder the nervous system, and how the woman carries her baby can be effected. Pinched nerves, sciatica, sore lower back…ugh. Pregnant women know this is not fun.
Also, the baby will always receive first dibs from what nutrients mom has to offer. So if the nervous system isn’t working properly, baby and mom might have a hard time staying healthy and hydrated. And proper hydration is key for building blood.
After your baby is born, your body may give clues to a mis-positioning of the upper neck. Often, when a woman pushes during labor, her neck gets a bit out-of-whack. This, ladies, can be a real problem. The upper neck plays a huge role in deciphering our moods and how we perceive the world around us. If your upper neck is out of position, things that are normally not annoying or bothersome suddenly drive you absolutely crazy. And that’s no fun for a new mom, or baby, or dad or...well you understand.
Now what about depression?
Depression can be a hard topic to discuss, especially postpartum depression. But it’s so important to talk about because when a woman feels like depression might be settling in, her body is shouting some very direct clues about what it needs. Talking with someone at the clinic about how you feel will help you get the very specific help your body requires during this amazing and vulnerable time in your life.
Postpartum clues to watch for
The main causes of postpartum depression are a low metabolic rate (sluggish thyroid) and a blood deficiency. Almost always a woman who experiences some type of depression after her pregnancy has a blood deficiency.
(Are you noticing a trend here? Remember the two main causes of miscarriage and difficult pregnancies?)
One patient treated at the clinic was pregnant with her third child. She had struggled greatly with postpartum after birthing her first two children. This time around, with help from Dr. Brad, she focused on increasing her metabolic rate and keeping herself hydrated so she could continue building blood during and after her pregnancy. After her labor and delivery, she felt great. And the exciting part is, she didn’t suffer from postpartum depression at all this time!
And yes, it’s true that red meats like lamb, bison, or venison are great blood-building agents. But, as a solo strategy, eating these kinds of meat to build blood might take years. For a pregnant woman it’s important to build the blood as quickly as possible. Along with eating meat, your blood level can be increased within months with the assistance of Chinese herbs and acupuncture.
What can you do right now?
So if you’re hoping to add another member to your family soon, or if you’re little one has arrived and you’re feeling a bit out of sorts, make an appointment to see us at the clinic. We want to be sure pregnant women and new moms know how to best take care of themselves—before and after delivery.
If you’re one of those momma’s who can testify to any of what we’re talking about here…would you mind taking a minute to comment on this article? Your experience might make a real difference. Thanks!