Who we see...
Prenatal / Postpartum
During pregnancy many physiological and hormonal changes take place, all for the purpose of creating an optimal environment for the developing baby. This complex process involves every system of the pregnant person’s body. The musculoskeletal system is affected by the protruding abdomen, “duck-like” walk, and increased lower back curvature. The pelvis changes early in pregnancy due to the release of estrogens and Relaxin. These hormones cause the ligaments to relax and often, this together with increased synovial fluids widens the pelvic joints. This increased mobility is not restricted to the pelvis only, and may be noticed in other joints as well. As the uterus enlarges and expands forward, the center of gravity is displaced, subluxations of the spine may occur, and this results in associated muscle cramps and nerve pain. This change in posture puts more strain on the lower back and pelvis, which may result in lower back pain.
Subluxations of the neck may be caused as it compensates for the changes to the lower spine by moving forward. This results in various symptoms including headaches, nausea or insomnia. Subluxations cause illness due to neurological disturbance. All body functions are controlled by the brain sending and receiving messages over nerves. When spinal segments are subluxed (or misaligned), nerve interference occurs and this disrupts the vital communication system of the body. One or more parts of the body may be affected as can your overall health.
Should I have Chiropractic care during my pregnancy? YES! As it is not advisable to take drugs during pregnancy, chiropractic offers a drug-free and natural alternative to decrease the discomfort that is often experienced. It is gentle, safe, and adjustments are tailored to the different phases of pregnancy.
The best time to be checked for subluxations is before you would like to become pregnant to insure proper pelvic and spinal alignment, and optimal nervous system function. If you are already pregnant, chiropractic adjustments are given throughout the nine months, to relieve your spine of any subluxation. AFTER pregnancy is also an important time to get adjusted, as your body has grown life, birthed, and is set to navigate the new horizon of the '4th trimester' and beyond.
Infants and Children
Every parent wants the BEST for their children. They want them healthy, happy, and successful.
It's important to note that Chiropractic adjustments don't 'cure' any conditions or symptoms. Vertebral Subluxation (spinal bone even slightly out of alignment) puts the autonomic nervous system in a sympathetic dominant state (overdrive). Chiropractic adjustments relieve the body of subluxation.
The parasympathetic nervous system (calming part of the autonomic system) is not created until after the 30th week of gestation. Many specialists wonder why so many kids start off life in fight or flight physiology. We know why!
If a mother gives birth before the full 41 weeks, the parasympathetic nervous system is not fully formed. Research shows that the majority of children that are born before full-term pregnancy, approximately 30% of which are children born via a traumatic c-section.
Subluxations create the same physiology in a child’s body that any human would feel before a bear attack- an increase in the ‘fight or flight’ reaction. Now as an example, take that increase in stress hormones and make that child sit still in a desk for 6 hours a day, and connect that feeling to a child’s inability to focus and perform in school.
Most parents have no idea why their children need to be checked by a Chiropractor.
It has nothing to do with pain.
The average child will experience an average of 7000 micro and macro-traumas by the age of 14. The pain receptors in the facet joints of the spine are not fully developed until the age of 21. The child may feel pain immediately following a fall and then appear ‘fine’, but that resulting subluxation may remain undetected until much later when the symptoms of that Nervous System interference start to appear.
By having your infant’s spine assessed by a Chiropractor as early as possible, any potential damage caused by the birth process can be recognized and alleviated. The same goes for children. With the numerous bumps and falls that occur as one learns to roll over, crawl, sit up, stand, walk, etc, it’s especially important to have those mobile children’s spines checked out!
Everyone else!
Don't be fooled! Simply because our focus is caring for pregnant people, babies, and children, doesn't mean that we turn away the rest of the family. We are Serenity FAMILY Chiropractic after all, and welcome all generations of a family to experience chiropractic care at our office.