Moms Need Chiropractic Care!

I'm pretty excited to be a guest blogger at Encourage, Empower, Educate, a blog by local Calgary doula Twila Collyer.  My blog post is Moms Need Chiropractic Care!  because don't I say that ten times a day. 

And please visit her site, but here is a copy as well:

Moms Need Chiropractic Care!



I consider it both an honor and a blessing that I have been able to share chiropractic care with pregnant moms and their new babies over my past 12 years in practice! Here are just two cases of how chiropractic care has positively impacted pregnancy.



One mom-to-be was under care with me prior to becoming pregnant, so it was a natural progression to continue care during her pregnancy. With her pregnancy, we saw increased physical symptoms as her baby weight increased, with low back and buttock pain being the most frequent. We were also able to help her with foot concerns, upper back and neck pain. These symptoms are common, as weight changes will put more strain on the spine and joints. Hormonal changes, including the effects of relaxin, will make ligaments more lax, which increases these symptoms. To increase her comfort, we adapted her adjustments by using a belly pillow so she could still like face down with no pressure on her belly or baby. I also checked her with Webster technique-to help address her pelvic balance and the soft tissues in the lower abdomen/ uterus. Moms who are concerned about the position of their baby frequently request this technique, and research has seen an 82% success rate of babies turning from breech to vertex when this technique is used. Prenatal adjustments help not only the physical position of the body and spine, but also help to balance the nervous system function to both mom and baby.



This mom had a successful home and water birth with midwives present. I have seen this mom for post-partum care, and have seen her baby from when she was a few weeks old for Pediatric Adjustments. Adjustments for the baby help to check for signs of birth trauma and help to ensure alignment and movement of the spine and optimal nervous system development.



Another mom that I have worked with started care late in her second pregnancy (about 35 weeks) as she was having intense low back/ sacroiliac pain. Adjustments helped to relieve the pain, helped her to keep up with her busy toddler, and prepared her body for the birthing process! Moms who are under care find that their labor/ birth times are shorter and are less likely to require drugs for pain relief. In her situation, receiving care was also a small piece of self-care that she was able to give herself during this busy time. Our adjustments in the office use Network Spinal Analysis, and this is an excellent tool for our practice members to learn how to release tension in their body using strategies that we develop during care. Another benefit is better response to stress and using breath to release tension in the body.



We find chiropractic care to be a safe and effective treatment for both mom and baby. Pregnancy is one of the most important times to be receiving care due to all of the changes happening in the pregnant body, and the enormous benefit it can have for baby.



For more information, please ask us about our health talks or come to one of our monthly Prenatal or Family Wellness events. More information is available at www.elanfamilywellness.com or 403 217 5577 or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ElanFamilyWellness. For information referred to in this article or to find a Prenatal/ Pediatric Chiropractor near you, visit www.icpa4kids.org.

Triad of Change

An excerpt from our most recent newsletter (and a photo of our June garden by Scott-Stickoutyourfacephotography):

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=7d3ccafbfb3d8fda5e6872dd8&id=38a4943602

Have you heard of The Triad of Change?

I've been talking about this in the office a lot as it really changed my view on how to make CHANGES in our life. Dr. Donald Epstein discovered that there is a TRIAD to how we make changes in ourselves, and the three sides of the triangle consist of STRUCTURE, PERCEPTION, and BEHAVIOUR. Knowing that this is a time of the year when we seem to start new activities or projects, it can help to look at ourselves from this perspective. Dr. Epstein found that our success comes from focussing on our 2 stronger sides of the triangle, with our third (not so strong) following or entraining to the other two.

For instance, if I were to start a new activity such as learning to run, there are different ways to approach it. I could sign up for classes, schedule a time to run, book myself with a running buddy, learn how to eat maximally (all structure based) OR I could focus on my motivation to run, why I want to be healthy, what positive benefits it will bring to my family or myself, use positive affirmations (all perception based) OR I could just literally go running and do it and act like I am a runner and an athlete (behavior based). We will all have one side of the triad that is natural to us, and one that is a source of energy for us. But the third, if we try make changes leading with that, will probably lead to failure. If you are taking up a new hobby or activity this summer, try considering the Triad of Change to approach things in a new way.

Good Luck!

Life Online

Do you ever google yourself? Or your business?

It's something we do often and it always surprises me what I find. There is an article from 2000 in the Kelowna daily paper that announced my start in business. I can never get over that one & that the column was even archived online. Of course, I can always find my current website, old locations where I practiced, Profile photos, facebook, blog, linked in...

My office has a life of it's own. Some days it is attached to the physical location where it exists, some days it is randomly located elsewhere in Calgary. Some days the phone number belongs to us, some days not. Today I saw that my office even has it's own blog, but not one that I started or plan to participate in. Some days I see positive reviews that I didn't even know were posted about me, which is very nice.

We try to keep all of the content current and correct, but I'm starting to think it is an impossible feat.

Some days I think about the overwhelming amount of information that is out there. How do we sift through it all? How do we know what is correct and true? What reminders will we be getting in the future of our past self? Especially now with an on-line blog- this information really is out there forever. I do still stand by what I say, or at least for the information that I put out there (but how do you know if it's mine or someone else's?)

Maybe don't try to call our office today based on google maps advice. It may send you to a place where I have never been. Hopefully one day in the not too distant future, we may be better able to manage our on-line lives.

Absence

Absence does make the heart grow fonder. My brain and fingers have been itching to write something, anything!

I wish I could say it was just the holidays that have kept us busy. Picking out our tree, decorating it, going to Christmas parties and Open Houses, baking, shopping, wrapping, mailing... We have been doing that & yesterday I even hauled out every tacky ornament that I own.

See?

Scarlett's new constant companions are the Santa salt and pepper shakers, and candle holders, and any general ornament that wouldn't hang from the tree.

We decorated the tree the equivalent of two times-most of the ornaments within reach were removed by Scarlett, and re-hung.

Aside from Christmas, we've been busy with work. Seeing clients of course, but we've also been interviewing, trying to juggle the schedule for the new year, celebrating our birthday, working on the website, and even adding a facebook page. (Welcome to this millennium). You can check out my new projects here:

Our new massage therapist Sandra, offering Pregnancy and Post-natal massage and reflexology; http://www.elanfamilywellness.com/Featured-Practitioner.htm.

My new Elan Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Elan-Family-Wellness-Centre/155310474515559

They may seem like small feats, but they sure take the time. It was definitely memorable doing an interview with Scarlett in tow. (You have kids? You don't mind do you?).

I'm wondering if the last 3 weeks of this year will continue to hold this much activity? Is there some down time ahead? (Or maybe I used up that time by travelling to Italy?).

Six Year Old Baby

I thought that I became a mother when Scarlett was born. (Or conceived-is that when you start feeling maternal?) However, now that my first baby has its birthday today, I'm realizing that I've felt like a mom for longer than that. As odd as it may sound, our little business does feel like part of our family. Its so odd, and why am I writing that?

Our Six Year Old Baby (officially 6 years old TODAY) is Elan Family Wellness Centre. I guess she's a girl, and Sagittarius apparently.

We've worried about her at night. (Mainly after Elan was broken in to.). We've made special trips back to make sure she's OK. (Yes, I'm a little OCD). I try to bring nice people to her to visit. We remind her to be patient and polite and have manners with everyone who comes, even if we sometimes don't feel like it. We've had many meals with Elan, and many, many, many snacks. We bring her plants to keep the air nice and try to keep her at a comfortable temperature. We decorate for some seasons or holidays, and have even done the Christmas decorating this year. I think she generally looks "pretty".

We've had fun with Elan, and frustrations. Like every kid and business, growing pains were part of the journey. She can run us off our feet, or have times with complete laziness and time to drink tea or coffee. Or to fret about her future. (Will she grow up to be a BIG office one day?)

Elan even survived us leaving her a few times in trusted hands-for holidays, including a few times with replacements for me. We had the big event when Scarlett arrived, when she was left alone for months (well, 2 months) and only got tiny bits of attention since. Is that what happens to older children? They get a little bit ignored when the baby arrives?

I'm happy to say that Elan has survived and thrived to the ripe old age of 6! I don't aspire for Elan to be "bigger" as we like her just as she is. We appreciate her welcoming and warm personality. It has been nice to have Elan as part of the family for these past several years.