Chirpractic Care During Pregnancy

This was an article posted by a chiropractor from Asheville, NC who was a speaker at my doula training. I know and trust a local chiropractor, www.beyondwellnesscc.com , for my clients and friends. Check it out!


Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy

One of the most exciting times in a woman’s life is when she finds out that she is expecting a baby. Chiropractic care during pregnancy can be a valuable addition to a Mom’s prenatal care. A properly functioning spine and nervous system is an important part of a wellness pregnancy. In addition to the noticeable changes your pregnancy will cause your body, pregnancy can cause subtle changes in the musculoskeletal system—changes your Chiropractor is able to detect and correct.

The position of your growing baby will cause your center of gravity to shift, and your spine will naturally alter itself to accommodate this change. As a result, you may experience low back and pelvic pain. The increase in hormones during pregnancy can also cause ligaments, cartilage, and even bones to soften and become more pliable. Pelvic bones may even become displaced or fixated. Since your hips will need to spread to accommodate the delivery of your baby, fixated pelvic bones can lead to complications during delivery.

A bone or vertebra that is slightly out-of-place can create nerve irritation, which can and will interfere with your body’s communication system. By using special or modified techniques during your pregnancy, your Family Wellness Chiropractor can restore the function of your nervous system, improve your overall wellness, and increase your comfort during your pregnancy and delivery.
In fact, research has shown that:

84% of pregnant women treated by Chiropractors received profound relief from low back pain

Women who received Chiropractic care had nearly a 25% reduction in the average labor time and a 33% reduction for women carrying multiples

Postpartum pain was relieved in 90 of 120 moms that had been under regular Chiropractic care

During your pregnancy, your Doctor of Chiropractic can do the following:

Correct vertebral misalignment and relieve nerve interference with gentle adjustments.
Help ensure that pelvic bones are properly aligned, contributing to a shorter and easier delivery.
Re-establish the natural position and mobility of the joints.
Provide freedom from interference of normal nerve energy.
Decrease the likelihood of your fetus being in the wrong position during the last trimester.

Many Mothers have come to understand the vital role that Chiropractic care plays in a healthy pregnancy. The benefits of a Chiropractic adjustment offer more than just low back pain relief. The spinal adjustments have also helped them feel healthier during the pregnancy, decreased morning sickness, facilitated in shorter labor and delivery times, and increased overall sense of well being. Dr. Alisha Davis is dedicated to providing you with the absolute best in family wellness care. So take a moment today to discuss any concerns you may have regarding a wellness pregnancy and delivery and learn about the many benefits of Chiropractic care for you and your baby.

Dr. Alisha Davis, DC, DACCP

Are you an ungrateful patient? Ask the AMA!

AMA Resolution Would Seek to Label “Ungrateful” Patients

Redondo Beach, CA, June 11, 2009 - At the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Annual Meeting next week, delegates will vote on a resolution which proposes to develop CPT (billing) codes to identify and label “non-compliant” patients (1)

The resolution complains:

“The stress of dealing with ungrateful patients is adding to the stress of physicians leading to decreased physician satisfaction.”

“This resolution is alarming in its arrogance and its failure to recognize, or even pay lip service to, patient autonomy,” said Desirre Andrews, the newly elected president of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN).

If approved, the resolution could hold implications for women receiving maternity care. For pregnant women seeking quality care and good outcomes, “non-compliance” is often their only alternative to accepting sub-standard care. Physicians routinely order interventions like induction, episiotomy, or cesarean section unnecessarily.

Liz Dutzy, a mother from Olathe, Kansas, delivered her first two babies by cesarean and was told by her obstetrician that she needed another surgical delivery. “My doctor told me that I needed to have a cesarean delivery at 39 weeks, or my uterus would rupture and my baby would die.” She sought out another care provider and had a healthy and safe intervention-free {home} birth at 41 weeks and 3 days gestation.

A recent report by Childbirth Connection and The Milbank Memorial Fund, called “Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve ,” (2) shows that the state of maternity care in the U.S. is worrisome, driven largely by a failure of care providers to heed evidence-based care practices. For most women in the U.S., care practices that have been proven to make childbirth easier and safer are underused, and interventions that may increase risks to mothers and babies are routinely overused. The authors of the report point to the “perinatal paradox” of doing more, but accomplishing less.

The resolution proposed by the Michigan delegation of the AMA could threaten patient care and patient autonomy for several reasons:

• Billing codes that would categorize any disagreement and exercise of autonomy on the part of the patient as “non-compliance” “abuse” or “hostility” could create a pathway for insurance companies to deny coverage to patients

• Use of these labels fails to recognize patients as competent partners with physicians in their own care

• Tagging patients as “non-compliant” fails to recognize that there is not a “one size fits all” approach to care, that different opinions among physicians abound, and that patients are entitled to these very same differences of opinion

• Labeling patients as “non-compliant” may, in fact, be punitive, jeopardizing a patient’s ability to seek out other care providers

The resolution also fails to address how it would implicate patients navigating controversial issues in medical care, like vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). While a substantive body of medical research demonstrates that VBAC is reasonably safe, if not safer, than repeat cesareans, most physicians and hospitals refuse to support VBAC. (3) The language in the resolution suggests that patients who assert their right to opt for VBAC could be tagged as non-compliant, even though their choice would be consistent with the medical research.

“The reality is that the balance of power in the physician-patient relationship is decidedly tipped towards physicians. The least patients should have is the right to disagree with their doctors and not be labeled a ‘naughty’ patient,” said Andrews.

About Cesareans: When a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies from cesareans include: low birth weight, prematurity, respiratory problems, and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy, surgical mistakes, re-hospitalization, dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies, unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death.

Mission statement: ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. ICAN has 110 chapters in North America and Europe, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.

(1) Resolution 710 “Identifying Abusive, Hostile or Non-Compliant Patients”
(2) Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve
(3) http://www.ican-online.org/ican-in-the-news/trouble-repeat-cesareans


If you don't like the idea of being officially labeled "non-compliant" or "ungrateful" for questioning your physician, then go to http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/the-federation-medicine/state-medical-society-websites.shtml , click on the link for your state AMA and contact them. Let them know that this proposal is unacceptable. Voting is next week.

Are you really overdue?

It is becoming routine for doctors to induce patients at 41.5 weeks in this area. Inductions have not increased favorable outcomes for women in the US. Is is possibly because 41.5 weeks isn't really 41.5 weeks? Read this article before you accept that you are "overdue."

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1047180/the_lie_of_the_edd_why_your_due_date.html

Meliea's recommended reading.........

I am often asked what books I would recommend for expecting and/or new moms. I thought this would be a great place to put my reading list!

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

*This book is filled with beautiful birth stories. I have gleaned many tips for helping with different issues in labor from this book. I also like the chapter on episiotomy.

The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger

* All of her books are incredible but this one has very factual and statistical information to make moms to be feel more confident when talking to their doctors about electronic fetal monitoring, induction of labor for a postdate pregnancy, ultrasound technology and many other common issues that come up at dr. visits. There are also WONDERFUL photographs of positions for labor and the developing pregnancy. I carry this book in my birth bag.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

* This book is exactly what the title implies. It empowers moms to be to think carefully about all options and make informed decisions.

Birthing From Within

* This is a wonderful book for everyone, but especially for the mom who has had a traumatic physical event in her life(abuse, surgery, etc) or a previous traumatic or unsatisfying birth experience.

Gentle Birth Choices

* This book usually comes with a DVD with BEAUTIFUL births on it. Contains a lot of facts and figures as well as encouragement and comfort.

The Happiest Baby on the Block

* Read this BEFORE the baby comes and save yourself MUCH grief! This book helps parents understand their baby's behavior and learn to cope in positive ways. Also gives the famous 5 things to soothe your crying baby! This book helped me finally get my baby to nap.....two words....white noise!

The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears(the son)

*Middle of the road, not to one extreme or the other facts and information about vaccines. Each vaccine is reviewed individually for it's purpose, side effects, efficacy, necessity and so forth. There is also a recommended alternative schedule for parent's who want to vaccinate, but not in keeping with the current guidlines.

The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

*For mom's like me who couldn't have done the cry it out thing if you had paid me. Great information on all aspects of sleeping. This book saved my sanity....for real..... Again, recommended reading BEFORE the baby comes!

Feel the love, give the love....

February is love month. Many a October/November births will be made this month! :)

When I had my first 2 children in 1990 and in 1997, the process of caring for a newborn still included warnings about "spoiling" a baby. I have since done my research and realized that this is not possible. During the newborn phase, you are all that your baby knows. Transition to the world is not easy. If you've ever moved to a new city or state, or even a new neighborhood, remember how long it took to "get used" to your new environment. Your baby feels the same way.

Many a mom becomes overwhelmed when babies enter this transition phase. I hear many things like, "The baby will only sleep if he is being held." or "Unless I'm holding her or nursing her, she is crying." The babies on the commercials who sit in swings and bouncy seats cooing and watching their mom from afar are adopted alien babies! Your baby may do this when they are a little older, but not as a wee one.

Enter babywearing. Babywearing is strongly supported by the Attachment Parenting community. See a link from Dr. Sears: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T130300.asp
Babywearing enables you to keep your baby close and secure while having 2 hands free! It produces a bond and a feeling of security for your baby. A more secure baby will usually equate to a less fussy baby. There are many different ways to wear your baby. Check out this site for an overview and parent reviews: http://www.thebabywearer.com/

My son is over a year old and I still wear him around the house. I don't know how I would get anything done if I didn't. I tell people my humorous story of having to take my older son to the doctor with baby in tow. I enjoyed tucking Jude into the sling(he was about 4 months old at the time) and keeping him unexposed to all the sick kids running around the waiting room. Upon leaving, I really needed to use the restroom. Thanks to my sling, I could use the restroom without having to worry about where to put the baby, or guiding a giant stroller into a small space. LOL It seems funny but at the moment, I couldn't have been more grateful for that sling!

For more information on babywearing and attachment parenting, see these websites:

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sling.html

http://babywearinginternational.org/

http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-wearing-how-carriers-help-you-and-your-baby_1486841.bc

Let your baby be your most beautiful accessory!

A doula looks forward to a new year........

Being a doula means being in a constant state of learning. Every birth is different. Every woman is different. Just when you think you know something, you realize that there is so much more to learn.

This year, I plan to begin attending births as an apprentice with my midwife, in addition to continuing my doula practice. I am excited about this new chapter in my life. I want to serve the women in my community. This will mean more reading and studying.....which also means prioritizing my life.

Some wonder why I would choose such a path when Certified Professional Midwives are not legally recognized in NC. The answer is simple - someone has to do it. Right now, in the Charlotte area, the options for homebirth are limited to a few midwives who shoulder the load of this homebirth community. As the homebirth movement grows, so does the demand for qualified, competent midwives. Women deserve options. Women need options. I have a passion to give those options to them.

What does this mean for my doula practice? I don't intend to practice any differently. I will still continue to support women in the hospital setting. Standing for choice means I believe that a woman should be able to give birth in the place of her choosing, with the practitioner of her choosing.

I hope that somehow, in 2009, I can inspire women to embrace all of their choices. The only way the birth climate will ever change is if women refuse to allow it to remain as it is.......practitioner oriented. Women must demand that their needs be of the utmost importance, rather than the needs of the insurance company or a malpractice policy. I believe that this day is coming. I hope it is soon.

Energy surrounds you....

There is something about the energy in a pregnant woman's body. Many people call it a "glow." It is an intense and incredible responsibility to provide shelter for another life and then to bring it into the world. Everywhere the laboring mother puts her feet becomes sacred ground, from the bathroom to the hallway.

It doesn't take much to disrupt this energy flow. You hear countless stories of women in active labor who get to the hospital and suddenly everything stops, or contractions slow down significantly. It's a powerful force and one that is best left to progress on it's own.

This is why it is so important to give great consideration to who is allowed to visit and attend you while you are in labor. Everyone who comes in contact with you needs to be on the same page as you are. If your desire is an unmedicated birth, a well meaning friend stopping by and saying, "I don't know why you are choosing to be miserable!" is not encouraging your process. The woman in labor is vulnerable and her words may very well ring in your brain later when you are facing your most difficult contractions. You may temporarily doubt your own choices.

In her book, Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin has this to say about it: "The birthing energy flows smoothest when everyone present is part of the crew, helping the baby to its birth. If some of the other people present are spectators, or what we call "passengers," the birth can be slowed down by hours or can even be halted until some change takes place in the energy. This is because anyone whose presence is not an actual help is requiring the emotional support that should be going to the mother."

Talk to your labor attendant about how to handle keeping your birth space sacred in the home and in the hospital. Incorporate some boundaries into your birth plan. Talk to your care provider about laboring at home as long as possible to avoid unnecessary people coming in and out of your space while you labor. It may feel selfish to you to allow only your husband to be in the room. But remember that you are ultimately creating an environment for your baby's birth, not just for yourself.

I recommend reading Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth if you want to find out more about birth energy. It contains wonderful birth stories and great information for the empowered woman.