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cracking the misconceptions

of prenatal and pediatric chiropractics

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT

While it is certainly an exciting time, pregnancy also brings with it a laundry list of dos and don’ts. And along with all those changes to your body, the extra weight of the growing baby can cause significant pain. Fortunately, there are ways to help alleviate some of the issues that come with the joy of becoming the glowing specimen of fertility that you are—one of which is as simple as turning yourself over to the capable hands of a chiropractor.

"chiropractic care is one of the best and safest forms of relief for pregnant moms... it has been proven to shorten labor and delivery time in some cases." - dr. shara posner

Before you start shaking your head and thinking that there’s no way in the world you’re going to go get cracked—ever, much less when you’re pregnant—there are some major benefits that come from getting properly adjusted. “Chiropractic care is one of the best and safest forms of relief for pregnant moms,” says Dr. Shara Posner, a practitioner at Back to Health Center. “In fact, it has been proven to shorten labor and delivery time in some cases. We are excellent at assisting with the pelvic, pubic, lower back, sciatic, round ligament, middle back, neck and headache pain that comes with pregnancy and we can also assist in maintaining your prenatal wellness.” According to Dr. Posner, all trimesters are safe for chiropractic care, but certain precautions must be taken, so it is important to notify the doctor as soon as you suspect you may be pregnant. “First and foremost, an examination must occur to make sure there are no red flags for treatment to begin,” she says. “Once I have evaluated the mother, I make special modifications to the adjustment for her, especially as the baby grows. Knowing these modifications comes with specialized training and keeping up-to-date with prenatal techniques, so it is very important to seek a chiropractor who has been trained in prenatal care.” Boasting 18 years in practice as a chiropractor, Dr. Posner shifted her focus to prenatal and pediatric chiropractics after becoming a mother herself. “I worked for a chiropractor during a college externship and I was amazed when people would come in bent over in pain and walk upright out of the office,” she recalls. “I thought it was incredible how they could be given relief without the use of medication and decided to follow a career in chiropractic. After being in chiropractic for quite some time, I started a family with my husband, and it was during this time that my practice took a turn toward treating mothers and their families. Although we do get some education on care during pregnancy, I wanted to become more proficient, so I pursued a certification in maternal health and pediatric care.” With that specialty comes an understanding of how to put her patients at ease. “I like to say that my expertise and open communication supports the mother throughout their visit,” Dr. Posner says. “It is important for moms to understand what is happening to their bodies and how we will assist them back to better balance. I also always ask for permission and describe what I will be doing before I do so. My hope is to make moms feel comfortable and confident that I am here to assist them and not to normalize their complaints.” Much like mothers-to-be, children can also benefit from chiropractic care. “Children grow in size and so does their brain and spine,” says Dr. Posner. “Making sure that children

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are hitting their motor milestones as they should is my jam! Watching those milestones and reflexes gives us a window into how their brain is developing and learning. Chiropractics help bring better balance and health to your little ones. More specifically, it can help with breastfeeding during infancy, reflux, constipation, missed milestones like rolling or crawling, sports injuries, poor posture from devices and backpacks... You name it.”

Safety is always a concern, so Dr. Posner performs a baseline evaluation to make sure her pediatric patients are not in need of referral and are ready for care. “The technique for kids is gentle and fun,” she says. “I never perform any adjustments or treatment I would not perform on my own children, and my kids love getting adjusted.” Dr. Posner’s expertise is certainly a reason to trust her, but so too is the passion that drives her. “I love working with my patients and strive to guide them in more avenues than just being painfree,” she says. “I take a holistic approach, looking at their daily activities, diet and exercise to arrive to a comprehensive plan for better health.”

As with any form of alternative medicine, there are some myths surrounding prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care. To these, Dr. Posner says, “I do not ‘crack’ babies. The work I do on children is very gentle and restorative. Most children come into my office and immediately lay on the table because they enjoy getting adjusted so much! Also, prenatal chiropractic is a very safe means of pain relief when performed by a trained prenatal chiropractor.”

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