How does chiropractic care support pregnancy and infants?

Did you know that Sonoma County has a robust and thriving perinatal network? Many of us in this perinatal provider community have known each other for years as doulas, bodyworkers and providers of other support services helping women and their families though the joys and rigors of the pregnancy year.

I remember, years ago, when I often attended births passing other doulas in the halls of our local hospitals in the wee hours. A sweet and sometimes weary smile, was exchanged and also a deep knowing of the wonder and honor of supporting a women through the birth of her baby. I’ve known Dr. Jen Santos, DC, SpBAP, DACCP co-owner of Acorn Chiropractic with her husband Dr. Matt Santos, DC, ACP, CACCP by reputation as an excellent chiropractor focused on pregnancy and babies. I had the pleasure of meeting Jen in person when we both attended a 5-day Spinning Babies advanced workshop in San Diego last spring. Her warmth, infectious laugh and sweet smile go hand in hand with her depth of knowledge, extensive training and deep commitment to the families in our community. I was delighted to interview her, and her wonderful colleague, Dr. Andra recently and deep dive into the intersectionality of perinatal care, continuum of care, the fourth trimester and other topics near and dear to both our hearts. When I asked Jen to tell me about how she views chiropractic care serving families during pregnancy and the newborn period she was kind enough to share the following explanation.

“Chiropractic care is amazing for all aspects and stages of life. But prenatal care is especially important. Pregnancy is a time of many changes. Physically, there are many changes that come with pregnancy: weight gain and redistribution of weight, balance issues, increased demand by vital organs, increased stress, swelling, and many more untold joys of pregnancy. Chiropractic helps balance the body biomechanically, which increases nervous system function and allows the brain to function better.

Structurally, the pelvic bowl houses the uterus and the developing baby. We want to make sure there is proper alignment so baby can grow and have enough room. We joke and say we want to create a “luxury pelvis” for mom and baby! As baby is developing in utero, they are actually getting stimulation from the outside world, which helps them to develop in the best way possible. When there are misalignments in the pelvis, it reduces baby’s potential for development and decreases the ability to “get baby out.”

Research published in 2016 found that chiropractic adjustments improved the ability of pregnant mamas to relax their pelvic floor muscles. This is super important during pregnancy and may even result in better birth outcomes. Establishing more balance in mom’s body allows baby to get into the best position possible, so that when BIRTHday comes, mom and baby are better able to work together to achieve what the mom envisioned for her labor.

Newborn babies often get the first misalignment or subluxation through birth, which is a process for both mom and baby. Whatever mom experienced during labor and delivery, baby experienced the inverse. Chiropractic adjustments help to ensure proper brain balance and development, improving your child’s overall health and ensuring that they have the best chance of reaching their full potential. Chiropractic for infants and kids looks very different than what you would expect a “traditional chiropractic adjustment” to look like. There is no bending, twisting, popping, or cracking; it is super gentle. We use about the same pressure that you would use to put a contact lens in or to check a tomato for ripeness in the grocery store. Most parents would describe that it looks like a gentle baby massage, and infants typically sleep through their adjustments! With infants, we take a deep dive into the cranial-sacral system to ensure that the brain can grow and expand - it almost doubles in size in a baby’s first year of life!”

Jen can be found at Acorn Chiropractic with multiple locations throughout Sonoma County.

Jessica Morell is a longtime active community member, mother, teacher, preschool director and birth and body worker in West County. Her services can be found at www.nourish-well.com