 How often have you heard a mother say she is working on “getting her body back” or “bouncing back” to normal, meaning pre-baby? Let’s think about this though. Can a woman’s body really go back to where it was? No, it can’t. From the moment she is first pregnant, her body is forever changed. A series of changes in her body began at conception, beginning with hormones. Then, as the baby grew, the uterus expanded, and the pelvis shifted to accommodate. Along the way, the mother may have experienced other changes in her body in her appetite, mood, energy levels, sleep, the list goes on! Her body literally grew another organ, the placenta, to help sustain the growing life inside of her. Postpartum, the body then shifts into a new state - the uterus shrinks down, the site where the placenta was attached heals, the pelvis shifts, lactation begins, if she had a C section the cut scars over, stretch marks will begin to fade, weight may be lost or gained, and she now begins a new stage in life as a mother, caring for the baby that she grew for 9-10 months. So with all these changes, is going back to a pre-baby body truly a thing? No, I don’t believe so. I had a client tell me her goal was to feel “normal” again, but once you’ve had a child, it is now a new normal. It may feel awkward, you may feel uncomfortable in your own skin, you may not recognize your body, but just as your child is learning about the world around them, you are learning a new part of yourself. You grew an actual human being inside of your body, how incredibly amazing is that?! Instead of focusing on trying to be like you were before, embrace the new. It can be scary, it can be hard, especially when you don’t recognize yourself. But I encourage you to lean in to this new season of life. I have been there, I am still there, learning to love this new version of myself. Being a mom is one of the most rewarding AND challenging roles in the world. Instead of focusing backwards, let’s look forwards, and focus on creating an intentional, loving life with our families! If you are looking for support during this time, reach out to myself or Dr. Liz. We would love to support and empower you through this season of life. Peace, Love, and Wellness, Dr. Morgan
0 Comments
 The birth of a baby is a special time, as a family welcomes a new life into the world. The process of birth is a significant transition for both the mother and the baby. The mental and physical aspect of birth changes a woman forever. She learns the true extent of her body’s capabilities and is pushed to her limits, and sometimes beyond. The baby is transitioning from a dark, warm place out into the bright new world. Birth is raw, real, messy, beautiful, and life-changing.
As a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor, I am an advocate for women and their babies. A mother should be able to birth in an environment that is supportive and loving. Her baby should be able to transition into life outside the mother in a calm and nurturing way. If you have ever birthed a child or been at a birth, you know birth can be dramatic and traumatic. It is not uncommon for mothers to experience emotional distress following a birth. The same goes for babies. Birth is beautiful, like I said, but is also a stressful process on both mom and baby. According to one study, approximately 80% of babies are born with an upper cervical subluxation, meaning there is a misalignment in their upper neck. Getting adjusted after birth allows that baby’s nervous system to adapt to their new environment in the best way possible. Mothers just had a massive change, physically and chemically. The pelvis is dramatically shifting, as are her hormones. Getting adjusted supports her body during this time of transition. Moms, is a chiropractor on your birth team? How about your baby’s health team? At our office, both chiropractors have taken advanced training to be able to take care of moms and babies, and we would love to be on your team! Peace, Love, and Wellness, Dr. Morgan  A Fever is Your Friend!
Let’s talk fevers! Your body has natural defenses and responses to germs it encounters. One way is to heat your core temperature to kill off invaders. Fevers are good! Your body is naturally intelligent and has systems in place to keep you alive and functioning well, and fevers are an example of this. If your child spikes a fever, it can be a concerning thing as a parent. There is a healthy range of temperatures though, so it is good to know what these are. Up to 104 degrees, a fever can be beneficial. At 102 degrees, your body will produce a group of proteins called interferons, which will help prevent a virus from replicating. At 103 degrees, any nutrition to your spleen (an immune organ) will be shut down to prevent any bad bacteria from getting nutrients or multiplying. So while there are conservative ideas out there regarding how high a fever should go, know that artificially lowering a fever will prolong an infection or even make it worse. So, if you or your child gets a fever, don’t panic. Your body is doing exactly what it needs you to get you healthy again. Monitor symptoms but try to avoid using an antipyretic like Tylenol right away to allow the body to do what it needs to. Remember, you have an innate intelligence in you that knows what it is doing! And of course, get adjusted! Your nervous system is closely tied with your immune system. A chiropractic adjustment helps modulate immune function, which is necessary during a time when your body is working to manage bacteria and viruses. If you’re feeling under the weather, do two things: don’t cancel your chiropractic appointments and if you don’t have one, make one! We’d love to see you! Peace, Love, and Wellness, Dr. Morgan  Starting in the fall, the ads pop up everywhere, urging us to get the flu shot to protect ourselves and our loved ones during the flu season. Here’s my take: there is no such thing as a flu season. There is sugar season, stressed out season, we’re-all-in-close-quarters season. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are well known holidays that come with a large heaping of sugar in the form of candy, desserts, drinks, you name it. Sugar is a highly inflammatory chemical and decreases your body’s ability to fight off illnesses. The more sugar you eat, the more inflamed your body is. I have noticed in my own body a correlation between times when I indulged and then a few days later, ended up with a cold. Coincidence? I think not.
What do I mean by stressed out season? The holidays are stressful! There are events constantly, gifts to buy, meals to prep, family is in town visiting, the to do list feels never ending. When you are in a stressed out state, your body has a decreased ability to fight off sickness. When we are in close proximity to others, as we are in the colder months because hey, who wants to be outside when it’s freezing, it is easier to pass along viruses and bacteria to one another. So what can you do to not fall victim to the “flu season”? Watch your sugar intake! There is nothing wrong with eating a piece of pie at Thanksgiving. But do you need three desserts plus a sugar drink? No. It is short term satisfaction with long term inflammatory effects. Develop coping mechanisms for stress. Can you disperse your to-do list amongst those around you? Only you know what triggers a stress response in your body. Think about ways that you can mitigate this stress from increasing. And as for close quarters during the winter, wash your hands, be mindful of when others are sick, and get fresh air! It may be chilly out, but being outside is great for the body and mind. Now what does this all have to do with chiropractic care? Research shows that chiropractic adjustments decrease inflammation in the body, increase your ability to respond and adapt to stress, and help your body heal and fend off sickness! This is a trifecta of reasons to see your chiropractor this winter. Reach out if you have questions or are ready to get on our schedule! Peace, Love and Wellness Dr. Morgan |
Archives
January 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
Proudly powered by Weebly
|