Postpartum Chiropractor in Walnut Creek
Elon Bartlett is a postpartum chiropractor in Walnut Creek, CA who customizes every visit to suit your particular needs. At the beginning of care he’ll examine your condition and will really take the time to listen to you. Dr Bartlett will explain his approach, and what he can do to help you. Postpartum chiropractic treatments at Acorn Wellness Center are long enough to always include soft tissue work which addresses the muscle tension patterns that cause joint restrictions, and then end with chiropractic adjustments to reset your nervous system so that you’re healthier. Sessions may also include instruction on stretching and strengthening exercises and ways to alter your lifestyle, all with the goal of preventing your issue from returning.
The goal of postpartum chiropractic care is to help you get out of pain so that you can have the best birth experience possible with the fewest interventions. Acorn Wellness Center serves the East Bay from their location in Walnut Creek, California
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Dr Bartlett is one of Walnut Creek’s top-rated chiropractors, and has been specializing in postpartum chiropractic care since 2001, making him one of the Bay Area’s most experienced postpartum chiropractors as well.
Postpartum Chiropractic Care
Most people have no idea how important postpartum chiropractic care is. Once the baby arrives, mom’s attention is focused on caring for the newborn, often to her detriment. After delivery, the hormone relaxin keeps making ligaments soft for 6 months which increases vulnerability to lower back and pelvic joint misalignment and pain. In addition, baby-holding and breastfeeding put tremendous stress on the neck, upper back, shoulders and arms. Because postpartum care for mom is often neglected, many new moms suffer from headaches, neck and shoulder aches as well as wrist and forearm problems such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (tendinitis of the wrist) and deQuervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis (tendinitis of the thumb).
The good news about the postpartum time period is that since relaxin is still softening mom’s ligaments, correcting musculoskeletal problems with postpartum chiropractic care is easily accomplished due to the body’s increased pliability. Because of this, postpartum chiropractic care can even be an excellent opportunity to attend to long-standing issues that have built-up scar tissue.
Prenatal Chiropractic Care
During pregnancy there are several physiologic and endocrine changes that occur in preparation for the developing baby. One such change is the production of the pregnancy hormone relaxin which makes ligaments soft, allowing the pelvis to be more flexible during birth. The effect of relaxin, along with other postural adaptations such as increased weight and a protruding belly, make pregnancy ...
Breech Presentation
Dr Bartlett does not perform any medical techniques to turn breech babies. He has, however, been trained in the Webster Technique to address pelvic alignment. Dr Bartlett became Webster certified in 2001 and has been focusing his practice on pre- and post-natal care ever since. The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified ...
Postpartum Chiropractic Care
After delivery, the hormone relaxin keeps making ligaments soft for 6 months. This increases your vulnerability to lower back and pelvic joint misalignment and pain. In addition, baby holding and breastfeeding put tremendous stress on the neck, upper back, shoulders and arms. Many new moms suffer from headaches, neck and shoulder aches as well as wrist and ...
Baby Care
Even the gentlest births are considered traumatic by the baby. We specialize in caring for newborns to release birth trauma, or to treat common complaints such as colic, digestive issues, sleeping problems or difficulty with nursing. We use CranioSacral Therapy (CST) which is a subtle, profound, and painless bodywork technique that releases restrictions of the connective tissue throughout the body.
When Can I See a Chiropractor Postpartum?
It’s common for new moms to wonder how soon after birth they can continue with their care. The answer is, as soon as you’re ready to travel outside the home. If you’re in pain, your answer will be much sooner, possibly the day you give birth! In general, most new moms would prefer to spend the first few weeks at home, bonding with their baby, so the most common time to resume treatment is around 4 weeks postpartum, but it can be earlier or later, depending on the need.
Can I Get Postpartum Care After a C-section?
Patients who’ve had a C-section will have sensitivity at the lower abdomen and so won’t be comfortable lying face down as quickly, but it’s easy to accommodate other ways of offering treatment. At Acorn Wellness Center, we’re used to having new moms sit upright for neck and shoulder massage, and for adjusting arms and hands. We always use a side lying position for lower back massage. Adjustments for the neck and low back are routinely performed while lying face up, and if someone isn’t comfortable lying face down for upper back adjusting, there are alternative ways to adjust that area.
In addition, my pregnancy table has a section under the belly that lowers out the way during pregnancy. If someone has given birth via C-section, they’re usually comfortable lying face down if the table opens up a little to give them less pressure around their scar.
What are the benefits of postpartum chiropractic care?
- Support a speedy recovery from delivery
- Address aches and pains associated with baby holding/feeding
- Treat, or prevent, repetitive stress injuries to wrists and hands
- Support the alignment of the pelvic joints as they mold back into place
- Eliminating pain improves sleep and mood
- Self care helps prevent postpartum mood disorders
How does postpartum chiropractic help with postpartum depression?
Pregnancy may go by quickly, or slowly, but once the baby arrives, you’re experiencing a very different life. Caring for and bonding with your newborn will bring many wonderful moments, but it also inevitably brings big challenges as well. Waking throughout the night, feeding and holding your baby for hours at a time, all while dealing with hormonal shifts and the physical aftermath of delivery is a lot for anyone to go through. It’s no wonder that postpartum mood disorders are the most common symptom of pregnancy. Some women report that their deliveries were quite traumatic, possibly even leading to postpartum depression or PTSD.
While your impulse may be to push through your physical and mental challenges and focus on your baby, it’s imperative to care for yourself as well. Only from a well resourced place will you be able to effectively care for your infant. Postpartum chiropractic care helps treat your physical discomfort or pain, reduces stress, and helps you get better sleep, improving mood and allowing you to focus on your new “bundle of joy.”
Meet Our Chiropractor
Acorn Wellness Center in Walnut Creek, CA is run by Chiropractor Elon Bartlett. Dr Bartlett is one of Walnut Creek’s top-rated chiropractors, and has been specializing in prenatal and postpartum chiropractic care since 2001, making him one of the Bay Area’s most experienced chiropractors as well.
Dr. Bartlett has always had a passion for optimal body mechanics and bodywork which can be seen in his background as a massage therapist and advanced student of Tai Chi Chuan. Another passion of his, empowering birth, began as a child upon seeing images of his own, peaceful home birth. Once he made the progression from massage therapist to chiropractor, he combined his passions by specializing in prenatal and postpartum chiropractic care.
From his Walnut Creek, CA office, Dr. Bartlett practices Diversified chiropractic, incorporating Activator, Drop, NeuroMuscular Re-education (NMR), and CranioSacral Therapy (CST) into his treatments. His treatment style is gentle and precise, meaning he only uses as much force as is required to achieve the desired result. What sets him apart as a chiropractor is that he begins every treatment with NMR, a therapeutic form of massage, to soften muscle tension first and then uses manual palpation to assess what treatment is needed, only relying on X-Ray when required.
Click “Schedule Now” to start your personalized care plan with Walnut Creek Chiropractor Dr. Bartlett.
Highly recommend chiropractic care from Dr Bartlett! He really takes time to listen, understand patient needs and preferences, and get to know you. Can easily sense his many years of experience caring for patients of all ages. Massage and adjustments are thorough and gentle. I leave feeling great. Specializes in care during pregnancy and postpartum; a new mom recommended his care to me, and I’m so glad I checked it out.
I started going to Acorn Wellness when I was 7 months pregnant. I just went for my first postpartum visit and brought my baby. As a new mom who’s juggling a stroller, diaper bag, and newborn, it was the first time I truly appreciated how baby-friendly Dr. Bartlett’s office is. I could nurse my baby in the lobby while waiting for my appointment, the restroom has a changing table, and his baby craniosacral treatment is so effective – she was so calm and sleepy afterward.
I have been visiting Dr Bartlett at Acorn Wellness Center ever since the birth of my second child in July. Recovering from my birth and physically getting back on track postpartum has been so much easier having a chiropractor! I feel so great after each visit and for weeks to come.