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
Postpartum Chiropractic Care
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.
Since postpartum care for the mother 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
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.”
Testimonials
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.