My Journey with Chiropractic Care

I am not going to pretend that I have been seeing a chiropractor my entire life. Actually, I left my first adjustment thinking, this did absolutely nothing for me, and I didn't go back for another 6-8 months.

Until... I started newborn photography.

Being hunched over little ones for 2-3 hours at a time did a number on my back. Shortly after entering wedding season, I knew I needed to give chiropractic care another shot. This time, the experience was completely different. I can’t accurately put into words the relief I felt as soon as I was adjusted. While chatting with my chiropractor, Dr. Abby, she mentioned things like, this is where your body holds stress, and suddenly, everything clicked—our bodies are incredibly interconnected.

How Chiropractic Care Became a Game-Changer

At first, I saw Dr. Abby every two weeks for about a month. Then, I transitioned to monthly visits, and now, I go every couple of months when I feel like my body needs it. Through my time with her, I’ve learned how beneficial chiropractic care can be—not just for me, but for expecting mothers, postpartum moms, and even newborns.

A Newborn Photography Client’s Experience

One day, a client came in for a newborn session. Her daughter was just seven days old, and the mom was absolutely exhausted. She told me her baby was extremely colicky and fussed all the time.

I asked her if she had considered chiropractic care for her baby, and she hadn’t even thought of it. This reminded me of when I took my own daughter in, and Dr. Abby said, this is where the body holds a lot of digestive issues and acid reflux.

Two weeks later, I ran into the mom in town and asked how her daughter was doing. She practically lit up and said, Oh my gosh, I cannot thank you enough! It made SUCH a difference! Her little one was sleeping in 4-6 hour stretches at night and rarely showed signs of colic anymore.

After seeing multiple clients have similar experiences, I started recommending chiropractic care more often—and the results spoke for themselves.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Expecting mothers experience a variety of changes as their baby grows. Some feel nauseous in the beginning, which can stem from different factors, but removing nerve interference from the brain to the stomach allows the body to function more optimally.

As pregnancy progresses and the belly grows, the center of gravity shifts, affecting posture and putting stress on new areas of the body. Many moms also experience round ligament pain due to the ligaments supporting the uterus being in spasm. If one ligament spasms while the other does not, the uterus may rotate, making proper pelvic alignment crucial for labor. Sciatica is another common issue, and chiropractic care can help identify and alleviate its underlying causes.

Postpartum, many mothers benefit from adjustments as soon as they feel comfortable coming into the office. Each mother’s timeline is different. Personally, my daughter was born at 10:22 PM, and I had my adjustment the next morning at 10:00 AM. If mobility is a concern after a C-section, chiropractors can adjust mothers in a seated position.

Signs Your Baby May Need an Adjustment

Many parents don't realize that newborns can benefit from chiropractic care. Some signs to look out for include:

• Excessive thumb sucking or pacifier use
• Persistent crying labeled as colic
• A newborn holding their head up unusually early (often due to muscle tightness)
• Frequent headbanging or hitting their head against the floor (which may indicate upper neck misalignment)

If any of these sound familiar, a chiropractor can assess whether an adjustment could help.

Common Myths About Chiropractic Care

One of the biggest misconceptions is that once you start going, you have to keep going forever. This isn’t true. Kids, for example, don’t have the same baggage adults do. Their necks aren’t tight from years of stress and poor posture, so they don’t need frequent adjustments.

It’s also important to note that chiropractic care isn’t a cure for any ailment. A chiropractor’s role is to find nerve interference and remove it so the body can function properly.

A great analogy: If you eat spoiled fish and vomit, would you say you’re sick or healthy? A chiropractor would say healthy because your body is doing exactly what it should—expelling the bad food to prevent poisoning. Chiropractic care helps the body do what it’s designed to do.

The Importance of a Proper Exam

All chiropractors complete four years of undergraduate education and four years of chiropractic school. Before any adjustment, a proper history and exam must be performed to determine whether chiropractic care is safe and appropriate. Adjusting a baby, for example, is vastly different from adjusting an adult—it’s much gentler, and you won’t hear the popping sounds often associated with adult adjustments.

Parents should never allow their baby to be adjusted without a thorough exam first. If a chiropractor finds any contraindications, they will refer the patient to the appropriate specialist.

Final Thoughts on Chiropractic Care

I’ve seen firsthand how chiropractic care has transformed my well-being, my photography clients’ experiences, and even newborns’ health. Whether you’re an expecting mom, a new parent, or simply someone looking for relief, I encourage you to ask questions and explore whether chiropractic care might benefit you or your child. Education is key, and taking the time to learn about your options can make all the difference.