Postpartum is a truly unique time with both challenges and exquisite joys. Movies and TV shows perpetuate the myth that postpartum is a time of great happiness and joy, while making light of the less pleasant aspects. We don't have a lot of conversations about the reality of postpartum life, and reality and fiction rarely match up.

Postpartum can be challenging.  Mom and Dad are adjusting to having a new family member who is totally dependant on them for everything.  Mom is facing the reality if she is breastfeeding that she is the 24 hour  all you can eat buffet for baby.  Mom is also dealing with being sore from labor and birth, having bleeding and maybe leaky breasts that turn on and off at random when baby isn't nursing.  Dad is trying to figure out how best to help Mom while learning that there are some problems that he can't fix for Mom.   Both parents are navigating all this while in a very sleep deprived state, and may be getting all kind of conflicting advice about sleep, feeding, holding baby etc from friends, family and caregivers.  

Don't get me wrong, postpartum can be wonderful.  Baby is here and Dad can finally touch and hold him or her.  There's nothing to match the feelings of seeing your baby's first smile, or hear that first belly laugh, not to mention the delight in locking gazes with baby. There is a special joy in knowing someone is so dependant on you and that you can take care of them.  

There are things you can do to set yourself up to have an easier postpartum, or fourth trimester.    One of the most important things you can do is to have help available for the first 2-3 weeks postpartum.  Maybe a family member stays with you and helps with meals, cleaning and all the household duties so the parents can focus on baby and recovering from pregnancy and birth.  Some families hire a postpartum doula to help, or they have someone arrange for a meal train, and use delivery services for groceries, diapers and other necessities of life for the first few weeks.  Having some easy to prep meals, or freezer meals on hand is another great way to prep for postpartum.  Having a diaper changing station, or basket with all the diaper necesseties to keep close at hand when baby is here, as well as a snack station for mom are other ways to make postpartum a little easier, especially if you are not able to arrange for someone to always be around in the first few days and weeks.  

You get to decide what you want your postpartum time to look like.  Maybe it includes things like dates and times you will be able to receive visitors. I personally recommend that any visitors have a job do to like laundry, cooking, dishes etc as part of the visit (you could have a list of things you want help with for visitors to pick from).  Maybe there's a scheduled time for Dad to go hang out with friends, or Mom steps out to get a pedicure.  Maybe you have a list of older siblings' favorite games, movies, or places to visit for friends and family who want to help with siblings.  The options are endless, so think through what you feel you will need, and what you want.  Consider making a written postpartum plan which can help with communicating your needs and desires with others.  You can share it with family and friends who are going to be part of your support team.  Remember, it is your postpartum and not anyone else's so do what you need to do to have the postpartum you need and want.

Chiropractic care can be very beneficial during pregnancy, and a low risk way to keep feeling great throughout. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is at work relaxing muscles, ligaments and joints. With things more relaxed or looser, it can be very easy for the pelvis to shift out of alignment.  The Webster technique was developed specifically for pregnancy in the 1980's by Dr. Larry Webster to address this issue.

Babies will go the route of least resistance when entering the pelvis so if the muscles on one side are tight, but are looser on the other side, the baby will go to the looser side since there is less resistance.  This may cause baby to enter the pelvis with the head tilted off to the side instead of centered, or baby may enter in a posterior position with the back of baby's head against the spine. Both of these can cause a longer, more intense labor.  If baby settles into a breech position, Webster Technique is one tool that may help a breech baby into a head down position.   

Having muscles, ligaments, pelvis and spine aligned can reduce common complaints such as low back pain, or hip pain.  Regular adjustments may help with swelling, espeically swelling that is more on one side than the other.  If your baby enters the pelvis with the head off to one side, that can put pressure on the blood and lymph vessels on that side which may cause you to swell more on that side.  If things are aligned, then baby may be able to center their head, more evenly distributing that pressure.

I encourage my clients to get regular chiropractic care, especially when experiencing issues with lower back pain, swelling, hip pain and pelvic pain.  Having everything balanced and in alignment can lead to an easier labor, and birth.  

For clients in Manhattan, Junction City, St Marys, Chapman and the surrounding areas, Nichols Chiropractic, Flint Hills Family Chiropractic,  Alternative Health Care, and Premier Chiropractic and Wellness in Manhattan have chiropractors certified in Webster Technique.  
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