Interview by Maria Luna Inthisack, CD(DONA) of Doulas of Orlando, LLC (Part 1)
Dr. Cynthia Gabaldon has a unique practice which centers on prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care. She works closely with Doulas, Midwives and Ob-gyns to give moms wanting a comfortable pregnancy exactly that.
What is Chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is centered on removing interference from the nervous system to the body. The nervous system is master control that runs the body. It which is protected by the skull and the spinal column or vertebrae. When those bones misalign the nerves that exit between vertebrae are affected on –how they transmit commands from the brain which in turn can affect the body, system, organs, tissues and cells. If we understand the importance of proper communication between the body and the nervous system then it is easy to see why misalignments can affect organ function, health, movement: the entire body’s proper function.
Why is this type chiropractic care so important in pregnancy?
Cynthia: “The nervous system controls everything. In terms of the health of the mother and development of the baby the nervous system is critical; having an aligned body keeps the communication lines open for baby’s proper development and health. My practice is a little different from a typical chiropractic office. We deal with issues that are exclusive to pregnancy.”
“For example: as a baby grows the center of gravity in the mother’s body changes, muscles now tighten to keep her upright and not falling over. Additionally, the Relaxin hormone that is now in the mother’s body makes ligaments unstable.
What usual symptoms do you see that would make a mother come in to see you?
Cynthia: Usually, it’s either a mom in her third trimester when she is feeling uncomfortable with lower or mid back pain. Or a mom that saw me in her previous pregnancy will come in the first trimester to feel amazing the whole time. What’s good about coming in pregnancy is that same hormone Relaxin that makes the area unstable is also what makes it easier for me to move those bones back in place. Something that may have taken a non-pregnant person two or three weeks to correct may take one or two visits in a pregnant person. Other things they did not realize that I could help with also get relieved like headaches or shallow breathing. Most mothers think that shallow breathing is from baby being way up in their diaphragm and that’s why they can’t breathe. When most of the time it is actually because the muscles in the mid-back have gotten so tight that its caused the ribs to lose the normal alignment with the spine, and it pinches the nerves that control the lifting and lowering of the rib cage so they can’t get a good deep breath.
Symptoms chiropractic adjustments can alleviate:
- Morning sickness
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Sciatica
- Low and mid back pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Pain in the hips
- Pubic bone pain
- Varicose veins
- Swelling
- Carpal tunnel
Do you need special training to adjust a pregnant woman?
Cynthia: “Yes and no. Any chiropractor can adjust a pregnant woman, having said that, there are certifications. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA.org) has a diplomat program in prenatal and pediatric care– post-doctoral degree, which provides a chiropractor more experience but is not required.
A lot of moms ask: can seeing a chiropractor hurt me or my baby?
Cynthia: “There is no contraindication to seeing a chiropractor, or being adjusted at all. I have never heard of anyone or baby being hurt by an adjustment while being pregnant. It is very safe. In my office I have a table that opens up to accommodate a pregnant figure. So, there is no contraindication to adjustment.”
Can it cause a mom to go into preterm labor?
Cynthia: “No. No. The Webster’s technique is used to remove pelvic misalignments. That will help baby get into a better position for Labor but will not cause labor that is not imminent.”
Is there anything an expecting mom should ask the chiropractor before she goes to them for adjustments?
Cynthia: a few good things to ask are:
- If they have postdoctoral training in pediatrics and prenatal chiropractic? You can also check on the ICPA.org for certified Chiropractors. Although some are not listed on there. It is a good place to start your search.
- What percentage of pregnant women do you see?
- What percentage of children do you see?
This can give you an idea of how often they treat women or children, and also will show you how comfortable they are treating these types of patients.
We all have the perception that pregnancy is supposed to be hard on woman and that’s mostly all we hear. Many women suffer from really bad morning sickness or are not able to sleep, for example. How does that differ from your experience as a chiropractor?
Cynthia: “A lot of moms in my practice feel amazing. When a mom comes in with a lot of aches and pains, I already know that in a few weeks we are going to be really good friends. They are going to feel so great. I know that pregnancy is not supposed to be uncomfortable it is not supposed to be painful! I know this because I see it every day in my practice. Nurses, for example, have notoriously long shifts with heavy lifting and they tell me all the time that if they didn’t come in for regular adjustments between shifts they probably would not have been able to work late in their third trimester. What I see over and over is that misconception: “oh well, deal with it because you’re pregnant!” I couldn’t disagree more! Absolutely don’t deal with it!
If you are in pain in your pregnancy you are going to have elevated levels of cortisone and adrenalin. You are not going to have a good healthy attitude, the relationship with your partner will suffer, and you’re not going to be keeping active which is really important for pregnancy. Over all you are not going to have a good quality of life. I hear it all across the board. So it is nice to know that it is not only possible but it is usually the case that women have phenomenal pregnancies. You can also have a phenomenal pregnancy too and chiropractic care is a piece of the puzzle.
In a nutshell Moms-to-be when adjusted by a chiropractor, like Dr. Gabaldon, will see:
More energy
Digestion improves
Will sleep better
Headaches will start to go away
Lower and/or mid back won’t hurt anymore
Overall they feel better
OH! Did I mention that regular adjustments with a chiropractor like Dr. Cynthia Gabaldon can also help with labor? Stay tuned for Part 2 to this article. Check out Cynthia Gabaldon's website at http://1chiropractor.com/
Originally written for Dimples Magazine found here
