Hands down, this is when I see women have the toughest time physiologically. The many challenges of being a new parent with the significant and dramatic changes that occur right after the birth of a baby, there's no question as to why. Throughout pregnancy, the birth process and early post partum, your body has undergone many stressful events and some type of recovery/rehabilitation to reach your pre-pregnancy state should be sought. Chiropractic adjustments quicken recovery time, assist the body in normalizing overall pelvic and spinal biomechanics and help you overcome the postural issues and discomfort created by taking care of your new baby. Be at your best to take the best care of your baby and really thrive in momhood, not simply survive. We'll show you how with our multidisciplinary approach to support you through this exciting time or to help you recover from a specific condition associated with labour and delivery. We've got your back (and your pelvic floor!)
Dr. Hort's 'Get Your Body Back' program includes therapies, treatments and workshops as described below:
Chiropractic Care & Post-Partum
Your body has to be able to move properly in order for you to function with good body biomechanics throughout your day. If that isn't happening, your body will compensate and you will experience discomfort, injuries, and fatigue to mention a few. You don't want that to be the case at any time in your life, and especially not when you are a busy new mom. Chiropractic care affects not only the joints of your body and spine, but even more importantly affects your nervous system. Your nervous system controls every single function of your body - that's everything that happens in your body. So that's where we start. It's about structure and function. Once you have a strong and stable foundation the rest can be very easy.
Experience the benefits of chiropractic care. Learn more here.
Pelvic Floor
Post Partum Specific Conditions
Functional Movement Assessment
Ab Intelligence Workshop
Perfect Posture
Baby Carriers
Infants and Children
Information, Resources and Research
Chiropractic Health for Mom and Baby
Pelvic Floor Health and Recovery
It’s so much more than Kegels!!
Dr. Patti Hort and Lori Walker, PT team up to bring your pelvic floor back to where it should be. This approach brings you the best of the best in current techniques and therapies from chiropractors, biomechanists, physical therapists and personal trainers who all deal specifically with pelvic floor issues. Our treatment program is a pelvic floor optimizing program for any woman. We evaluate joint function, balance, gait and range of motion to ensure that you have the ability to move and are approaching the soft tissue correction with a good foundation. Lori is also able to assess internal structures if needed to get the best overall picture of what is happening. With this information the combined chiropractic and physio evaluation and treatment is specific to your needs. It is a comprehensive approach that can benefit you whether you are a new mom looking to recover quickly and prevent future issues, have concerns with incontinence, in your 40's experiencing compensation patterns as you run/train, or in early menopause.
Workshop: Bottoms Up! sneak a peek here
Post Partum Specific Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, commonly associated with repetitive wrist movements, is also increased during pregnancy and post partum. Symptoms can include numbness and tingling of the hand and fingers as well as achiness in the forearm and neck. Chiropractic adjustments applied to the cervical spine and wrist regions can help eliminate inflammation and quicken resolution. You may want to try Vitamin B6 supplements as they have been shown to assist in eliminating the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Coccydynia
This condition is a painful coccyx (the bone located on the end of your sacrum or tailbone.) The coccyx can become irritated and painful in pregnancy or can be challenged during labour and delivery. The condition is especially evident in the third trimester due to the position of the baby and the lack of room for the baby to maneuver. Women who have had trauma in this region prior to pregnancy may have a higher chance of noticing pain in the later stages of pregnancy and in early post partum. An adjustment of the coccyx is often required and can be safely and successfully performed by the chiropractor.
Diastasis Recti
This is when the main abdominal muscle separates away from the center during pregnancy. It can easily lead to a hernia in many women. There are a few different theories on correction and rehab of this condition, with surgery being one of the treatments. We want to prevent a surgical repair by providing a multidisciplinary approach to correcting/rehabilitating diastasis recti and have seen great results.
Disc bulge
An increased lumbar curve and added weight challenge the lumbar discs during pregnancy and can cause symptoms varying from central low back or sacral pain, to pain, numbness and or tingling down one or both legs. After baby, this can be caused by long periods of sitting as the lumbar spine lacks the support of the core strength and the position of sitting puts more pounds per square inch of pressure on the discs than any other position. Heaven knows we spend a lot of time sitting with a new baby. Chiropractic care can help relieve the symptoms by alleviating the pressure on the discs and can be very successful with management of this condition.
Costo-vertebral Neuralgia
The new and poor postures associated with prolonged sitting and holding/feeding a new baby can lead to increased rib subluxations and increased in intercostal nerve irritation at times. Chiropractors adjust the rib heads to alleviate nerve irritation and restore normal positioning of the rib heads.
Meralgia Paresthetica
This condition is a result of pressure on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which provides sensation to the skin of the upper lateral thigh. Increased abdominal weight and pressure as well as an increased lumbar curvature can place additional pressure in the area of the nerve which leads to pain, numbness and tingling in the area of the lateral upper thigh. Chiropractors commonly treat this condition successfully.
Sciatic Neuralgia
This common condition is a result of increased pressure on the large collection of nerves in the lower back . Symptoms include back pain with symptoms of pain, numbness and/or tingling radiating down the buttock and leg(s). There are also other causes of this condition which include sacroiliac joint dysfunction, lumbar disc syndrome, lumbar facet joint irritation, and vertebral subluxations. Chiropractic care is especially effective in treating sciatic neuralgia as the treatment directly addresses the specific cause.
SPD – Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
This condition occurs when the pubic symphysis begins to separate or shifts slightly out of its normal alignment. It can cause a great deal of pain at the pubic bone region and is often aggravated by lifting one leg to roll over or to get in or out of your vehicle. It can also make it difficult to walk or to stand up from a sitting position. The can occur during pregnancy, but is also very common after labour & delivery followed by prolonged sitting. The symphysis pubis is always evaluated when a pregnancy chiropractor evaluates the pelvis as it plays a key role in the pelvis's ability to adapt to pregnancy and to return to its normal state after L&D. SPD or pain in this area is usually very easily resolved with chiropractic care and in fact, should not be left without evaluation and/or treatment.
Baby Carriers
Find out more about choosing slings and other types of carriers.
Suggestions For Carrying your baby
Carseats, slings and more
Post-Partum Information, Resources & Research
Here is a list of resources and links on doulas, avoiding post partum depression, and breastfeeding.