Pregnancy & Children

Dr. Brandi Kuhn Provides chiropractic care and cranial therapy
for babies, kids, mamas and mamas-to-be.

My practice specializes in women’s healthcare, the care of infants, children, pregnant and postpartum women.  During each of these magical times there are unique reasons to seek better balance in our bodies. There is no better way than to achieve this balance than through chiropractic and cranial therapy. As a mother of two, it is my passion to work with babies, kids and their mamas to maximize their health.

Spinal and cranial restrictions can interfere with the body’s natural ability to function properly. Freeing these restrictions minimizes any torsion, tension, or imbalance in the system and allows the body to function at 100% of its give potential.

Newborns

Birth is one of the most traumatic processes our bodies ever go through. First the infants body is jammed in basically one position in the uterus for the last few months of gestation, a condition referred to as intrauterine constraint. This can create massive imbalance and restriction in the body. Then the body must endure the extreme forces of birth. Whether the birth involves passing through the birth canal or being pulled from an incision of the uterus, there is an incredible amount of force placed on the spine and cranium. If interventions such as forceps or suction are to be used, the stress to the baby’s body increases. Intrauterine constraint and birth trauma (which can happen even during a so called normal or routine birth) are a major cause of spinal and cranial restrictions.

Infants and Children

Once the baby successfully deals with the stress of making the transition to the outside world, they begin to learn to control and maneuver their bodies in increasingly complex ways. Mastering the skill of rolling, sitting , crawling, standing and walking involves a great deal of falling and countless bonks to the head, body and bottom. These numerous and relatively minor traumas add further stress to the spine and cranium. Additionally, this is time of incredible growth. The spine grows 50% in length the first year. Never again in a persons life will they grow that rapidly. Never mind that 65% of the total lifetime growth of the brain happens in the first year alone! To ensure all of this growing is done on a balanced and stable foundation it is vital to have regular chiropractic care by a chiropractor who understands the unique needs of infants.

From toddlers to adolescents, children continue to push their bodies to the limit. Running, jumping, climbing trees, carrying heavy backpacks, competing in sports or just playing around, all can contributed to aggravating the developing spine. Periodic chiropractic check-ups can minimize the effects of these insults to the system and prevent injuries from building up to the point where they create chronic symptoms later in life.

Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help minimize the  typical discomforts associated with this time of transformation as well as facilitating an optimal labor and delivery. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is safe, natural, gentle and effective.

Normal, physiological changes of pregnancy contribute to spinal stress in the mother-to-be. Hormonal changes lead to increased ligamentous laxity and increased joint mobility in some areas and increased spinal restrictions in others. This can make the pregnant woman’s spine more unstable and prone to discomfort and injury. There are also important biological changes that occur during pregnancy, including weight gain, increased breast size, change in the center of gravity, increased lumbar curve and an increased load on the spine.

Postpartum

After having been endlessly encouraged to care for herself, being dotted on and given special treatment during pregnancy, the mother is often nearly forgotten once the baby is born. This is a time when the woman needs more attention than ever. She continues to have ligamentous laxity, and now adds to it the numerous sustained, awkward postures of motherhood. Breastfeeding for hours a day, carrying or wearing the baby, leaning over to change diapers, bending down to pick up toys, lifting a heavy diaper bag, doing all the extra laundry-the list of postural stresses on mom’s body is endless. And add to it an older child to care for. All of this is handled by a person who is most likely getting less sleep, living on less income and getting less time for self care than ever before. Now take into consideration the massive hormonal fluctuation and propensity for mild to severe postpartum depression. It can be a recipe for disaster.

We encourage mothers to come in for care as soon as they are able after birth. They are welcome to bring their babies and older children along to their appointments in our office. We are happy to work with the mama on the table as the kids play at our feet, or sometimes ‘help’ us care for her. Restoring balance to a mamas body, helping her heal from pregnancy and birth, and allowing her to handle the many stresses of parenthood are among the most important things we do. When mama feels better, she can better care for her baby and children, and be more present during that magical babymoon time with her newborn.

Parenting

Parenting continues to challenge our bodies and minds in ways we never thought possible. I hope to support the family not only through natural healthcare, but also by providing resources and support for the challenges of parenting.