Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy & Postpartum

Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy & Postpartum

Dr.-Joella-Folks-DC-LM

Walking out of my first seminar on pregnancy chiropractic care, I felt so incredibly motivated and determined to be a resource for knowledge and information, skill and assistance, and support and advocacy. A couple of decades later, I’ve worked with over a thousand pregnant women and attended hundreds of births.

In addition to chiropractic adjusting, I blend elements of cranial and myofascial work, Mayan abdominal massage, pelvic floor and diastasis recti training, and lastly midwifery knowledge and experience to offer the most comprehensive & specialized pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.

Altogether this has given me a unique blend of tools and knowledge in understanding the female pelvis. It has been and continues to be my blessing and privilege to assist in the miraculous journey of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

- Dr. Joella Folk

DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC (DC), LICENSED MIDWIFE (LM), CACCP

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Decrease

discomfort and support a healthy and active pregnancy.

Balance

your pelvis, uterus, and supportive muscles and ligaments as they adapt to your growing baby.

Teach

you how to support and strengthen your body during your normal daily activities.

Reduce

your stress and worries with information you can trust and caring emotional support.

PREGNANCY

"I have seen Dr. Joella through two of my pregnancies. Her attention to my needs and the way that the body changes during pregnancy was amazing and she had ways to address issues with my hips and pelvis that other chiropractors hadn't yet. In the postpartum periods, Dr. Joella was a huge part of my emotional support, helped with mothering situations and helped me heal from diastasis recti."

- J. Bennett, mom of 3

PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM

"Dr. Joella provided care for my 6th pregnancy. The pregnancy and birth were uneventful and I attribute the quick (45 minute labor and delivery) and uncomplicated delivery of my 11 lb baby to the care I received from Dr. Joella. She has helped me rehab diastasis recti and continues to show me how to use my body for optimal function in my day-to-day tasks."

- Katie Baldridge

PREGNANCY

"I have been seeing Dr. Joella in the final trimester of my pregnancy. I wish I would have gotten in sooner! I feel much stronger than I did in my previous pregnancy and am excited to see how it will positively affect my birth and postpartum."

- Expectant second-time mom

POSTPARTUM

"As a chiropractor myself, I truly admire and believe her skill set is superior when it comes to working with pregnancy, newborns and children. I have been in and around chiropractic my entire life, and I have never met someone who is as dedicated and talented. I saw Dr Joella for regular chiropractic work after my first child was born. She helped walk me through recovery and taught me how to care for my body. We retrained faulty movement patterns, I learned how to breathe more effectively, changed posture and discussed how I could rebuild some of my pelvic floor stability. My only regret is not doing more of this and not doing it sooner!"

- Josie Ball, chiropractor, mother

PREGNANCY

"By week 30 of my fourth pregnancy, I was in so much pain I could barely walk. Every movement hurt. Dr. Joella adjusted my pubic bone in one quick adjustment, and I was instantly free of the debilitating pain I'd had. Hallelujah! Joella’s adjustments are gentle and effective. I love the care I receive from her!"

- Laura Young

PREGNANCY

"The combination of chiropractic and midwifery was a game-changer. In previous pregnancies my body was in so much pain. Even with the combination of being older and in my 5th pregnancy, I never felt better due to her care. It is seriously the best combination ever!"

- Laura Lopez

PREGNANCY

"The sciatica I have struggled with in past pregnancies did not become as much of a bother because of Dr. Joella’s vigilance in caring for my body with consistent chiropractic care. My body sailed through labor and birth and I have no doubt this was due in part to having a properly aligned musculoskeletal system, as well as the feeling of safety and relief at having a care provider I could thoroughly trust."

- Jessica Eastman, mom of 4

PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM

"Having Dr. Joella as my provider made a wonderful difference in how I felt and moved. I felt that my whole body and mind was supported and cared for during all stages of pregnancy, birth and postpartum, and I truly believe that having a body in proper alignment allows it to work and heal more effectively. Having chiropractic care throughout my pregnancy and postpartum has made a huge difference in how I felt during both seasons compared to previous pregnancies."

- Laura Sherlock, mom of 7

PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM

"Having access to consistent chiropractic care throughout my pregnancy and postpartum, administered by the same person who was familiar with my changing body, made my physical experience the easiest of all previous births, and my recovery far more thorough."

- Amanda Sharma, mom of 4

PREGNANCY

"I went to Joella about 4 weeks before I was due with my first baby and the full duration of my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. Due to scoliosis, pregnancies are really hard for my body and she was able to provide a huge amount of relief from the pain that I had been dealing with. She is the most gentle chiropractor I have ever met and has an innate sense of knowing what to do. It's truly a gift."

- Tessa Bilbao

PREGNANCY

"Since my first labor was rough because of the position my daughter was in, I wanted care from a Webster certified chiropractor and a holistic midwife with my second. I sure lucked out to find both in Dr. Joella! Having someone who knows that much more about the human body made me feel confident in my second child's birth. Labor and delivery went smoothly with my second born and I feel that was due to the excellent chiropractic and midwifery care I received from Joella."

- Emily P

Pregnancy Chiropractic

Pregnancy comes with many physical changes and potential discomforts. Chiropractic care can help. So many times I hear people say “just normal pregnancy problems”. As a pregnancy chiropractor, I know that these discomforts and challenges can be resolved through skilled care. I love hearing my clients say “I feel better at 35 weeks than I did at 20! I wish I had known about chiropractic earlier.”

Postpartum Chiropractic

Chiropractic not only benefits pregnancy, it has tremendous benefits during the postpartum period.

Generally, I recommend mothers be seen within a week of a vaginal delivery and two weeks after a cesarean delivery. Most women report feeling put back together and more like themselves after their first postpartum adjustment.

Webster Technique

I have been certified in the Webster Technique since 2003.

This technique is a specific analysis and treatment protocol that balances the pelvic bones and ligaments, creating balance in the uterus and more room for a baby to move into an optimal position all on their own. My care is routinely recommended by local birth providers when a baby is not settling head down and >90% of the time I am able to help!

What to expect from chiropractic care in pregnancy + postpartum:

CHIROPRACTIC CARE DURING PREGNANCY

During chiropractic care I offer guidance regarding posture and lifestyle choices to assist you in strengthening your body and preventing common complaints and problems such as diastasis recti. I often find that with proper education and support, my clients can end their pregnancies in better physical condition than they started!

There is no wrong time to begin chiropractic care during pregnancy. It has been proven safe at all stages and benefits during pregnancy can often be seen immediately. Although I have started care with clients past 36 weeks, and have seen positive results in just one visit, it is ideal to begin prior to the third trimester for optimal fetal positioning and labor preparation as some women take more visits than others to restore balance to the degree it impacts fetal position and internal pelvic function.

Care begins with a thorough history and examination. You will receive your first adjustment at the initial visit and two follow-up appts within a week or so. At this point, every person can require various amounts of care. My existing patients tend to stay at wellness care and be seen every 3-4 weeks through most of their pregnancy. By the third trimester, some clients will need bi-weekly care and by 36 weeks most clients will need weekly adjustments as the physical strains and increased hormonal changes are at their maximum and labor preparation important.

POSTPARTUM CHIROPRACTIC CARE

First, I am going to help correct any misalignments and tension patterns caused by the birth process and then I focus on assisting your body as it adjusts to the new and different strains of caring for a baby 24/7 and heals to a non-pregnant state once more. I offer breastfeeding tips, lifestyle recommendations to decrease the postpartum physical strain and guide you on healing and strengthening for a full recovery. I focus a lot on posture and diastasis recti healing. My goal is to give you the tools to not only recover but thrive in your new role as a mother.

FAQ

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