Pregnancy and birth has fascinated me since I was a little girl. When I was 14 and in high school, the father of one of my friends was a chiropractor. What he showed me about chiropractic inspired me and ignited an enormous mission to follow my dream to become a pediatric and pregnancy chiropractor.
I know I was lucky: very few people know at the age of 14 what they want to do with their life. I grew up in America, studied at the University of Minnesota to get my undergraduate degree, and then went to and graduated from Life Chiropractic University from Georgia in 1997. My favourite subjects were about paediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care. Now, nearly all of my post-graduate studies focus on the special interest of chiropractic care and techniques for babies, children, and pregnant women.
My personal experience
I’ve had three healthy pregnancies, three natural drug-free vaginal births (my third at home), and have three healthy children. Also, my first was in the breech position and she turned at the last minute (after all the hard work I did to help her turn!). So I know first-hand how pregnant women with a breech baby feel!
All three births were done with Hypnobirthing. It is because of chiropractic care, Hypnobirthing training and trust in my body that each of my labours and births unfolded with no inductions, no interventions, no epidurals or any drugs. I had been adjusted soon before labour started; all three children were adjusted soon after birth. I can give you the same care.
What is chiropractic?
One of my biggest passions is to educate and help women on pregnancy, to show them how to have a healthy body before, during, and after pregnancy. Today, pregnant women are given many different options about pregnancy, labour, and birth. In my view, we focus too much on outside interventions to help you be healthy. We often forget that health comes from within, and we must utilise our innate self-healing wisdom.
How is your body able to grow a new beautiful human being? That is the innate intelligence that we all have. Chiropractic helps upgrade this intelligence in your pregnant body to give you and your baby the opportunity for optimum health and balance in your system.
Every pregnant woman should get their spines and pelvises checked and adjusted throughout their entire pregnancy. Keeping your pelvis aligned and your nervous system balanced is essential to experiencing a comfortable and healthy pregnancy as well as ease and preparation for labour and birth. It will help labour and it will help post-labour recovery.
What if your baby is breech?
Many pregnant women are unaware of the importance of the position of their baby until their midwife tells them, matter-of-factly, “Your baby is breech.” What this means is that for an unknown reason, your baby prefers to be head-up, with either their feet down in the pelvis, or one foot in and one foot up, or bum in the pelvis with their legs and feet cradled up. This usually makes an expectant mum nervous, scared, and worried about the possibility of not having a natural vaginal birth. What is first important to understand is your baby has the ultimate wisdom to position herself in the best possible alignment, given the space in your uterus. The notion that something is ‘wrong’ doesn’t apply here. Tension and misalignment in the spine, pelvis, as well as areas in your head (cranium) and neck can all alter the balance of your uterus. The uterus is a muscle and if there is torsion and tension on one side, the baby will move into their own ideal position to allow for maximum growth and fetal development. When you come to my practice, I will be able to assess your whole system – cranium, upper spine, lower spine, pelvis, and pelvic muscles – to find out why your baby might be choosing the breech position.
Memberships and Associations
I am an active member of the United Chiropractic Association (UCA), the International Chiropractic Association (ICA), and the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association (ICPA). I am also Webster Technique Certified by the ICPA. I am also fully certified in Network Spinal Analysis. I have also attended Spinning Babies classes to learn about different exercises and positions to help pregnant women with the positioning of their babies for ideal birthing positions. I’ve also studied with Dr. Karen Gardner who has developed the Gardner-Bagnell Technique, which is another chiropractic technique that focuses attention on the spinal and pelvic alignment of the mother-to-be.
Please note: I’m not registered with the UK General Chiropractic Council, so in the UK I cannot describe myself as a Chiropractor. Since 1998 and presently, I am an active board-certified and fully licensed chiropractor in the state of New York, and I often travel to see pediatric and pregnant clients in New York, as well as France.
Chiropractic Services
Initial Assessment (adults, babies, and children of all ages) | Includes consultation, spinal nervous system exam, and adjustment: £90 (up to 1.5hrs)
Pregnancy Chiropractic Adjustment: £60
Pregnancy Wellness Package: £500
Wellness Package: (non-pregnant adults, babies, and children of all ages) | Includes 12 adjustments: £400
Family Wellness Program of 3 months | Unlimited adjustments for all family members: £1100
maryanne@yesmum.co.uk