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Healthy Mother, Healthy Child, Part 4

March 4, 2015

healthy pregnancy In Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our Healthy Mother, Healthy Child series, I focused on the nutritional component of pregnancy – essential nutrients, the importance of moderation, foods to avoid and the importance of breastfeeding.

Now I want to shift to the physical component. Many pregnant women deal with musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage can do wonders to prevent and relieve pain during and after pregnancy.

These are passive modalities that require the mother to do nothing. Mommy is working hard enough. These treatments can prevent and relieve physical pain and keep the body’s systems in balance.

We can get more aggressive with lingering musculoskeletal pain after pregnancy, using x-ray, MRI and more intense physical therapy to diagnose and treat pain. Of course, you want to take it easy with exercise at first. Start with walking and light stretching to elevate the heart rate and improve the production of breast milk. Exercise can quickly turn into stress if you overdo it.

I always stress the importance of relaxing for new moms. So many women burn out their thyroid in their 40s because they pushed themselves beyond their limits in their 20s and 30s – physically, emotionally and mentally.

I recognize the desire to always be by the side of your children, but it’s okay to let grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, or trusted friends give you some time off so you can recharge your batteries.

This time off will help you now and down the road.

I’d like to close our Healthy Mother, Healthy Child series with an email I received from a recent patient named Nicole. We at Natural Healthcare Center take pride in the fact that we’ve been able to help so many moms and babies during and after pregnancy. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously, and we invite all women who may be thinking about starting or growing their family to schedule a consultation and learn more about what we can do to keep mother and child healthy.

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I couldn’t stand up straight or sleep well because of the discomfort. I figured it would go away after I delivered. It didn’t. My OBGYN referred me to “this wonderful doctor” and said I “should make an appointment right away.” From the moment I stepped into NHC to my discharge, every experience was pleasurable. The staff is not only professional, but they actually care. They ask how your family is, they remember on Thursday what you said you were doing the week before, and they ask about it. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to call my doctor’s office. Dr. Proodian not only helped with my postpartum back pain but he helped me shed the baby weight quicker than I thought possible. He taught me that what was going into my body wasn’t exactly healthy. He set me up with Dr. C. (Coetzee), NHC’s nutritionist, and I started to feel like a brand new me! I was so impressed that I had Dr. Proodian speak to my staff. He spoke about how stress affects children and what we can do to help. The staff is still talking about it, and a few went for a consultation with Dr. Proodian. I can’t thank him enough for the help and strength he has given me. I will be forever grateful.

 

Dr. Proodian

Dr. James Proodian is an accomplished chiropractic physician, health educator, and professional public speaker who founded Proodian Healthcare Family of Companies to help people feel better, function better, and live longer. His expertise is in identifying clinical imbalances and restoring the body to health and functionality. Contact: jproodian@naturalhc.com or (732) 222‑2219.