As moms we always want what’s best for our children and for our families. When it comes to healthcare options, choosing chiropractic care is a gentle and yet powerful option that often offers holistic and natural solutions. It can hold many benefits for children as they grow and develop. It can also be beneficial for expecting mothers who need support during pregnancy and postpartum. At Flow Family Chiropractic, pediatric and perinatal care are their specialties! Below I’ve included information about the clinic, their services and an interview with the clinic itself.
About Flow Family Chiropractic
Located in Kaukauna, this clinic is focused on creating a family-friendly environment that is welcoming for all who visit. They work with all of their clients individually to create a plan that works best for you and helps meet your health goals. Flow Family takes the time to help educate you and show you different ways to support your body. Owner and chiropractor, Dr. Rachel is super passionate about helping families live their best lives. She has made it her personal mission to help provide holistic healthcare to the Fox Valley community.
Neurological Approach
One thing that sets this clinic apart from others is its approach to chiropractic care. They look at your current health state through your nervous system rather than solely based on your skeleton and muscles. This gives them the advantage of finding what is the main cause of what’s happening in your body.
Services
Flow Family Chiropractic specializes in both pediatric and perinatal services. Pediatric care can have a major impact on children. As children grow and develop, their bodies learn to work through stress and other factors. Chiropractic care can help kiddos adapt to all things life throws at them. Some frequent reasons parents might bring their kids in are colic, ear infections, bed wetting, emotional regulation support, sleep support and overall wellness.
Perinatal care is their other speciality! They’re able to help you with all the phases of motherhood from conception through postpartum. Perinatal care can help alleviate some of your pain and discomfort, help your little one grow and even get them into prime position for the birth process. It’s a seriously magical process that can be extremely helpful.
Q&A with Dr. Rachel, Owner of Flow Family Chiropractic & Pediatric + Perinatal Chiropractor
Can you describe your business and what you do to serve families in the community?
Flow Family Chiropractic is a pediatric and perinatal chiropractic office, serving Fox Valley families to help them optimize their overall health and wellness. We focus on chiropractic from a neurological perspective, which allows us to approach the body from a holistic standpoint to see how the body is adapting to the stressors we encounter on a daily basis.
What inspired you to specialize in chiropractic care for children and expectant mothers?
I always knew I wanted to work with kids! When I was younger I thought I would be a teacher! When I found chiropractic as a teenager, I ended up working for her and she also saw kids and families. I thought it was so cool that I could combine my love for natural healthcare with working with kids! When I was in chiropractic school I started to learn more about the perinatal timeframe and how under supported mothers are during this phase of life and beyond. This inspired me to learn more and dive deeper into learning how to care for them during these transitions. The more I learned about how incredible the human body is, especially as a woman, the more my passion grew!
Can you tell us about your background and training in pediatric and prenatal chiropractic care?
I have done extensive training through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), which is the organization that holds the gold standard in pediatric and perinatal education within the chiropractic realm. I’m currently over 80% of the way to my CACCP title, which means I will be Certified by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics to care for children and women in the perinatal period. I am also Webster certified through the ICPA! The Webster technique is designed specifically for prenatal care to help balance the pelvis and optimize the pregnancy experience for both mom and baby! On top of my training with the ICPA, I have also gone through the training to be a BIRTHFIT educator and a BIRTHFIT coach. BIRTHFIT is an organization that educates and supports women going through the motherhood transition, especially from a mind-body connection standpoint. These programs have helped shape my knowledge to utilize a neurological approach to chiropractic and tailor my care to each patient that comes in our doors.
What specific conditions or issues can chiropractic care help address in infants, children, and pregnant women?
One of the most important factors I mention within our office is that chiropractic does not treat any conditions. Rather, we focus on optimizing the neurological function of the body, which in turn can help the body heal as it was intended to! That being said, some of the common conditions we see kids and families for in our office include ear infections, constipation, bed wetting, colic, excessive gassiness, emotional regulation, optimal pelvic balance and fetal positioning during pregnancy, low back and hip pain during pregnancy, round ligament pain, pubic symphysis pain, and more!
What are the potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby?
We may be biased, but we absolutely LOVE chiropractic care before, during, and after pregnancy! Our neurological approach to chiropractic care can help support optimal fertility, as the nervous system plays a major role in hormonal regulation. During pregnancy we love chiropractic care to continue optimizing nervous system regulation. Also to create balance and reduce tension within the bony structures of the pelvis and surrounding soft tissues. This helps to optimize mom’s comfort levels as well as give baby as much room to grow and develop and move into a head down position! After baby is born, chiropractic is an incredible support for mom, as her body is navigating a new non-pregnant state and adapting to all the changes and challenges that come with expanding her family! We see a lot of newborn babies within days of their birth as well! Even when the birth process goes as best as possible, there is still a lot of pressure and physical work that a baby goes through. Chiropractic care from the beginning helps babies reach milestones with ease, feed + nurse with ease, have consistent and easy bowel movements, and reduce signs of colic, tension, reflux, and excessive fussiness!
What advice would you give to parents considering chiropractic care for their children or expectant mothers considering it during pregnancy?
My best advice would be to find someone who has done extensive training in caring for these populations so you know the appropriate approach and technique is being used. I also highly recommend asking any questions you may have about chiropractic. This way you feel educated and informed about your care. The root of the word “doctor” translates to “teacher” in Latin, so education should be a major part of your experience with any doctor!
How do you tailor your approach to suit the individual needs of each child or expectant mother?
One of the things we do best at Flow Family Chiropractic is creating an individualized experience for each person that walks through our doors. Our initial few visits are typically longer than most offices and that’s because I want to take the time to get to know the patient so I can customize my techniques, care plan, and communication based on what they are presenting with. Each adjustment looks different for every person because our bodies are never presenting the exact same way, so they need a different adjustment every time!
How do you handle parents who have mixed feelings about pediatric chiropractic services?
The most important thing we do if parents have mixed feelings about pediatric chiropractic care is focus on education. I always make it a priority to take my time getting to know the child, as well as the parents. I explain in depth what I am looking at during my exam and how what I am looking at impacts their child. Also, I explain and demonstrate what pediatric adjustments look like. Then I show them that there is no twisting, popping, or fast movements. Pediatric adjustments require very slight pressure, about the amount you’d use to test the ripeness of an avocado. I also show them one of the tools I use, called an Activator, and let them feel it. This way, they know what their child is going to experience as well.
What is one memorable success story of children or pregnant women who have benefited from your chiropractic care?
This is such a hard one for me because I get so excited about all the wins our patients have! I think one of my favorite pediatric stories is caring for a little boy who was struggling with bed wetting. After being under regular chiropractic care we saw huge improvements in his symptoms. He finally had the confidence to go to camp for a week over his summer break! I also love, love, love the stories we have of moms that are able to have a successful VBAC after utilizing chiropractic care during their pregnancies. As well as the stories of babies that have been breech but end up moving into a head down position when mom’s pelvis is more balanced under care!
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
One of our core values at Flow Family Chiropractic is empowerment. We want to remind every mama that reads this that you are doing a great job! Your littles are so lucky to have you as their mom! And don’t ever forget that your mama gut is a real thing and it is strong! You know your kiddo better than anyone so don’t let anyone dismiss you when you are advocating for them!
Visit Flow Family Chiropractic For Pediatric & Perinatal Care
If you’re searching for a natural and holistic approach for wellness during your pregnancy journey or for your kiddos, then I highly recommend Flow Family Chiropractic. Their incredible service and knowledge make them an excellent choice for chiropractic care.
As a maternity and family photographer, one of my favorite parts of my job is capturing special moments! If you’re searching for a photographer, I’d love to help! Contact me today and let’s get the conversation started.
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Get Guidance Through Your Pregnancy with Mothering the Mother!
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Get a Relaxing Prenatal Massage at Green Bay Massage Therapy
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