Picking Your Prenatal Team

Pregnancy is an absolutely life-altering season of life. While I haven’t experienced it myself, I have the continuous privilege of observing women during this season, as well as being a part of their pregnancy experience. When a woman finds out she’s expecting, it is a very exciting time, it also is an occasion where her and her family will be faced with numerous decisions!

Most of us have heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” and it’s absolutely true… starting while they’re still in the womb! One of the most important decisions a woman faces in pregnancy is the village of people who will be supporting her throughout pregnancy and birth. While this prenatal team will look different for each individual woman, there are three crucial components that I think should be considered.

The first member of the prenatal team is a midwife or OBGYN. While both professionals deliver your baby, the environment and approach will vary greatly! I discuss some of these differences in the video below. There’s no right or wrong decision, it just depends on what each individual woman needs and feels comfortable with.

The next member of the prenatal team is a doula. If you haven’t heard of a doula, definitely check out my video! I’m lucky enough to work with a number of doulas, with all different personalities and styles. If a woman knows that she needs someone to push her, there’s a doula for her! If a woman knows that she needs to be nurtured and mothered, there’s a doula for her too!

The third member of the team is the prenatal chiropractor. Did you know that there’s a group of us chiropractors who actually specialize in chiropractic care during pregnancy? We have completed additional training and certification through the ICPA in a technique called the Webster method and often times have the credentials FICPA or CACCP after our name. Chiropractic care is extremely helpful in maintaining proper function of the spine and nervous system throughout all stages of pregnancy. A woman’s body goes through a great deal of changes and it’s important that her body is able to adapt to these different stressors appropriately! Just a few of the benefits that research has shown include decreased back pain during pregnancy, decreased labor time, and decreased post-natal pain. I’ll be doing an entire video and post about this topic, so stay tuned!

With all of these professionals, we are dealing with a human to human interaction. I mention this to say that it’s really important that a woman jives and feels comfortable with the different people who she’s turning to for her prenatal care and advice. Tension, conflict, or a lack of trust can result in emotional stress as well as physical stress, and ain’t nobody got time for that, especially a hormonal pregnant woman! Asking for recommendations from friends and family members or looking for professionals who have great online reviews is a great place to start. From there, interviewing a few different people ensures that it’s a great fit for momma-to-be and her family!

If you’re looking for recommendations for members of your prenatal team, please don’t hesitate to ask! I would love to help you find your ideal team.

Transformation From the Ruins

Driving into the office this morning I was reflecting on a life-changing event that occurred one year ago today. As I reflected, I was reminded of my recent visit to Rome. I remember walking through the Roman Forum, which was once the heart of the city, and feeling truly humbled. I remember thinking about all of the powerful people and leaders who had walked down the Via Sacra that I was now placing foot on and seeing all of the grand architecture and intricate statues that had been built without computer systems, heavy machinery, or any other modern technologies. Where I was standing had once been the site of one of the largest and most powerful empires on the earth, but all that remains of it now is an intoxicating history and jaw-dropping ruins. The Roman Empire has influenced many aspects of today's society, such as democratic government practices, language, literature, art, infrastructure, city-planning, and the spread of Christianity. But we wouldn't be seeing any of these influences today if there hadn't been transformation from the ruins. 

A year ago today, after having had a record Saturday, I was told by my employer that I no longer had a job... I was fired. "Fired" is a tough word to swallow, it can bring about feelings of shame or embarrassment or being less-than, but here's what I know to be true. God will break us to promote us and to move us to our right place. And when He breaks us, He always does it with grace. Sometimes we wait for what feels like the "right time" to close a door and God has to intervene and close the door for us. Other times we are able to close the door ourselves, as I've observed multiple friends do with their jobs and situations this year. Regardless of how a season has come to an end for you, I just want you to know that you are celebrated! It's in the closing of doors and crashing of empires that we have the opportunity to transform from the ruins to the riches that God has called us to. Cheers to transformation!

Green Pastures & Grounding

As I sat sipping on some tea this afternoon, my thoughts began to wander back to Ireland, where I just got back from visiting a few weeks ago. Part of my time in that beautiful country was spent in Northern Ireland. Afternoon tea is extremely common in Northern Ireland, as it's part of the UK, and I had the pleasure of sharing it with some lovely new-found friends and their adorable baby. It was a rainy afternoon, the company was life-giving, the tea (with milk) was delightful, and the scone... the scone was out of this world!! And what does one spread on a scone in Ireland? Grass-fed butter of course. I'm pretty sure no other type of butter exists there! I'm not typically one to consume dairy or gluten, but when in Rome... or Ireland.

Outskirts of Galway City, ireland

Since my return to the States, I've been very curious as to why my body was so much more tolerant of the dairy in Ireland, and even Rome for that matter. The most obvious reason that came to mind was the fact that it all comes from grass-fed animals. By now, most people have heard that grass-fed meat and dairy products are healthier, but I think for a lot of people it may seem trendy. My hope is to provide further explanation on why they are so much better and give you a small taste of how amazing Ireland and its people were to me. 

The first intriguing piece of information I found is that all Omega-3's originate in the green leaves of plants and algae. Fish contain a great deal of Omega-3's because they eat small fish, which eat smaller fish, which eat algae and phytoplankton. Grazing animals contain a great deal of Omega-3's because they consume grass directly. 

Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two of the most common essential fatty acids. They are essential because our bodies are not able to make them on our own. We absolutely need both of these fats, but we need the right balance of Omega-3s and Omega-6's. Most of us consume too many Omega-6's (grain and corn-based oils and food) and it can actually have a negative impact on our bodies. Excessive levels of Omega-6's have been linked to problems such as inflammation and increased risk of cancer. On the other hand, high levels of Omega-3s have numerous benefits because they are good for the heart, improve brain function and emotional well-being, as well as decrease cancer risk. 

Why am I going on about Omega-3's? Because grass-fed animal products were found to have two to six times more Omega-3s than grain-fed animal products!! 85-95% of cows in American dairies are raised in confinement, which means they are only consuming grains, corn, and other filler, not grass.

ballymena, ireland

I'm also fairly convinced that the stress-level of these grass-fed animals plays a role in their nutritional value. The cows pictured above were chillin and grubbin in a field situated right next to an old castle where we had dinner our first evening in Galway City. As I walked along the road where these cows were grazing, I was in awe of the silence and stillness around me. I think this is the closest I've come to physically experiencing Psalm 23 where David says "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quite waters, he refreshes my soul." The silence was truly deafening and the level of peace there was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I know these cows and sheep have got to feel it too.

Research has shown that the stress levels of animals directly increases the levels of certain hormones present in the products being consumed from them. So I don't know about you, but if I'm going to consume some cheese or butter, I would much rather get it from a cow who has been roaming in green pastures!

Cloonacauneen castle, galway ireland

So what are your options if you live in the US? While we may not have a lot of grass-fed livestock here in the states, more and more ranchers and farmers are starting to jump on the band-wagon. Check to see if there is a local co-op in your area, they often times offer grass-fed and free-range meats and dairy products, plus you're supporting your local farmers and ranchers! If you don't have a co-op in your area, stores such as Whole Foods and Central Market will typically carry a pretty good selection of grass-fed products. And if you don't have any of those stores nearby, or you just don't like going grocery shopping, you can purchase some products like Kerrygold Butter on Amazon.

No matter your method of acquiring healthier food choices, I hope that you are feeling inspired to make yourself a cup of tea, be present in this very moment, and find gratitude in the silence and stillness, even if it's short-lived. Cheers. 

Growth in Surrender

** As you read this blog post, and probably the next few to come, you may be asking yourself "What does this have to do with chiropractic?". Full disclosure, it has absolutely nothing to do with chiropractic, but it has everything to do with life and taking every opportunity we can to grow and make the most of this time we have on earth! My hope is that Renew & Restore Wellness will be seen as more than just a business. My hope is that I create a personal connection with each person who comes in contact with me and my company and that through these interactions people would experience hope and encouragement! I just got back from one of the greatest adventures of my life (to date) and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my experiences and reflections. **

7/25/2018

As I sit on a plane headed to Rome, reviewing basic Italian words (I speak absolutely no Italian), I start thinking about my 4-year-old self on the first day (or week) of Kindergarten. I was sobbing on my teacher's lap because I didn't want to be left by myself with an entire room of strangers. I think about my 12 year-old self panicking and on the verge of puking at the mere thought of staying overnight at a camp. Here I am, 20 years later headed to a foreign country for 3 days and 4 nights, completely by myself!! Am I nervous? Absolutely! But I'm not sobbing and I'm not nauseous... so I'll chalk that up to progress! 

A question I’ve asked myself a great deal recently is what was I so scared of in the past? Why was I so terrified to step into an unknown situation without the comfort of control and familiarity? As I sit looking out the window I make a decision, I could spend the entire plane ride (and trip for that matter) trying to figure out why this has been my past experience or I can choose grace.

These fears have controlled me for as long as I can remember. And as I reflect, I realize how absolutely exhausting it has been to live in fear and continual hunger for control over my situation. Author Erin Loechner, describes it as a lion within us, always hungry for its next meal. So with that, I choose grace. I am making the decision to show up and experience life for what it is and for who I am, right now! I’m done living a fear-based life. I choose to be present, I choose to trust, I choose to seek joy, I choose to surrender to the only one Who is truly in control. My God is a loving Father Who is the only constant source of comfort I will have in my life. I think if my younger self had understood that, my experiences with unfamiliar situations may have been different. 

Through God's grace I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to step out on this adventure with Him. God has a funny way of redeeming everything in life and I pray that I would walk into this trip with wide-eyes and a child-like faith to wander in wonder as He redeems those parts of my life where I let fear steal my experience and my joy. 

If you feel like you are making decisions out of fear or struggle with the need for control, know that you aren't alone! Keep pressing in and little by little you will find the strength to surrender just a bit more. I've by no means got it perfected, but I can tell you that the more I loosen my grip, the more I've been able to experience the amazing gifts that God has in store for me. 

 I would love to hear your experiences of growth through surrender!

Time... What Are You Doing With Yours?

Time… it seems to be a topic that comes up often these days! “Busy” or “slammed” or “swamped” are words that I hear and read repeatedly, and I know they come out of my mouth too! What is common knowledge, yet so intriguing to me, is that we’ve all got the same 24 hours in a day! And what’s even more interesting to me is that each individual person has different things demanding those 24 hours, depending on the season of life that they’re in. A newly wed couple is learning to shift the focus of their time to each other and figuring out what married life looks like for them. New parents are learning to shift the focus of their time to take care of a baby and all of the changes that come with no longer being just husband and wife. A new business owner is learning to shift the focus of their time to the growth and development of their business and not just everyday tasks of a job. These are all perfect examples of different people with the same amount of time, but completely different demands on it! 

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the different elements being thrown at us throughout a given day or week. Our plates become so full that eventually something has to give… and in my experience/observation, self-care and wellness are the first to go! If we take the three examples mentioned above and compare how those individuals would function with and without good self-care and wellness, who do you think would be able to make the best use of their time? Take the newlywed, the new mom, and the entrepreneur and they are ALL going to be more efficient and more effective at whatever their role is when they are taking care of their mind and body! That bride will be able to be more in-tune with her husband and communicate more effectively. That new dad will be able to enjoy his child and care for his wife on a level he would have never imagined. That entrepreneur will be able to show up to her business full of energy, creativity and drive in order to grow.

This may look different for each individual, but some factors that I would say are essential for every single human being are physical exercise, proper nutrition, healthy thought-life, and a well-functioning nervous system. This list may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! In the video below, I talk about how little time it takes to ensure that your nervous system is functioning well with chiropractic care, there are effective workouts that can be done in under 30 minutes, a number of resources exist for meal-planning and meal prep to make healthy eating a breeze, a healthy-thought life can come from a variety of practices, habits, and choices. 

In addition to these essentials, we each have certain habits that ground us and just help us to feel at peace. For me this would be a warm bath, time in the sauna, buying myself fresh flowers, taking my pup for a walk, cooking a gourmet meal, having a stimulating conversation with friends or reading a great book. My encouragement to you would be to truly think about what is most important to you, not what’s “calling your name”, but what fills your bucket, makes you a better version of yourself, and allows you to show up in whatever season of life God has you in! Once you’ve determined those things… make time for them! I promise, it’ll make a positive impact in your life and the lives around you. 

And if you’re unsure where to start, ask me… it would bring me great joy to help in this journey of you becoming the best version of yourself!!

Healthy Sitting Habits

Recent studies are revealing that the average person sits at least 10 hours a day! While there are great options such as standing desks to help break up the sitting, there are still some important practices to implement when we are sitting on our behinds!

The biggest issue I see with men are wallets! As the video below explains, no matter how thin a wallet may be, if it's in a back pocket it will shift more weight to one side of the body. This shift results in improper posture, muscle tightness, and can cause symptoms such as back pain and sciatica. 

While wallets may not be a major issue with women, the things we do with our legs are! Whether it's crossing the legs or sitting on one leg, all of these positions shift our weight and body-position to a state of imbalance, which results in our incredibly intelligent bodies working to restore balance however possible. This results in muscles on one side of the body being tighter than the other, which in turn affects nerve function and blood flow. With a decrease in blood flow and nerve function we are once again, prone to pain, numbness, tingling, etc. 

As simple, as these issues sound, improving them will result in MASSIVE changes with posture and the health of your back. For further explanation on why these changes are so important, please check out my brief video below.