Jeanne Ohm, DC
When choosing our options for childbirth, my husband and I were fortunate enough to be led into the loving hands of midwives. We shared six wonderful home births with the skill and guidance of supportive birth attendants. Recently I had the pleasure of speaking at Midwives Association of North America’s Annual Conference. I have always felt a bond between the objectives and goals of midwives and chiropractors and spending a weekend in the company of these remarkable women allowed me to look at this even closer.
Midwives have the honor of sharing one of the most important stages of a woman’s existence, the development and birth of a new life. With personal caring, and a deep respect for life, midwives encourage women to trust in their own body’s ability to function normally. Procedures and techniques are adapted to the safety, comfort and natural processes of mother and child. Throughout pregnancy and especially during birth, midwives give as much support and recognition to the needs of both the woman and the baby. This continuous, personal attention, care and education leads the mother to a greater understanding and trust in her body’s ability to function naturally. Their focus of care truly is: “Nature needs no help, just no interference.”
I have found so much in common between the philosophy and objectives of chiropractic and midwifery. This perspective has led me to midwives to form professional alliances with them. To complete this alliance, there are specific techniques we as Chiropractors can do with pregnant mothers. Specific adjustments working with the pelvic muscles and ligaments create a state of balance in the mother’s pelvis, facilitating an easier and safer delivery. Working with the cranium and dura allows for meningeal unwinding and releases torqued abdominal fascia. Your knowledge of these techniques offers the midwife a way to recommend Chiropractic care to pregnant women to promote optimal pelvic and uterine function, enhance confidence in the body’s ability, help provide a safer birth and support an inter-professional alliance.
I have made a concerted effort to contact leading midwifery organizations to educate them about these specific chiropractic adjustments and their positive impact on birth. Midwifery Today recently published an article emphasizing the importance of chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. They have once again invited me to speak at their Annual Conference. Their continued enthusiasm is tremendous. Weekly, I receive e-mails from all over the world requesting names of DCs qualified to work with pregnant mothers. Once educated, midwives easily grasp the importance of chiropractic care throughout pregnancy because it too, supports the body’s ability to function at its best. They respect our caring bedside manner with their patients and our enthusiasm and support for their work with mothers.
So, as a chiropractor, how can you make this connection? First, learn the specific techniques necessary to care for pregnant mothers. Next, reach out to the midwives, initiate this alliance in your community and make them aware of your skills. Then, open your doors because you are ready to serve the pregnant women and children in your community in a very special way, right from these precious beginnings.