How Chiropractic Care Supports Prenatal and Postpartum Wellness
By Elasya Richard
Mothers today are embracing educated choices and investigating integrative ways to improve wellness, thereby altering the prenatal and postpartum care path. Chiropractic care is one of these; it focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system, which consists of the spine, muscles, nerves, and joints. The benefits of chiropractic assistance for improving comfort, mobility, and general well-being during and after pregnancy are becoming increasingly apparent; it is not merely a treatment for back pain.
We chatted with Stephanie Choo, a chiropractor and certified BIRTHFIT leader with expertise in pediatrics and prenatal care, to gain insight into this developing sector. She discusses how this compassionate, all-encompassing approach may help both mothers and newborns, providing information about the special methods employed, the advantages of early intervention, and the expanding network of knowledgeable, capable parents.
1Twenty80: What inspired you to start your own chiropractic practice?
Stephanie Choo: For me, it was about building something deeper than just a business. I didn’t want it to be all about ‘money, money, money’ or ‘business, business, business.’ I wanted to create a team that shares the same values, vision, and mission—to help the community genuinely. To do that from the ground up, I knew I had to strike out on my own and build this practice myself.
1Twenty80: Are there any significant moments of your work that impacted the lives of your patients?
Stephanie Choo: There are so many, honestly. One moment that really shaped me was early in my career. A patient came in struggling to breathe. I performed an adjustment, and right after, she stood up and said she could finally breathe normally again. That moment confirmed I knew this is what I want to do.
My passion deepened when I pivoted to focus on family health, particularly prenatal care and pediatrics. Seeing a first-time mom, scared about natural delivery, go through the process and tell me afterwards that the chiropractic work helped her deliver smoothly, that’s incredibly fulfilling. When helping a baby who’s behind on milestones, like flipping, and seeing progress after addressing misalignments and muscle tightness…it’s those little victories that keep me going.
1Twenty80: As an upcoming BIRTHFIT chiropractor and leader, what does that mean to you, and how do you see it shaping your work?
Stephanie Choo: It’s not just about BIRTHFIT, it’s the sum of all the courses I’ve taken to support the prenatal and paediatric populations that has helped me. These courses taught me to see people’s conditions beyond the typical back and neck pain. It’s about the nervous system, about helping it function at its best.
People often want to slim down quickly and jump right back into exercise. But they don’t realize how much healing the body needs. That’s where BIRTHFIT and similar approaches guide moms through the right steps like re-learning core bracing before getting back into sports. Yes, health goals matter, but your body’s well-being matters just as much.
1Twenty80: When it comes to treating babies, are there specific chiropractic techniques that differ from adults?
Stephanie Choo: Oh, it’s completely different. There are no audible cracks. We use what’s called a sustained hold which is very gentle pressure, like pressing on a ripe tomato or the pressure you’d use on your own eyeball. That’s all it takes to create real changes. Since babies can’t tell you where it hurts, much of the work involves interpreting signs and understanding the nervous system. Their bones are softer, especially around the cranium, and they respond faster due to high neuroplasticity – adaptability to the changes made to their body very fast. So if the issue isn’t too complicated, babies often need fewer visits than adults.
1Twenty80: Is it true that chiropractic care might trigger preterm labor?
Stephanie Choo: Absolutely not. Most of my patients deliver between 38 and 41 weeks. Of course, it depends on their body and condition, but chiropractic care does not trigger early labor.
1Twenty80: Do you find that new moms are becoming more open to alternative postpartum support like chiropractic care?
Stephanie Choo: Yes, and not just postpartum. More moms are open to receiving care during pregnancy too. Social media plays a huge role. With more informative content out there, awareness is growing. Moms today – many of whom are around my age – do their research before coming in. They’re smart. Some even arrive knowing what techniques I use because they’ve read about it on our platforms. Whether it’s prenatal or postpartum care, there’s definitely more openness now.
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