My introduction...

Hello! If you're reading my blog, I assume you:

(A) are a friend, family member, or acquaintance
(B) know something about my pregnancy or background and want to know more
(C) are interested in learning more about health, wellness, etc.
(D) ended up here my mistake

If the answer is D, simply click the "X" box in the top right corner because I'm here to share my experiences, thoughts, opinions, and expectations, whether they're congruent with yours or not.  I certainly don't think my blogs will offend anyone, but you may not agree with what I have to say, so here's your chance to get out now!

I have to start by saying that I realize that being a chiropractor and alternative healthcare provider makes me a little different than the "norm" in society.  It is not a path commonly chosen, nor understood. Many people have absolutely no concept of what it is that I do, how much education chiropractors receive, how natural healthcare can help them, etc. No, I didn't receive my degree after a weekend seminar. No, I am not a quack. No, I do not crack your bones and make you addicted to my services FOR-EV-ER. Maybe you or your sister's husband's mother's best friend had a bad experience at a chiropractor, and have written off the entire profession forever. That's unfortunate, because when I don't like a certain office or professional, I find someone else instead. These are the types of things I hear fairly frequently, so if you have any other questions or want to clarify common misconceptions, feel free to ask me so I can explain! Maybe you had an amazing, life-changing experience with a chiropractor? If you have, you need to share your story so people will understand how wonderful a body free of interference can truly be!

I'd like to think the personal experiences I've encountered in chiropractic throughout the last 15 years of my life have opened my eyes and my mind to the possibility that we don't have to accept everything that society deems "normal and common" when it comes to health care. Now that I am expecting, I also have to add that my eyes have been opened to other possibilities, strategies, and schools of thought regarding pregnancy, labor and birth, raising a child, and having a family that values and appreciates health and wellness. Health is NOT the absence of sickness and dis-ease. You don't have to subject yourself to "getting by" on medication to keep you "well" (ie: less sick; masking symptoms, hiding the source of your problem. I liken this to taking the batteries out of a smoke detector... the fire is still there but at least you don't have to hear that horrible beeping noise!). You don't have to deny yourself a higher quality of life. You just have to make an effort to learn different approaches to health and make small changes that can drastically improve the quality of your years and how you spend them!  If you take the proper measures, you can prevent many of the most common ailments that Americans are suffering from in scary record numbers.You can live a healthy, fulfilling, vibrant life. I don't want to be a statistic, and I don't want my family (or friends) to either. That is why I do what I do, and why I decided to start this public forum to share what I know... as well as receive thoughtful feedback.

When I was introduced to chiropractic at the age of 15, I began to experience improvements in my health and quality of life that I had never imagined could be achieved naturally. Severe, debilitating headaches that other heath care "experts" told me I'd have to just deal with started to decrease in frequency and intensity within a few visits to my chiropractor. My immune system seemed to also gain some strength, and the once/month "sick girl" wasn't getting sick anymore. I was inspired and motivated to continue this lifestyle, and to learn more about this career because I knew I wanted to share my experience with other people who could benefit from the results that I was fortunate enough to have.

Ultimately I realized that it was my life's calling to become a chiropractor and help people experience a better quality of life, naturally. I also loved the idea of educating people about chiropractic and health, because so many don't understand what our bodies are truly capable of.

As I began my pregnancy, I knew that I wanted this experience to be special, even enlightening. I also wanted to learn as much as I could about all things baby, labor, and delivery so I could really prepare myself as much as possible. I realize you can never 100% prepare for what labor will feel like or the moment when your baby arrives and is placed into your arms, but with my beliefs and background, I felt it was my due dilligence to take the steps necessary to be an educated and involved mommy-to-be. I never felt it was enough to just ask mommy friends and family for their advice and call it a day. I've read more articles, books, seen more documentaries, had more serious & educated discussions in the past 8 months than I probably have in the past 10 years! I've researched a variety of topics that I felt were important for a new mom to know about... such as how to make your own baby food, safe strollers/car seats, breastfeeding vs. formula, baby wearing, pediatricians, and some more controversial topics like vaccinations and co-sleeping. I've had debates with people on some of these topics, which have been exhilarating and exhausting! I can't imagine bringing our little one home after 10 months of waiting to meet him, and having only taken the time to get through "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and then just winging it...! I certainly have not and will not ONLY take the advice of medical doctors either. No thanks. That's not enough for me. It shouldn't be for any mom.

I have received a wide range of responses when it comes to some of the things I am doing to prepare for being a mom, as well as the type of birth and lifestyle I want for my son. From the encouragement of loved ones to the rolling eyes of incredulous friends, this journey has tested my strength and confidence in my beliefs, yet empowered me as a woman and soon-to-be mom that I am doing all of the right things, no matter who agrees with me or thinks I'm crazy. At the end of the day, I am grateful for the opportunity to have a fantastic husband, caring family, and circle of friends and colleagues who support me on my journey into motherhood.  Even more so, I am grateful to have the insight into knowing that by making thoughtful decisions, reading, educating myself, and not giving in to whatever the media, government, and medical world tells me to do in regards to raising my child, my action, not my complacency, will forever positively affect the life of my son and my family.

In future posts, I look forward to sharing more about the Hypnobirth series of classes I recently took, as well as sharing my birth story, and what is sure to be my many adventures as a new mom.

Thanks for reading :)