Interview with Monique White, DC, MS, ICCSP from Advanced Physical Health in Columbia, MO

Chiropractic care can be so important to your overall comfort and well being during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Monique White, DC, MS, ICCSP is a perinatal and Webster certified chiropractor in Columbia, MO, and I asked her some questions to share with you! She touches on her passion for caring for women in the perinatal timeframe, the importance of building a valuable care team, and the benefits of chiropractic care for your baby. Check it out! Here is the link to Advanced Physical Health’s website.

Me: Why are you passionate about caring for women in the perinatal timeframe?

Dr. Monique: I was born into a chiropractic family so I’ve been adjusted my entire life and I grew up seeing firsthand the difference it can make in someone’s life; not only from a pain relief perspective, but also from the paradigm of helping the nervous system be as optimally healthy as possible. With regards to perinatal care, I believe that bringing life into the world is one of the most miraculous, difficult, and incredible things that exist. It’s an immense privilege and joy to care for women during the perinatal timeframe.

Me: How can chiropractic care impact your health during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum?

Dr. Monique: Chiropractic can play a vital role in maintaining your spinal health during the perinatal period. During pregnancy, there is a vast amount of stress placed on the body due to altered biomechanics from accommodating for the growing baby. Chiropractic care can help minimize discomfort during pregnancy, support the alignment of the pelvis and spine, alleviate nerve interference from vertebral subluxation conditions, and help the body prepare to labor. I am a perinatal and Webster certified chiropractor; Webster Technique is a wonderful and gentle evaluation/adjustment protocol all aimed at balancing the spine and pelvis during pregnancy. Proper alignment of the pelvis can help support an easier time with transitions during labor. During the postpartum period, I usually recommend that moms come to get checked within the first two weeks (or whenever they feel like getting out and about!) in order to help the spine and pelvis heal and recover following delivery. I modify these postpartum adjustments based on the mom’s needs, it can be extremely gentle based on how she’s feeling and moving as she’s healing.

Me: What is your biggest piece of advice for women while they are pregnant?

Dr. Monqiue: During pregnancy, one of my biggest pieces of advice would be to trust your instincts and-when you think it’s needed- to get support from the right people. Build your team to where you feel like you’re in the best hands possible. Find an obstetrician or certified midwife who you trust immensely. Find a doula who makes you feel at ease and confident in what you can do. Find a chiropractor who is a good fit for you and takes wonderful care of you. If needed, find a pelvic floor physical therapist, massage therapist, counselor, etc. Build your team so that you collectively have support in the areas you think is needed.

Me: What is your biggest piece of advice for women in the immediate postpartum period?

Dr. Monique: The “Fourth Trimester”, or three-month postpartum period, is one of the most important times to receive chiropractic care. At this time, mom has just done the incredible feat of bringing life into the world; she’s exhausted mentally and physically on an entirely new level and now she’s taking care of a little newborn! Chiropractic care during this phase is so important to help meet the demands of all the feeding/rocking/holding/lifting involved in the newborn phase. Feeding and holding a baby is incredibly tough from a postural standpoint, so gentle adjustments can minimize discomfort and stress in the regions involved. Mom is also going through a massive hormonal shift during this time, so keeping the nervous system as healthy as possible can help ease this transition. 

Me: How can chiropractic care for infants impact their wellbeing?

Dr. Monique: Chiropractic care for kids is so special. First, find a chiropractor who has done additional post graduate training to specialize in pediatrics. Adjustments for a pediatric population are extremely gentle (no twisting or popping) and are done with a high level of expertise. While birth and delivery can be traumatic on mom, it can be just as traumatizing for baby as well. Sometimes due to malposition in utero, or various complications during pregnancy and/or delivery, baby can be born with abnormal muscle tightness in certain regions or maladaptive motor patterns. Gentle adjustments for infants can help conditions like torticollis, breastfeeding difficulties, colic, and constipation/reflux. I was less than 24 hours old when I was first adjusted!

References

Best Practices for the Chiropractic Care of Children, Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research - Vol. 2022 - January 27, 2022, Pages 1-59. Joel Alcantara, DC

Best Practices for Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research ~ April 20, 2023 ~ Volume 2023 ~ Pages 40-70. Alcantara J, Alcantara JD, Alcantara J, et al.

Resolution of Failure to Thrive in an Infant Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation: A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ January 6, 2021 ~ Pages 1-4. Santos J, Alcantara J.

Resolution of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in a 9-Week-Old Infant Following Kale Specific Upper Cervical Care: A Case Study & Review of the Literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ February 5, 2020 ~ Pages 1-7. Esarco J, ALcantara J.

Resolution of Breastfeeding Difficulties Following Chiropractic in a Neonate with Birth Trauma, Plagiocephaly & Edema from an Asynclitic Presentation: A Case Report. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. Kristen Hosaka, DC & Joel Alcantara, DC.

Resolution of Low Back & Pelvic Pain in a Pregnant Patient Utilizing the Webster Technique: A Case Report & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. Jena Snyder, DC & Joel Alcantara, DC

Resolution of Symphysis Pubic Pain & Dysfunction Following Chiropractic Care in a Pregnant Patient: Case Study & Review of the Literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic. Ian Shtulman, DC, Hayley Miller, DC & Joel Alcantara DC.