Have you ever had that moment when you wished you had met someone earlier in your life? You think that if you had known them at that critical point it would have made a significant difference. In this case, the life changing difference could be a more comfortable pregnancy, an easier delivery, or relief of common childhood conditions.
Dr. Andrea Shaw is a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine at Tumwater Chiropractic Center specializing in maternity and pediatric care. She uses low-force techniques that are ideal for maternity and pediatric care.
“It is exciting to be a part of the birth process with so many different people. Maternity care is absolutely wonderful. The body is going through so much change and quickly,” says Shaw.
“Chiropractic can relieve the stress and strain the body is experiencing as well as bring the pelvis into balance, allowing the baby to find optimal position, which will promote an easier birth,” explains Shaw.
“I have been told by midwives and doctors alike that after pregnant women work with me that the babies are lined up for birth. Many new mothers continue to come to me for post-partum care since the joints stay flexible for at least six months,” shares Shaw.
Many women experience discomfort during pregnancy, occurring from the rapid growth of the baby and the physical changes that take place in a woman’s body. Gentle maternity chiropractic care may relieve discomfort and create an environment for a safer delivery.
As a pediatric chiropractic care provider, Shaw treats conditions such as colic, ear infections, asthma, bed wetting, breast feeding difficulty and sleep disturbances. Specifically, Shaw’s gentle hands-on care and craniosacral therapy are also helpful post tongue tie and lip tie revisions.
“Kids like coming here. They have fun and they feel good. Often a child will not articulate that their back hurts or they have a headache. However, parents recognize that they are off or not sleeping well. After coming here, everyone knows the child is better. You can see it in the clarity of their eyes. My care is very light and with a soft touch. The body knows how to heal but sometimes it just needs a little guidance,” explains Shaw. Children can experience trauma in their spines from a variety of activities even natural childbirth. These micro traumas can lead to pressure on the spinal nerves which may decrease the body’s ability to function optimally.
“When it comes to our kids, people ask around. Face it, we are all protective of our children. We are only going to seek out care for them that we know we can trust and will be effective for them,” admits Shaw. No referrals are necessary but recommendations from friends, physicians, midwives lactation consultants and the like are typically how people end up at Shaw’s office.
Shaw started her chiropractic career in sports medicine but at that time was not living in an area where she could focus solely on athletes. It was a fortuitous combination of recognizing the huge need for maternity and pediatric chiropractic, her stage in life as soon to be having her own children, and returning to her roots in the Pacific Northwest that led her to specialize in maternity and pediatric chiropractic.
“Having my own kids and going through the maternity and birthing process definitely added to my knowledge of care. I followed exactly what I advise my patients. I sought out care and had wonderful births.”
Shaw is a mother to two young boys. From both a personal and professional perspective, she claims that Olympia and the surrounding area are a wonderfully supportive birthing community. There are lots of birthing options, great care providers and a positive environment for raising families. Shaw strives to support women and families in a variety of ways in addition to her chiropractic care. For example, she co-chairs a monthly Olympia Cesarean and VBAC Support Group for families seeking support, friendship, information and resources surrounding cesarean birth and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and is even a trained childbirth educator and prenatal yoga instructor.
To learn more about the maternity and pediatric chiropractic care of Dr. Andrea Shaw call the Tumwater Chiropractic Center at 360-570-9580 or click here to visit her website.
