When it comes to the aches and pains of pregnancy and the aftermath, receiving adjustments is a true blessing. As a Huntsville newborn photographer, I am always grateful to have the opportunity to connect with other prenatal and perinatal specialists in the area! One specialist I recently connected with is Dr. Nathan High from Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL. He was so gracious to take the time to answer some questions that I know all of my mamas out there would want to know about chiropractic care! So, without further ado, take a look at my interview with Dr. Nathan!
My Interview with Dr. Nathan High from Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL
Can you tell me about your experience working with moms-to-be at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL?
I’ve been working with pregnant and postpartum moms for the last 5 years, and it is one of my favorite things in the world! To me, it is such an honor to play a part in such a massive life event for families.
And it’s also deeply personal work. I adjusted my own wife all throughout her pregnancy over the course of this last year. I actually adjusted her all the way up until the day before she gave birth! Our daughter is now 6 months old, and both she and my wife are still regularly adjusted.
Why did you want to focus on prenatal/postnatal clients?
My interest in pre/postnatal clients has been something that has formed from a couple of key experiences. It first began while I was in chiropractic school. I was unsure of the exact way I wanted to practice and shadowed over 20 different practices and chiropractors, but the ones that resonated with me the most were the practices that emphasized family care. During chiropractic education, I spent a lot of time at two offices and eventually did an internship at one practice before I graduated. In both of these, I loved seeing how they were able to help moms during and after pregnancy, as well as take care of their children, enabling the family to thrive.
One of the next big turning points for me was when I completed the Webster technique shortly after graduating. On top of the technique and clinical side, it also focused a lot on the birth world, the labor and delivery process, and postpartum recovery. It really opened my eyes to see how much help moms and families needed to navigate the whole process. It has, unfortunately, often been an overlooked area, and many moms feel neglected and confused. I want to help bridge that gap, offering both tangible help and resources for parents and families.
And the years of being blessed to work with many moms, babies, kids, and families at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL have only reinforced my love of serving these populations!
What is your most common type of package when it comes to prenatal and perinatal clients? Are they booking a combination of services, multiple treatments, etc?
Everything we do is specific to you and your needs! The healing process takes time, though, and depending on what’s going on, we will make recommendations to help you get back to feeling your best, help with labor and delivery, and have a smooth postpartum recovery.
We work with most major insurances, and most cover chiropractic services. We will go over your specific coverage and benefits with you. But we do have many clients who don’t have insurance or don’t elect to use their insurance, and have different options for cash pay clients.
What should moms-to-be expect at their first session?
At the first appointment at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL, we dive deep into your history to figure out not just what’s going on currently and if we can help, but also what things throughout your life may also be contributing as well. We also go through what your goals are for being under care, going further than pain reduction, but also seeking to figure out what birth and postpartum goals you have.
After this, we go through a detailed medical, neurological, and orthopedic exam to determine what tissues, nerves, and muscles may be irritated to give a clear picture of what’s going on and what needs to be done to help.
After each of these, we may perform your first chiropractic adjustment if indicated.
What should they expect after a chiropractic treatment?
There are so many different ways to perform chiropractic adjustments, and every treatment is tailored to you, your needs, and your preferences.
One of the most common concerns people have about chiropractic is the twisting and popping you might see on a YouTube or TikTok video. The way I practice is much different than that. Everything is specific and done with purpose. If you don’t want an adjustment in a certain way, I have multiple different techniques that will still get results.
After getting adjusted, I always tell my patients I’m not looking for the pain to disappear (though sometimes that does happen), but rather to be looking for a better range of motion, feeling lighter, standing straighter, or any other change like that. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper motion to joints, which allows for proper communication between the brain and body.
While one adjustment won’t fix everything instantly, adjustments over time build on each other. I often compare it to going to the gym. Repetition and consistency get results that last!
When can moms-to-be start getting chiropractic treatment at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL?
Any time! Whether at very first stages of pregnancy, nearing the end of the third trimester (fun fact, I’ve adjusted moms as far as 41 weeks pregnant!), or newly postpartum, it can happen at any stage! At each stage, we make sure the treatments you receive are appropriate for you, based on where you are.
Where did you train to become a chiropractor, and have you taken any continuing education since your initial training?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in anatomy and physiology at Kansas State University, then went on to chiropractic college at Cleveland Chiropractic College.
Since graduating, I’ve taken numerous continuing education courses, including 80 hours this year alone focused on pediatric and perinatal training. The most well-known certification I have is in the Webster Technique, a pregnancy-specific training focused on balancing the neuro-musculoskeletal structures in and around the pelvis. By helping balance everything in the pelvis, this helps create the most room so baby can be in a good position for birth, can help reduce pain during labor, and helps set moms up for a good postpartum recovery.
In my years of practice, I have seen numerous moms report that their babies even turn from being in a breech position to going head down. To be clear, I am not directly touching the baby or promising this result, but when everything is in proper alignment, it may help with this issue.
What makes prenatal/postnatal chiropractic services different than standard services?
One of the simplest, but most important questions I get is “How do you adjust pregnant moms?” For this, I have pregnancy pillows that have a cutout for the belly and accommodate all stages of pregnancy that let moms lie down comfortably (side note, moms love being able to lie face down!)
Additionally, there are other factors that need to be considered. For example, there are dramatic changes hormonally. Most notable is relaxin, a hormone that causes every joint in the body to become more elastic and pliable, which is needed for childbirth. For this reason, especially in later pregnancy, adjustments should not be too forceful or aggressive.
And the Webster technique that I use has specific protocols that address some of the most common issues during pregnancy, like round ligament pain, pubic bone pain, hip pain, sciatica, and others.
What should moms look for when choosing a prenatal/postnatal chiropractor?
I would highly encourage moms to look for a Webster-certified chiropractor! On top of the standard chiropractic education, this shows a dedicated interest and expertise in serving pregnant and postpartum patients.
Will clients be working directly with you when it comes to their chiropractic needs, or will they be working with others throughout the process?
When it comes to chiropractic care, patients will be working directly with me. While we do have a team/staff in the office handling the admin side, I handle all the clinical care.
Who SHOULDN’T go for chiropractic services at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL? Do you need clearance from your OBGYN?
There certainly can be reasons not to be adjusted, but they generally represent more serious medical conditions. A few examples of these conditions are cervical incompetence, placenta previa, ectopic pregnancy, and vaginal bleeding.
However, chiropractors are the portal of entry providers, and you do not require a referral from a medical doctor or OBGYN in order to receive care.
I am always glad to co-manage care with your birth provider and birth team!
Is there anything else you’d like our readers and viewers to know?
Research on pregnancy and chiropractic is always ongoing, and the benefits go beyond just aches and pains! A 2018 study found that moms under chiropractic care during pregnancy reported:
– fewer headaches and dizziness
– reduction in nausea/morning sickness
– decreased insomnia/better sleep
– reduction in acid reflux/heartburn
And chiropractic care doesn’t end once the pregnancy is over! The average pregnant woman sees her OB 10-15 times during pregnancy, but only 2-3 times postpartum. To me, this is such a critical period of time to continue to check in with mom – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It’s a huge deal to me to help bridge this gap and make sure both mom and baby are doing well.
For our readers here with us, which locations do you serve?
We are located in Huntsville and serve the surrounding metro area. Our address is 8210 Stephanie Dr SW, Unit A, Huntsville, AL 35802. However, we have patients come from as far as Athens, Arab, Lacey’s Spring, Scottsboro, Meridianville, southern Tennessee, and more! So don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule your appointment!
Don’t Forget to Schedule Your Appointment at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL!
Well, there you have it! Thank you so much to Dr. Nathan for taking the time to inform both my readers and me more about prenatal and perinatal chiropractic services. If you are a mama-to-be or recently had a little one, please be sure to schedule your visit at Health First Chiropractic in Huntsville, AL! And while you’re here reading about prenatal and perinatal services, don’t forget to schedule your maternity and newborn sessions with your favorite Huntsville maternity & newborn photographer (that’s me)!
