Dr. Abbey Crouse

10/18/2023

These are just a few things that have been important aspects of my postpartum healing. Of course, my body is still healing and has been doing well, feeling balanced and capable. The things I share with my patients for their health are what I'm practicing, too!

What have I been prioritizing for my healing?
🍲Nutrient-dense foods
🌿Whole food supplements
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦Family time
🙏Faith
🛏Sleep (as best as I can with an infant 🙂)
🧘‍♀️Intentional movements
🌟Letting go of perfection and unrealistic expectations

I've been enjoying lots of homemade bone broth, herbal teas, and electrolytes (especially ). I've been listening to my body (if I don't, I can feel it physically and mentally), focusing on my breath, walking almost daily, doing functional movements, getting adjusted, and doing pelvic floor therapy.

I'm also incorporating castor oil packs, laser and red light therapy (more to come on these!).

I'm so thankful for my colleagues/friends who are supporting my healing process especially the team at ,
, , , , , , , , and

Remember, slow is fast. Give yourself grace. Know that postpartum is a journey that lasts a lifetime. Take time to enjoy the sweet moments and daily victories. 💛

If there are ways I can support you during your postpartum healing, please reach out! 💗

08/11/2023

💙 This is important 💙

It can be easier during the first week or so postpartum to rest and not feel like we need to be "busy" or doing things around the house or going places. But how quickly that shifts even in the few weeks following.

As our body heals and we get more energy or ability to move and go about our day, we quickly start getting back into our routine. But remember: the body is still healing. This is the 4th trimester. So much is still healing inside and hormones changing so much. Nature knows this and this is why babies just want mama to hold them. They know we need rest. We need them just as much as they need us. Holding our baby helps regulate hormones for mom and baby and strengthens our bond.

Today was one of those days: my sweet boy just wanted his mama to hold him.

Yes, there are dishes to be done. They can wait.

Laundry needs moved to the dryer. Later.

Toys to be picked up. Not important now.

Things on the to-do list. They'll be there tomorrow.

My baby is reminding me that slow is fast, that our time together is precious, and that we both need each other.

For all those with littles who "won't let you put them down," who have a never ending to-do list, who are needing a break, I see you. You're doing an amazing job. Remind yourself: This is important.

PS: If it's too much where you can't get your basic needs met, please reach out to those around you for support 💛

07/04/2023

❤ 🇺🇸 💙 Happy 4th of July ❤ 🇺🇸 💙

So thankful for our land of the free because of the brave!

07/04/2023

🌸How are you feeling?🌸

This has been a common question during my pregnancy, as it is with other pregnant women.

I have been blessed and enjoy being pregnant and am grateful to answer that I have been doing well and feel great! I know this is not by accident. I know my body does well with pregnancy but I also put time and energy to feel my best. Does this mean that every day and every moment are great? No. But if I do start to experience discomfort or issues, doing the things I recommend to my patients and reaching out to my birth team has made a huge difference. I have been able to continue doing pretty much all the things that I love and enjoy, including being active with my son and family, spending lots of time outdoors, cooking/cleaning/caring for my home, caring for patients, etc.

So what do I do to stay healthy and active during pregnancy?

1. Chiropractic care! (of course!!) Helps to not only relieve but also prevent many unwanted pregnancy symptoms but also helps my body (and baby’s!) function optimally
2. Eat healthy, nutrient-dense food
3. Stay hydrated; not only drinking water, but also teas, infused water, including electrolytes, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables
4. Supplement (as needed) with quality nutrients
5. Move every day: walk, squat, exercise, core work, strength movement, etc
6. Pelvic Floor Therapy (yes, DURING pregnancy can be very helpful, even if you don’t think you have issues)
7. Prenatal massage
8. Acupuncture
9. Prayer and mindfulness: this is often not emphasized during pregnancy but is so important!
10. Educate myself about normal, healthy pregnancy, postpartum, and infancy
11. Surround myself with a supportive birth team
12. Rest! (this can be more challenging, but I do listen to my body)

Life is about balance and boundaries. I have experienced what happens if something is out of balance and/or my body is under too much stress. Thankfully, being in tune with my body, I have been able to stay healthy and active throughout my pregnancy…and feel good, too! 😊

What has helped you most when you were pregnant?

06/24/2023

🌟Date time!🌟

Have you heard that eating dates can help you prep for labor? It's true!

Studies show that eating dates starting around 36 weeks (3 medjool (large ones) or 6 smaller date varieties day) can help soften the cervix and may shorten labor time.

You can eat them alone, but I prefer to eat them with a healthy fat such as coconut oil, grass-fed butter, or almond butter and a pinch of salt. You can wrap them in bacon, put them in smoothies, add to salads, or incorporate into other recipes.

Note: if you have issues regulating your blood sugar, be sure to monitor how dates affect your body. Usually incorporating them into meals or eating with healthy fats helps.

Did you eat dates during your pregnancy?

06/17/2023

Did you know kinesiology tape can be a great pregnancy support?

Common uses include relief for low back pain, weak abdominal support and/or diastasis recti, stomach skin pulling or tightness, pelvic or litter abdominal pressure, sciatica, postural support, and even support or relief in other areas such as the neck, upper back, and shoulders.

When baby went through a growth spurt last week, taping really helped me with some of the abdominal stretching and pulling I was feeling.

Have you tried kinesiology tape?

05/29/2023

We Honor and Remember those who have paid the ultimate price. 🤍

Thank you to all who serve and have served. ❤🤍💙

God bless you and God bless America 🇺🇸

03/22/2023

What a fantastic long weekend! I’m always invigorated and inspired after a great conference, especially the Annual Symposium! While I take time daily to read and learn, I do appreciate weekends dedicated to conferences/lectures where I have the opportunity to learn in person from the best in their field, connect with other doctors (my colleagues and friends), and discover new tools for the office and patients.

All of this helps me to better serve my patients and keeps me on the top of my game! I am so excited to be bringing back some awesome knowledge about pelvic floor, neurostacking, fascia/body stretches, foot function, posture, tendon/joint function, and so much more!!

If you have an appointment in the next few weeks, I’ll probably still be super excited and sharing some of what I learned. Looking forward to seeing you in the office soon!

12/01/2022

Producing breastmilk takes up about 30% of the body’s energy.

Your brain, for comparison, only uses about 20%.

You’re not doing nothing.

This is why you’re so tired at the end of the day!
This is why you’re so hungry and so thirsty.

So, if all you did was feed your baby today, don’t let your mind convince you that you didn’t do enough.

You did enough.

You did amazing. 🤱

credit: Lizzie Schubert

11/24/2022

🧡 I'm so very thankful for the opportunity to provide holistic chiropractic care for my patients and their families and for their trust and referrals.

🤎 I'm grateful to be surrounded by very knowledgeable and supportive colleagues.

💚 I'm blessed by the love and support of my family and friends.

Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful Thanksgiving 🍁🦃🥧❤

09/08/2022

🎉 Celebrating 1 year as part of the team 🎉

I'm so grateful to be part of such an amazing group of providers, working together to care for women and their families... thank you !!
And thank you to all the patients for welcoming me and making this year so wonderful 💗

This year also celebrates my 10th year in practice. Looking back, I'm so thankful for all those who have trusted me to care for them and their loved ones. Every day, I'm in awe and inspired by the amazing healing power of the body and chiropractic. I'm so proud of how much I've grown over the years and will continue to learn to be the best I can be.

I feel truly blessed to help others and do what I love! Excited for what the next year will bring! My heart is so full! 🥰

08/05/2022

Check out the new website for The Breastfeeding Center, LLC !! If you can't make it there in person (which I would highly recommend checking them out), definitely check out all their amazing products and services now available online!!

Breastfeeding consultations, breastpump or scale rentals, classes, nursing bras & quality products for breastfeeding, cloth diapering & babywearing families.

07/06/2022

Many moms are concerned that they aren’t producing enough milk, so they start pumping so they can see how much they are making, but the pump is only showing an ounce or so. Come to find out, some moms don't produce on the pump because they are disconnected from their baby!

Feeling like you aren't producing enough is a common concern, but let us reassure you, mamas, you most likely are. Breastfeeding is so hard because you can’t see the milk. You have to trust yourself and even your baby. Remember, babies’ tummies are little. Your body is amazing and knows just how much to produce to feed baby for the stage of life they’re in. However, there are some women that truly don’t produce enough. For many, there are ways to increase milk production naturally and safely.

Try these:

-Nursing more often
-Frequent skin-to-skin contact with baby
-Pumping after nursing or in between feedings
-Consuming oatmeal
-Taking brewer’s yeast
-Drinking mother’s milk tea
-Tinctures of fennel, raspberry leaf, blessed thistle, alfalfa, and marshmallow root
-Stopping hormonal birth control (if using)
-Ask your doctor about other potential medication interactions (if you are on anything)
-Drinking plenty of water
-Resting more often
-Consuming more fat (raw olive oil seemed to help me)
-Supplementing with fenugreek (this can sometimes irritate babies, so play it by ear)

For most women who are experiencing a temporary dip in supply or making almost, but not quite enough milk — these will do the trick.

Some women may benefit from seeking a lactation consultant’s help to see if their baby’s latch is correct and to find out if their baby may be lip- or tongue-tied, as these can affect nursing quite a lot.

Ask for help and explore ‘uncommon’ avenues if the usual stuff isn’t working!

07/04/2022

06/19/2022

"Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song."

-Pam Brown

💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙

Sending love to all the men who are fathers or serve as fathers in our lives. Thank you for your love and wisdom!

💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙

Also, sending peace and love to all those who:
💙 Have lost their father
💙 Have lost their children
💙 Yearn to be a father
💙 Don't know their father
💙 Have a strained or difficult relationships with their father or children

05/30/2022

Remembering❤Honoring🤍Thanking 💙

Home of the free because of the brave 🇺🇸

So thankful for all the service and sacrifices of our military, past and present 🇺🇸

05/13/2022

This. This is our essence...our being. The amazing way we were made and how we function.

This is why I love what I do.

I am blessed to help people live their best functioning lives through expressing their inner potential... their inner intelligence.

That's what chiropractic does: helps the body function the way it was designed by identifying and addressing inferences.

Your body was beautifully designed and you were made to thrive!