Ab separation happens naturally during pregnancy, mama! When you’re feeling ready for it, here’s a tip to help you activate that postpartum core.
During pregnancy, our abs don’t engage in the same way we’re used to, so it takes some mindful attention postpartum to re-awaken them, especially if you have significant diastasis recti.
It’s especially helpful to avoid any crunch-like movements as the abdominal wall heals and knits back together— crunches and similar movements can actually make diastasis recti worse.
If this little core cue feels too easy, stay tuned for part two! 🫶👩⚕️
#diastasisrecti #diastasisrectiexercises #abseparation #postpartumcore #postpartumbodylove #newmomtips #rochesterchiropractic
Gassy babes may be struggling with digestive upset for a lot of reasons. The muscles they need for digestion are still learning how to work properly, and even a little bit of excess pressure can upset their tummies. This gentle technique called the ‘I Love U’ massage can help a sluggish belly.
If you want to see more about this massage, let me know in the comments!
#momtipsandtricks #pediatricchiropractic #prenatalchiropractic #babysfirstyear #refluxbaby #colicbaby #gassybaby
When you’re learning to walk, it helps to have a pediatric chiropractor as a mom 🦶👩⚕️
Hi guys it’s me Vincent! If you’re learning to walk (or run) like I am, it can be a bumpy ride— it’s way easier if you have a pediatric chiropractor in your life! Did you know that they can tell where your muscles are tight just by watching how you walk?! It’s true- and then they can fix it!
Since you’re watching this, I’m guessing your mom probably isn’t a chiropractor, but that’s okay, because you can find doctors like her by visiting icpa4kids.com 😎
#babydevelopment #rochesterchiropractic #pediatricchiropractic #babysfirstyear #momtipsandtricks #motorskillsdevelopment
Mom advice share, PART TWO:
The color coded clothes drawers in the nursery? It’s just not happening 😵💫
One of our mamas shared yesterday that her advice was to ‘love them more than a spotless house’ and I can’t unhear it.
So to all the newborn mamas and soon to be mamas- don’t fold and organize and color code those onesies, I promise you it’s not worth it!
I’ve loved hearing everyone’s advice, so keep it coming ❤️
#newmomtips #pregnancytips #momtipsandtricks #prenatalchiropractic #rochesterchiropractic #momshelpingmoms #babysfirstyear
If your baby is past the toddler stage, I’d love to hear what you wished you knew ahead of time 👩⚕️🫶
Over the past year, I’ve shared my journey into motherhood with you along with some of the things I’ve learned as a pediatric chiropractor.
There’s so much I want to pass along to the newer mommies out there, and I hope that the more experienced moms will share their tips with me now!
Wherever you are in your mom journey- let’s meet in the comments 🫶👩⚕️
#motherhoodmoments #babysfirstyear #toddlermoms #momadvice #parentingadvice #newparentslife #parentingtip
Because little ones grow so fast, their brains and bodies can sometimes get a little out of sync. If you notice your baby is slow to get their hands out in front of them when they are falling, they might need some help figuring out where their bodies are in space!
Playing with movement like this is a great way to encourage vestibular awareness! Vinny and I love using the yoga ball for this, but don’t be afraid to get creative 🫶👩⚕️
If you’re concerned about developing motor skills, you can find a pediatric certified chiropractor near you by visiting icpa4kids.com 🔎
#pediatricchiropractor #kidschiropractic #babychiropractor #babydevelopmentmilestones #babylearning #motorlearning #motorskillsdevelopment #developmentalmilestones
As a pediatric chiropractor, pull to sit is one of my favorite exercises for head control 👩⚕️
You can try this exercise around the four month mark with your baby. This movement requires shoulder muscle activation, arm flexion, and head righting for baby learn in order to bring their head in line with the rest of their body in a seated position. Pull to sit also helps develop baby’s muscles through the back side of their bodies and engaging the core which is so important for sitting, crawling, and walking.
If you notice baby’s head flopping back during this exercise, they may not be ready to practice! Pulling with just little their arms can be tiring, so don’t hesitate to gently support their shoulder blades to encourage the movement 🫶
#pediatricchiropractic #motorskilllearning #motorskillsdevelopment #motorlearning #sittingbaby #crawlingbaby #standingbaby #babylearning
Army crawling is a great step for building cross body coordination, and here’s how I encourage it as a pediatric chiropractor.
Placing a toy just out of reach can help grab baby’s attention and give them something to move toward!
When we’re learning to crawl, we’re developing the ability to push with our feet and rotate our hips. These are building blocks that baby needs in order to develop good movement patterns for walking, running, and playing.
And remember- some babies develop these skills more quickly or more slowly than others. So if it feels hard right now, don’t worry! Patience and practice go a long way with motor skill development. 🫶👩⚕️
#motorskilllearning #motorlearning #motordevelopment #babysfirstyear #babylearning #armycrawl
Father’s Day is just around the corner! Let’s go shopping with the Vinnys 💛 We headed over to @shopcleoandkin for some goodies. #fathersday #fathersdaygifts #rochester
Mini narrates a diaper change 💩
As a new parent, you spend SO much time trying to master the diaper change. These are still some of my favorite tips to make changing easier on you and easier on baby’s spine.
Gentle hip circles help to release any excess gas or poop before you change them, and a cold wipe on baby’s bellybutton can get them to pee as well!
If possible, avoid lifting them by their feet. While their bodies are still developing strength around the spine and hips, lifting this way can put a lot of extra pressure on those areas. But if it’s unavoidable (hello, big blowouts & crocodile roll), don’t worry!
#momtips #momtipsandtricks #babysfirstyear #babydevelopment #newborntips
One year of Mini and looking back like 🥹
I didn’t know it then, but there was SO much that would feel overwhelming as a new mom.
Even as a pediatric chiropractor with a lot of training around pregnancy, birth, and newborns, there’s just nothing that prepares you for the journey of becoming a parent.
If you’re here and you’re a new mom, I hope that sharing my experiences this past year has helped you feel empowered with new information and real-life tips.
If you’re a mama with a few years of experience, thank you for being here to help the rest of us! It takes a village, and these last 12 months have really put that into perspective for me 🫶🌻
#babysfirstbirthday #newmomtips #newmomlife #babytips #babytipsandtricks #momtips #momhacks
Don’t move that laundry basket with your foot! If you’ve ever pushed a box or basket out of the way with your foot, you’re not alone. It’s especially tempting to do when you’re pregnant.
But as a prenatal chiropractor, I’m going to encourage you NOT to do that while you’re pregnant for one simple reason-relaxin!
During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is hard at work in your body loosening your muscles and ligaments to get ready for the birthing process.
This hormone impacts all your joints, including your pubic bone. Movements like pushing a basket or box out of the way puts a lot of shearing pressure on the joint, and can cause pain, discomfort and instability in the joint leading to SPD.
My best suggestion is to move intentionally, keeping your hips level and facing the direction you’re moving. If you’re still feeling discomfort in this area, a Webster certified chiropractor can help!
#pregnancypain #pregnancyhormones #pregnancyhelp #pregnancytips #pregnancyeducation #prenatalchiropractic #pregnancychiropractor
What was the BEST compliment you received during pregnancy?
Comments about the size of mom’s belly can be anxiety inducing, especially if baby has been measuring differently than expected. Whether mom is barely showing or looking ready to pop, all expectant moms deserve supportive commentary.
If you’re excited to celebrate the incredible physical process of pregnancy, that’s amazing! Just tell the mom-to-be that they look great, it’s that simple ❤️
#pregnancyhealth #newmomsupport #expectingababy #whattoexpect #whattoexpectwhenyoureexpecting #adviceforwomen #babybumps
I promise you, it gets EASIER.
Now that Mini Vinny is almost a year old, I’m thinking back to the things I stressed out about during those first few months. When everything was new and overwhelming, it all seemed so important and so difficult. But I promise you, it gets easier with time. The more you do it, the more confidence you’ll have about what works for you and your little one- and what doesn’t!
Be gentle with yourself, because you’re doing the best you can 🫶👩⚕️
#newmomlife #newmomtips #babysfirstyear #momssupportingmoms #momshelpingmoms #momtomom
Arching, grunting, and stiffness are all signs that baby is struggling with excess gas. This could be due to baby’s latch. When baby isn’t creating an efficient seal, they can be swallowing a lot of excess air with the bottle or breast. It might be time to have their latch assessed.
Here’s an easy at-home tip to relieve any gas pain or discomfort they’re feeling! Tiger in a tree pose can be done with baby’s chest and belly across your forearm, but it can also be modified into a more upright position. This will apply comforting pressure to the belly as well as warm the tense muscles with your body heat.
Once you get some gas out, you’ll notice baby’s whole body will become less rigid. Save this video for the next time your little one is gassy 🫶👩⚕️
If you’re noticing this is a common occurrence for your little one, it’s time to bring them to a pediatric chiropractor, feeding therapist or IBCLC for an evaluation. A professional assessment can help identify and solve feeding issues, making life a LOT easier for both baby and mama.
#pediatricpt #pediatricchiropractor #gassybaby #babytipsandtricks #babyhelp #newmomtips
Stress can get us clenching our jaws and grinding our teeth at work, at home, and in our sleep.
If you’re going through it right now, grab your gua sha and try using it around your ears!
We hold so much tension in the small intrinsic muscles in this area, and a little gentle massage can go a LONG way.
Save this for later, you’ll be glad you did ❤️👩⚕️
#tmjdisorder #tmjtreatment #tmjpain #jawpain #chiropracticadjustments
Mini Vinny has some sensory fun in the sun ☀️
We’re playing with water and fruits in the kiddie pool today for some developmentally appropriate play.
At eleven months, we’re working more fine motor skills with cups and bowls, and we’re even getting a snack in between.
As a first time mom I want to hear allllll the summer sun activities you’re doing with your little ones!
PSA: I’ve seen this water based play using oranges and lemons or limes, but I’m using apples and berries instead to avoid any possibility of citrus burns.
#sensoryplay #sensoryfriendly #sensorydevelopment #babydevelopment #babyplayideas #elevenmonthsold #motordevelopment #playideasfortoddler #kiddiepool
As a pediatric chiropractor, I see a lot of babies with ear infections and the number one thing parents don’t know is that babies can clench their jaw and grind their teeth and gums, which can create tension in the TMJ. Tension in the TMJ can limit our body’s ability to clear fluid from the ears!
When we’re young, our eustachian tubes are positioned more horizontally, which means they don’t drain as easily. This gentle circular massage technique encourages movement of any fluid trapped in the ear.
This works on adults too- so if your ears are feeling clogged, try it out!
#tmjpain #earinfection #earinfections #eartubes