A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to visit Dr. Racheal McCrackin and her co-chiropractor Dr. Alison Anstaett at their mother and baby chiropractic practice in Parkville, MO. As a mother in the Northland of Kansas City, I'm always looking for great resources for my children and I that are closer than Overland Park. I love living in the Northland but unfortunately it does have some draw backs, including a lack of "community" like I've seen in the southland. I'm very excited to be blogging about some of our amazing local resources as I continue getting to know the Northland of Kansas City and all it has to offer! 

Name: Racheal McCrackin, DC

Business name: Hands on Health Family Chiropractic

What brought you into this line of work:

-My journey started from having migraines at a very young age. Medical intervention was not proving to help my case. I started seeing a chiropractor throughout high school and finally started to get a decrease in the frequency of my migraines. After personally experiencing the difference chiropractic made on my life, I wanted to be able to make that same positive impact on others.

What was your inspiration for opening a mom and baby business?:

-When choosing to open my practice, it was my goal to make it very family oriented. Being a new mom it was very important for me to create an atmosphere where moms felt comfortable bringing their kids into the office, whether it was for their personal appointment or the child's'. 

How do you hope to change birth/postpartum in the Kansas City Northland?:

-One change I am wanting to bring to this area is knowledge of chiropractic for pregnancy/postpartum and children. Education is key and knowledge is power! I want to be the resource that moms turn to when they have questions or concerns. While giving them the confidence to question the medical profession and do research on their own. Creating a "birth professional" network for my patients is a huge goal of mine, involving referrals to midwives, doulas, lactation consultant, pelvic rehab, postpartum, etc. 

How can chiropractic care help during pregnancy and the postpartum period: 

-Chiropractic care focuses on the bodies ability to heal itself. Chiropractic during pregnancy has tremendous benefits for mother and baby. Adjustments aid in decreasing the chances of pelvic dystocia throughout pregnancy and during labor. What is dystocia? Dystocia is slow or difficult labor and/or delivery. The main goal of chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy is to maintain optimal alignment of the pelvis so that the baby has less obstacles to fight during descent through the canal.  Common symptoms during pregnancy include neck pain, back pain, headaches, heartburn, pubic bone/groin pain and many more! These pains are related to stress on your nervous system from the rapid changes occurring throughout your body. After delivery, your body is trying to adjust to the absence of the baby in your belly. Chiropractic adjustments aid in this process by realigning your spine and pelvis.

It was such a joy getting to know Racheal and the staff at Hands on Health Family Chiropractic. The second I walked in, I felt a sense of safety and openness. These are local professional mothers who's goal is to serve you and your family in the Northland and beyond in the Kansas City Metro. Chiropractic care has such a far reaching ability to make your pregnancy and postpartum experience the best than it can be! I highly suggest Hands on Health Family Chiropractic.