6 Ways to have a successful VBAC - and how Chiropractic can help

Vaginal birth after cesareans, or VBAC for short, are becoming more and more common. The saying “once a cesarean, always a cesarean” isn’t the case anymore. Mothers who try a VBAC are 80% more likely to have a successful vaginal birth, reducing maternal death rates, avoiding risky abdominal surgery and long hospital stays. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare and plan for a VBAC:

1. READ, READ and READ some more - Learn and study how to prepare for a vaginal birth. Some great books to read are:

   • The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library) Sears MD, William

   • The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America's Baby Experts (Sears Parenting Library) Sears MD, William

   • Cut It Out Morris, Theresa

2. TAKE A BIRTHING CLASS: Taking a birthing class is a great way to prepare for a VBAC. Learn how to cope in labor, make choices before you go into labor, make your partner a part of your birth team. There are many options but my absolute favorite is Birth Boot Camp. They have out of hospital classes, in hospital classes, comfort measures classes and more! They are comprehensive and you get all the reading materials you’ll need. You can email kayleigh@elevatedlifefc.com if you have any questions!

3. GET ADJUSTED:  Many cesarean sections are done because of baby’s position or mom’s pelvis being misaligned. Finding a chiropractor certified in the Webster Technique can help you achieve that VBAC. The Webster Technique is a gentle adjustment, making sure that your pelvis is aligned and creating optimal space for your uterus and for your baby. You can read more here: https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/. Lucky for you, Dr. Randy is ICPA certified in the Webster Technique and is passionate about helping you achieve the birth you desire.

4. CHOOSE WISELY: You are in charge! You get to choose your provider and support team. Research, ask around and find a VBAC friendly provider for you. Make sure you ask what their VBAC success rate is. Actions speak louder than words! They can say they’re supportive, but their previous experience will give you the confidence you need. With their support and knowledge, an unnecessary cesarean can be avoided!

5. HIRE A DOULA: “The doula  is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. Their purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.” (https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/) Having a doula is a must! They know how to support you, they know how to help your partner feel involved and understand how to comfort you, they know your feelings and what choices you have made and can help you stand by those choices.

6. POSITIVE VIBES: Surround yourself with positivity! Read VBAC stories, practice positive affirmations (http://balancedbirthsupport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Birth-Affirmations.pdf), and surround yourself with people who believe in you! Find support groups like ICAN or VBAC Facebook groups like The VBAC Link. And don’t forget that you are a rockstar goddess who can do ANYTHING!

Coronavirus and You

Whew! We know you are just as tired of hearing about COVID-19 as we are. Not because we don’t care about it or feel like it’s not important, but because we are just being inundated with information and opinions. But we feel like we have some information and light to share and hope to be a resource for you.

Many have asked if our office is going to stay open during this time. We are! Here’s a few reasons why:

Chiropractic boosts immunity! Frequent chiropractic care should be in your arsenal when it comes to prevention and immune building. When subluxations are corrected and your nervous system is functioning correctly, your cells can communicate better and fight off those nasty germs! Now, it’s not going to put a wall up around you and prevent you from getting ill. But it will help your powerful body to fight off illness quicker and more efficiently. Dr. Randy did a live video on Facebook you can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/1393968404062006/videos/1120832051596882/ 

We have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the body and it’s amazing capabilities. We want you to be able to come in with questions and concerns, feeling comfortable asking questions, and leave feeling empowered and educated. We fear what we do not know. When you are able to have the resources and education you need to feel like you can make the best health decisions for you and your family, the empowerment dispels fear. You can absolutely be in charge of your health. There are so many opinions out there. When you can take information, process it and use it to your advantage, there is power in that. We feel like conventional physicians aren’t taking the chance to talk about how to empower and prevent. They aren’t telling you to stock up on real, healthy, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables. They aren’t telling you to get adequate sleep every night. They aren’t telling you to increase your fluid intake (with good choices like infused water, coconut water, real fruit juice, etc.) They aren’t telling you to take your vitamins. They aren’t telling you to exercise and move your body. Moving your body will strengthen your heart, lungs and mind! Moving your body gets your lymph (waste elimination throughout your body) moving. You can watch more here: https://www.facebook.com/ElevatedLifeFC/videos/442100099742177/ This boosts immunity! Your body is capable of so much when given the chance! (Disclaimer: Yes-washing your hands, sterilizing surfaces, social distancing is all beneficial. But true health comes from the inside, not out.) Kayleigh has done a video about some ways to boost your immunity through supplements and nutrition here: https://www.facebook.com/2056208678004111/videos/2570695199823466/ 

Stress is an immune system killer. When we are anxiety ridden and stressed out about our health, our families health, how the world is ending, etc., our bodies do our best to adapt. Our bodies are in fight or flight instead of rest and digest. Our adrenal glands are getting too much attention and sending out harmful hormones. At our office, Kayleigh does Energy Healing. She guides you through past traumatic experiences our bodies might be hanging onto. She teaches you techniques-Tapping, breathing, write and burn and other activities to help you reduce your stress and grow your positive mindset. We need to be thinking good and empowering thoughts. Our mental, emotional, spiritual health is just as important as our physical. Self care is important! This is all the stuff people don’t like to talk about. Like mentioned before, good nutrition, supplementation, water intake, good sleep, stress reducing activities are beneficial for your mind and spirit as well. You can be aware of the world around, but please don’t dwell on it. Raise your thoughts! You are a superhuman rockstar with a crazy powerful mind. Fear will lower your vibration. Gratitude and happiness can raise it! Some helpful tricks:

1. Take deep breaths. Belly filling breaths. Cleanse and build up your lung strength simultaneously. Let the air out slowly and thoughtfully. No chipmunk cheeks!

2. Make a list of things that bring you peace and joy. When our minds are so cluttered with fear and overwhelm, it’s hard to find those in there. If you have a joy/peace list, you can refer to it in times of crisis. Encourage all your family members to do it too! Some things on Kayleigh’s list:

   1. Hot, mineral baths.

   2. Aromatherapy: Some oils are proven to raise your vibration. Some are proven to relax. Find your favorites! 

   3. SLEEP. Be selfish. If you need a nap, find a way to make it happen. 

   4. Good nutrition. Smoothies, salads, etc. Make recipes handy or premise so you have it on hand. 

   5. Energy Healing: removing the interferences and allowing your body’s energy to flow freely. Clearing any blockages, resetting chakras and repeating positive affirmations. Try these ones: My mind is calm and at peace. My immune system is healthy and strong. My mind and body are healthy and vibrant. I radiate confidence, joy, and health.

   6. Crystal therapy: stones with calming and light characteristics. Selenite, amethyst and rose quartz would be good to have on hand when chaos ensues.

   7. Family time! Coloring together, games together, movies together. 

We hope you feel supported and empowered in your healing endeavors. We truly love helping you and teaching you. We have supplements here in the office. We have crystals. We have oils. We are here to help you! Use us! We hope you feel our love and passion for your wellbeing. 

— Randy and Kayleigh Searle

You can find us on social media where we share our thoughts, tips and tricks:

@elevatedlifefc

@kindacrunchykayleigh

Guest Blogging on Everyday Emotions

Hey ya’ll. Kayleigh here! I had a fantastic opportunity to guest post on Everyday Emotions blog where I share about Emotion Code and trapped emotions. Her blog is a great place to learn more about emotions and emotional regulation for ourselves and for our families. Head on over and check it out! In the meantime, here is my post:

Tell me about yourself and your family.

My name is Kayleigh Searle. My husband Randy is a family chiropractor in Shelley, ID. We have 3 wonderful boys 6, 4, and 1. I call our family “kind of crunchy” as we try our best to live a holistic life! You can find me on Facebook or instagram – Kayleigh Searle EC or @kindacrunchykayleigh.

How do you explain trapped emotions?

We all experience emotions. It is an integral part of being a human being! Many of us, though, have labeled some emotions as bad and some as good. We don’t want to feel those “bad” emotions like anger, fear, overwhelm, worry, anxiety, sadness, etc. so well…we don’t. We push them down and say, “Maybe another day.” This soon becomes our emotional baggage. Instead of feeling the emotions, asking them why they are there and what are they trying to tell us, we avoid and neglect. But they have to go somewhere. Those emotions are energy and when the energy becomes trapped, we experience blockages or interruptions in communication with our brain and our body.

Sometimes we are in situations where we may not have time or space to feel these emotions. For example, in the beginning of 2018, I was having many many thoughts or promptings that it was time to add a child to our family. Wouldn’t you know, we got pregnant quite easily and excitedly in June. In July, we joined my husband’s parents and siblings for a family reunion. Day three into the reunion, I started spotting. Having experienced miscarriages before, I knew the inevitable was coming.

Why here? 

Why now? 

We had plenty of activities planned and extensive travel and I just knew I couldn’t give these emotions the time and space that they truly deserved. Feelings of failure, sadness, grief, pain, overwhelm, discouragement, embarrassment, feeling like a burden to others, etc. I was heartbroken but I couldn’t do anything about it. All I wanted was to stay in bed and cry and give those feelings the attention they deserved. I yearned to go home but our vacation had just begun. So I put a smile on my face and pushed through.

After returning home, I had no desire to do anything. No desire to be a mother to the children I already have. No desire to get out of bed, shower, or talk to anybody. No desire to housekeep or help with my husband’s business. I had no desire to grow as a person or push myself to find my purpose. I was numb. I was stuck.

Luckily, I have an incredible team of family, friends, energy workers and healers behind me. We quickly got to work finding these trapped emotions, acknowledging them and then releasing them. They were addressed and validated and I found purpose. I found healing. I found desire to help others just as I was being helped.

How did you first learn about trapped emotions?

[The summer of 2018] was not my first experience finding and releasing trapped emotions. I was first introduced to the Emotion Code and energy work in 2015. After reading the book and finding a practitioner, I was probably having sessions done every 2-3 months. Growing, learning and understanding more as I worked through years of neglected emotions. I am now a certified Emotion Code practitioner and use techniques like muscle testing, intuition and meditation to help others heal as well. I believe that everyone has trapped emotions. I believe you can even be born with trapped emotions (but that might be a post for another day.  ). Many of us do not realize that our illnesses (mental or physical), feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and more may all be caused by trapped emotions in our body. They can affect us daily or they may resurface after a triggering event. My husband is a chiropractor and there are some times that an adjustment won’t hold or even release because there’s a trapped emotion causing a disruption. I find that so fascinating!

How do you actually release trapped emotions? (Is it going to be uncomfortable and bring up things I don’t want to remember or feel from my past?)

Feeling [difficult emotions] and pulling them up to the surface can sometimes be daunting and hard work. “It’s hard to feel the feels” as one of my energy working friends says. I believe though that [releasing trapped emotions] is almost a shortcut to traditional therapy as we don’t have to talk and find the issues, taking many sessions to address one feeling or emotion. Through muscle testing, we find the emotion, ask (our subconscious) if we need to know more in order to release, and then we release that emotion and it’s free to go. Most people release anywhere from 10-20 trapped emotions in one session! And when you are able to release these trapped emotions, you are able to find freedom.

How has your life changed because of releasing trapped emotions?

I feel lighter, I feel free from mind clutter and overwhelm, and I feel like my heart has grown ten sizes. I am able to give more and be more. I have felt increased physical and mental health. I have learned better emotional regulation and how to “deal” with those “bad” emotions. Those emotions aren’t bad. As Brittney has shared in previous posts, they are messengers. I have been able to teach my children and others how to be aware and how to process emotions better. I have been able to see myself as I truly am and find my purpose. Oh how I wish everyone could feel this way.

Thank you Kayleigh for sharing with us and helping us learn more about emotion work and how to progress to becoming more balanced and emotionally competent.