Postpartum Chiropractic in Clairemont
Care for the body after birth, from feeding strain to low back and pelvic pain. Call ahead for a same-day visit. Your baby is welcome too.
Office hours Monday through Friday.
How soon after giving birth can you see a chiropractor?
For the neck, mid-back, shoulders and wrists, postpartum chiropractic care can start from day one after any birth, including a C-section. Care for the low back and pelvis begins two to four weeks after an uncomplicated vaginal birth. A C-section is abdominal surgery, so after one the low back and pelvis wait for your OB or midwife to clear you. That is commonly around six weeks, and the same applies after any complicated delivery.
After a vaginal birth
Uncomplicated birth: the low back and pelvis begin between 2 and 4 weeks.
After a C-section
The low back and pelvis begin once your OB or midwife clears you, commonly around 6 weeks.
- Neck, mid-back and ribs, shoulders, wrists and thumbs
- All of that, plus the low back, pelvis and sciatica
The scale is a starting point, not a protocol. The pelvis at three weeks is not the pelvis at three months, and technique is matched to what the exam finds that day. If you are not sure where you sit, call and we will tell you plainly before you make the drive.
Dr Stein has helped me through my postpartum, ever evolving body! Initially coming in with sciatica, lower back pain, upper back pain, and a sore neck, his treatment contributed to me feeling more agile and stable. I've been able to be back at the gym, go skiing, and train for a rapidly approaching spartan race.
Katelyn D. Google review
Where postpartum pain shows up
Most of what hurts in the early weeks comes from feeding and carrying rather than from the delivery. The rest is what nine months of pregnancy left behind.
The hours a newborn asks for
Seen from day one
Feeding and holding
Hours spent looking down to nurse, bottle-feed or pump. The strain settles at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades. It builds through the day rather than arriving at once.
Carrying and lifting
A car seat in one hand, a baby on one hip, a dozen lifts from the crib. One-sided work of that kind shows up in the shoulder, the wrist and the base of the thumb.
What pregnancy left behind
Seen once low back and pelvic care begins
The pelvis and low back
Nine months of altered mechanics do not reset at delivery. The sacroiliac joints are a common source of one-sided low back pain in the months after birth. It is often sharper rolling in bed or standing up from a chair.
I highly recommend Dr. Stein! Four months postpartum, I was struggling with lower back pain, and after just one treatment, along with his expert advice and guidance, I experienced significant relief. His professionalism and effective approach made all the difference in my recovery. Thank you, Dr. Stein!
Lee K. Google review
Pain that travels down the leg
Sciatic pain that began in pregnancy frequently carries past it. Care works to take pressure off the nerve pathway, and the full presentation is covered on our sciatica page.
I recently was experiencing sciatica and trouble walking after giving birth to my second baby. Dr. Stein helped me quickly get back to walking and moving pain-free again — essential with a toddler and newborn! I'm so grateful for his expertise and excellent care!
Jessica S. Google review
What the first visit is
First visits are scheduled. Call and we'll hold a time for you, often the same day. Book online and we'll confirm your time. After that, walk in whenever we're open.
The first visit
$150
Usually about twenty minutes. It includes:
- A history and movement exam: where you are after birth, how you feed and carry, and what is restricted
- A plain explanation of what the exam found and what care would involve
- Care that begins at the same visit when it is the right call, matched to how many weeks postpartum you are
- What to do between visits, worked around a newborn's hours
Not part of it: no referral, no pre-authorization, no forms to file afterward.
If the exam shows this isn't something we should be treating, there's no charge for the visit.
We don't bill insurance. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.After the first visit, care runs per visit or on a month-to-month membership.
Three things mothers ask first
Can I bring the baby?
Yes.
Most mothers do. Newborns and toddlers are in the office every week, and nobody here is surprised by a stroller or a feed mid-visit. Older siblings are welcome too, and many mothers eventually bring the whole family in for family chiropractic.
Do I need a referral or imaging first?
Neither. You do not need a referral from your OB, midwife or primary care doctor, and imaging is not a prerequisite for an exam. If you already have imaging, bring it. If the exam points to needing more, we will say so.
What about the pelvic floor, or abdominal separation?
Pelvic floor problems and abdominal wall separation, called diastasis recti, belong with another provider. If that is what the exam shows, we will tell you and point you toward the right person. Some situations call for hospital-level evaluation first. If you're unsure, call and we'll help you route correctly.
Call us to schedule your first visit
Newborn weeks do not leave much room to plan around. Call and we'll have a time ready, or book online.
5450 F Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117. Complimentary parking out front.