Friday, February 22, 2013

Don't be an American "Idle"



Don’t be an American “Idle”
How to work at building your pregnancy practice

For a long time, my family has loyally watched American Idol.  We got hooked on the drama and excitement that followed these young talented people through their journey.  If you’ve never seen the show, it’s one “reality” show that was actually somewhat entertaining…in my opinion, anyway.  In case you’re wondering why I’m speaking in the past tense, it’s because we don’t watch the show any more.  I just can’t stand Nicki Minaj.  Sorry, she’s one of those you either like her or you don’t.  I don’t.  That being said, the premise of the show still remains the same and it taught me something very valuable that I use in my own practice on a regular basis and share with all of my coaching clients.  I want to share that with all of my readers as well.

As I was watching past seasons, I noticed a couple of key things. 

  1. The show is not called American “IDLE”. 
 These kids (yes , even though some of them are 26, they are kids to me) work their buns off to get ahead.  They spend hours upon hours in rehearsals, with their voice coaches, their publicists, and their fashion advisors….you name it they are putting in some serious time.  No idleness is allowed if you want to be an idol.

  1. Success doesn’t happen overnight. 
 I looked back on the first season of American Idol and remember Kelly Clarkson.  She was the first winner of the very first season and she is still doing GREAT!!!  She also is on tour, has several albums out, hit singles are everywhere, she consistently tops the charts, she has sung songs for movie soundtracks, was in a movie herself, makes personal appearances on talk shows etc., is on tour……the list can go on and on. 

Then we have Carrie Underwood, a more recent winner, who is doing unbelievable things in the world of country music.  She has won so many awards it’s hard to keep track of them all.  Even though they “made it” in two different music genres, they have a similar road to success and a similar way of maintaining that success.  They work at their success.  You’ll never hear them say “I won and now you have to buy my music”.  No way!!  They are on top of their game.  They apply themselves; they practice their art and promote it to the world. 

Did you get that last line?

They apply themselves; they practice their art and promote it to the world. 

Doc, how about you?  How much do you work?  I don’t mean how many hours a day do you adjust?  I mean how many hours do you spending working on practicing your art, and promoting and growing your pregnancy practice???  It is work, too.  Isn’t it? 

It’s not fun…all of the time.  It’s tedious, it can be boring, tiring and down right uncomfortable, right?  I totally agree.   

But…..if you don’t do it because you don’t like it, don’t have the time, don’t know how, (put your own excuse in here) you won’t grow, period!  No world class athlete got to where they are without doing the WORK.  I am pretty sure our Olympic track team isn’t excited about doing wind sprints or running the stadium stairs, but they do it to better themselves and prepare for the big race. 

Singers and actors also need to put in a lot of effort to succeed in their fields.  Even if someone was “discovered” and became an “overnight success” they have to work to maintain their success….by the way, most overnight successes take years to get discovered. 

So what does this mean to you?  It means you have to work at success.  What could you be doing to build your pregnancy practice right now?

·      Set up an outside talk
·        Child Birth classes
·        Mom’s groups
·        Obstetricians offices
·        Midwives offices
·      Do a screening
·        Baby store
·        Maternity store
·      Introduce yourself to area businesses.
·        Midwives
·        Doulas
·        Ob/Gyns
·        Massage therapists
·        Yoga studios that offer pre-natal yoga
·      Ask for a referral.
·        Other pregnant practice members
·        Midwives
·        Doulas
·        Ob/Gyns
·        Massage therapists
·      Write a press release
·        Send it to all forms of media, like radio and local TV; not just your newspapers

Of course you can do all of this.  Did you notice all of the above cost nothing to do? 

What’s stopping you?  Let’s imagine that your life depended on getting 3 new patients this week and every week for 3 months.   What would you do differently to grow your practice?  I know there are some things you are putting off, doc.  Stop it!  

Do those things now as if your life depended on it, because in the long run…it really does, doesn’t it? 

What would your life look like if you had 3 new patients a week every week?   Try it on for a while.  If it doesn’t work, change it.  If you hate doing it, delegate it.  If it works, do it until it stops working.  And above all, don’t be an American Idle.

Be sure to click this link to sign up for a free monthly newsletter dedicated to assisting principled chiropractors in building and enhancing a pregnancy care practice.


Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Pregnancy Meric Chart Fiasco Part II

I posted this blog back in November and wanted to repost it today.  Why?  Because the Pregnancy Meric Chart posters are no longer on backorder - yay!!  Infact, I have updated the coupon code mentioned in this blog so that it can be used for the remainder of this month.  Thanks everyone for your patience!  Here's the original Blog...


A few days ago, one of my dear friends and long time coaching client alerted me that an original digital copy of my copyrighted Pregnancy Meric Chart poster was posted on Facebook.  Soon I learned it was VIRAL. This was not good news.  Copyright laws were being broken.  People could get into a lot of trouble.  The poster that I created after many long hours of work was "out there" for anyone to steal.  YIKES

I asked all the doctors, whom I could trace down, to please, please remove this from their pages.  I felt that the initial posting that started the whole "spread" was not malevolent.  Doctors just wanted to share the information with their patients and page fans.  All of the doctors whom I contacted took it down.  All of the doctors except for one.  This doctor didn't want to take it down and asked that I allow her to keep it on her page with a link so other people could order it.   So I did.  What happened next was not expected...

Now These posters are on back order. (Not anymore....I finally have them in my hands!)  Now more chiropractors than ever have this tool to reach out to their communities to teach about the MANY, MANY benefits of SAFE, NATURAL  pre-natal chiropractic care.  Thanks Dr. Who shall remain anonymous, for your graciousness in helping to spread the word!  

The link to order is here http://www.shop.pregnancychiropractic.com/Pregnancy-Spine-Chart-Poster-POSTpregsp.htm









The same exact poster is also available in handout form and are not on back order.  These are printed in black ink on yellow paper.  Here is the link for them. http://shop.pregnancychiropractic.com/Pregnancy-Meric-Style-Charts-PregForms.htm


Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

More Pregnancy Q&A

Last month I started posting questions that I receive on a regular basis from chiropractors worldwide concerning pregnancy and chiropractic.  This month I will do the same as so many of you have emailed me privately or through Facebook or LinkedIn to tell me how much you have enjoyed it so far.  Please don't be shy if you'd like to ask a question or comment on one that I'll be posting here.  Be sure to also join my LinkedIn Group Pregnancy Chiropractic.  It's a group where docs from all over are asking and answering questions as it pertains to natural, prenatal chiropractic care.  I hope to see you there.   

So, without further adieu here's the Q&A...and it doesn't come from a doctor, it comes from one of the dozens of mothers-to-be who e-mail me every week. I feel her question is vitally important to moms and their chiropractors, so I decided to share it with all of you reading today

Hi there,

I will be 38 weeks pregnant with boy/girl twins Monday, 7/18 & have been referred to your website by Gail Tully from the spinning babies website. I am presently seeing a chiropractor who studied under Dr. Webster & have been receiving acupuncture as well as craniosacral & myfacial release massage at his office. He is doing symphysis pubis adjustments, but Baby A is still in the breech position. She flipped at 30 weeks & I believe is still in the complete breech position, bottom side closest to my pelvis. Baby B is head down, but not as low as Baby A, so my dr. believes that Baby A will engage 1st & thereby cause us to have a c-section.

We are holding off as long as we can as we have studied the Hypnobirthing technique & hired a doula for what we hoped would be a completely natural, drug-free birth. I am hoping that perhaps someone on your staff & my chiropractor or myself can work together to see if his techniques will be successful in getting Baby A to flip for us. The acupuncturist is working on both my kidney & bladder chi's as they were deficient just after she flipped. (a problem I also faced prior to becoming pregnant)

Anything you can do or recommend would be so greatly appreciated as our dr. has asked us to schedule a c-section for week 41 just in case. I'm not feeling like either baby has engaged yet, however I am fearful that this might be the last week I can try any manuevers due to space issues for the babies. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this e- mail & am hopeful that Gail's recommendation will be exactly what I need to accomplish our intentions.


Have a most wonderful day!


Pam & Mark C.

Hi Pam,

Thanks so much for contacting me. I appreciate your thoughtful e-mail. It is not unusual for one twin to be breech and the other vertex. For reasons of space in-utero, it makes perfect sense. Most often once the first baby is delivered, the second flips head down and is delivered shortly after the first. This may also happen in your case...as you stated depending on who engages first. But we have had cases where the twins have turned both in our office and in other docs' offices. It's a lot less likely because of the physical crowding, but our technique has worked on twins.

You are doing wonderful things by getting adjusted, pubic bone adjustments are vital. Craniosacral, myofascial release and acupuncture are also excellent! Congratulations on choosing such healthy and natural care for you and your babies. You may want to discuss the homeopathic remedy called pulsatilla with your chiro. It has been known to make a "stubborn" baby a little more cooperative. I have recommended it for several of my practice members with great success. But, since you are not my patient, I can't recommend it you for obvious reasons, but I do recommend that you discuss it with your doctors.
I recommend that your chiro e-mail me to get some information regarding my technique.  Also be sure to forward the following link to an article I wrote for Today's chiropractic magazine. This article should give your doc the basics of what we do. It may offer some new info that could be implemented to help you out.
Please don't hesitate to let me know if I can be of further service to you. Good Luck with everything. I hope this information is helpful to you. Until next time....

Love & Gratitude


Dr. Karen Gardner 


Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull

Monday, January 7, 2013

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy and Chiropractic



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Starting today, I am posting some of the emails and questions that I receive from chiropractors who are sprinkled all over the planet.  I think there are a lot of doctors out there with the same questions, so why not spread the info far and wide?  If you have a question about pregnancy and chiropractic, you may find your answer here.  If you don't find the answer here,  feel free to reply to this blog or send me a private e-mail at drkarengardner@gmail.com and be sure to put BLOG Q&A in the subject header so I can make your email my top priority.  

Here's the first Q&A:

 Hi Dr. Karen,
I have a question regarding childbirth educators and doulas. I live in a large town for North Dakota, but as for midwifery and doulas, there's not much information. How do I find out who and where they are? I'm assuming word of mouth - they're not listed on MANA or anything. Also, for childbirth educators through our local hospital, how do I approach them - or shouldn't I?? Also, should I be sending anything to pediatricians with my focus being on family wellness???

Thanks so much for your time, Karen. I truly appreciate and I really hope I have the opportunity to meet you someday!!

Dr. Tiffany



Hi Dr. Tiffany,

I really admire your enthusiasm! You are going to be a huge success, I can tell.

As far as locating people in your area, try the internet. Do a search for Midwives and doulas in your town and others nearby. There is an association called DONA (Doulas of North America) look that up and see who is in your area.

Once you find some doulas, ask them which midwives and OBs they like to work with. They'll have a good idea of who has a more natural approach and open to working with a chiropractor. There's a letter in my marketing manual that you can send out to introduce yourself, so use that to get the word out.

As far as building a family practice, instead of asking the medically trained pediatricians, ask your practice members. If you are going to adjust pregnant women, they will have families in 9 months or less. Instant doubling of your practice! Make sense?

However, if there is a really cool pediatrician in your area who is open to alternatives to drugs, by all means reach out.

Keep up the great work! I am really proud of you. Be careful not to spread yourself too thin though, OK?

Love & Gratitude

Dr. Karen



Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull

Friday, December 14, 2012

I love adjusting those babies!

Today started out like most any other day.  I got up early;  a little earlier than usual actually because my 10th grader was on crutches and had to be driven to school.   I had a cup of coffee some Greek yogurt and my vitamins after I took a shower.  Pretty usual stuff.  I had no idea that I would be moved to tears today...all due to the power of the chiropractic adjustment.

As many of you know, I care for a great number of expectant mothers.  They have special needs and I do my best to offer the care they require and deserve.  Then they have their babies and I tend to care for many of them as well.  So many times I am asked, "Why would a baby need a chiropractor?"  To that I always say, "Why not?  Their nervous systems control every single function of their little bodies just as your nervous system controls your."  I usually get a "Huh.  I never thought of it like that.  Can I bring in my son (or daughter) in to see you"?

So back to today.  My first two patients this morning were babies.  One baby started seeing me when she was 2 weeks old.  Her young parents were frantic.  This little baby had projectile vomiting after every time she nursed.  She screamed in pain all day long.  Imagine, painful vomiting 12 times per day (that's every two hours!) for two weeks straight.  Now imagine watching your newborn do that.  No one in that house was happy, I can guarantee that.  Their pediatrician said the baby's stomach was too small and they would need to operate; in the meantime, we'll give her prevacid.  WHAT?  How did he know her stomach was too small or that she had a prevacid deficiency?  No testing was done; just his opinion.

Then enter the amazing midwives with whom I work.  They told this young mother to call me.  I saw the baby the same day her mom called and adjusted her.  Surprisingly, her jaw needed re-aligning.  See wasn't latching onto her mother's breast properly.  As a result, she gulped a lot of air while nursing.  Her rib cage was also torqued which caused her diaphragm to torque and spasm which caused a valve, that supposed to stay closed to keep stomach contents inside the stomach, to stay open.  This open valve allowed the stomach contents to spew forth...no pun intended.  She's been doing great ever since her first adjustment.  That was 4 months ago.  Today was just check up day.  Oddly enough, she didn't have a prevacid deficiency after all.  Go figure.

Baby number two was born 10 weeks ago.  As I was adjusting his mom two days ago, he got quite cranky.  Then he projectile vomited all over the room...and I mean ALL OVER.  His mom apologized and said he has been cranky and sick since he got his shot yesterday.  After further questioning I learned that this baby has been given vaccines EVERY WEEK since he was four weeks old and has been projectile vomiting ever since!  Some more talking to the mom, I checked this little guy out.  Sure enough, he had many subluxations to his little spine that needed immediate correcting.  So I found them and fixed them.  I told mom he would probably sleep a lot today and get ready for a busy diaper day.  He ate, slept and pooped (as babies should) and didn't vomit once since his first adjustment.  Today, I was greeted my a VERY happy baby and momma.

Neither of these babies brought me to tears though.  It's the next one that did me in.  My last patient for the day.  I was adjusting a new mom.  She gave birth 2 weeks ago.  I had cared for her throughout her pregnancy.  She had an amazing birth experience and came in for her postpartum checkup last week.  She showed off her baby to me and I shared some baby stories with her.  She asked about chiropractic care for babies and I explained some basics.  Today mom was in for her appointment and looked distraught.  She asked if I could check her daughter because she isn't nursing because she isn't latching on, she isn't sleeping and she isn't pooping.  Mom was really upset and worried. 

I asked her to nurse her baby so I could get an understanding of what might be going on.  Her mom winced at the idea since it's very painful to nurse if the baby isn't latching on correctly.  She agreed, though and as I observed the "bad latch" I could see the baby couldn't open her mouth wide enough.  I palpated her TMJ while she was nursing and felt that the right side was "jammed" and not moving as it should.  I adjusted this baby while she was nursing and then the mom let out a sigh of relief.  She said, "Oh my God.  It's completely better.  She's latching on normally now."  I finished my exam - mostly while baby was nursing - found a few more areas to adjust, including a closed valve in the intestines that was not allowing her bowels to move properly.  I warned this mom as well, that it could be a big diaper day.  Then she started to cry.  She said, "Dr. Karen I never knew that I would be so worried about poop or lack of it.    I never knew  that just a little fix to her jaw would make such a difference in how she nurses.  I never knew.  I never knew because no one told me; until you that is.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  You have to go to the breastfeeding resource center and tell everyone about this.  You have to.  You are saving lives."

And that's when I cried. 


Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Pregnancy Meric Chart "fiasco"


A few days ago, one of my dear friends and long time coaching client alerted me that an original digital copy of my copyrighted Pregnancy Meric Chart poster was posted on Facebook.  Soon I learned it was VIRAL. This was not good news.  Copyright laws were being broken.  People could get into a lot of trouble.  The poster that I created after many long hours of work was "out there" for anyone to steal.  YIKES

I asked all the doctors, whom I could trace down, to please, please remove this from their pages.  I felt that the initial posting that started the whole "spread" was not malevolent.  Doctors just wanted to share the information with their patients and page fans.  All of the doctors whom I contacted took it down.  All of the doctors except for one.  This doctor didn't want to take it down and asked that I allow her to keep it on her page with a link so other people could order it.   So I did.  What happened next was not expected...

Now These posters are on back order. Now more chiropractors than ever have this tool to reach out to their communities to teach about the MANY, MANY benefits of SAFE, NATURAL  pre-natal chiropractic care.  Thanks Dr. Who shall remain anonymous, for your graciousness in helping to spread the word!  

The link to order is here http://www.shop.pregnancychiropractic.com/Pregnancy-Spine-Chart-Poster-POSTpregsp.htm

There are other posters, too. Including a Pediatric Meric Style Poster!











The same exact poster is also available in handout form and are not on back order.  These are printed in black ink on yellow paper.  Here is the link for them. http://shop.pregnancychiropractic.com/Pregnancy-Meric-Style-Charts-PregForms.htm



Want to build, grow and perfect your Pregnancy Practice? Let's get on a call to discuss your strategy. The first call is on me! Schedule now


Dr. Karen, just wanted to say wow...I've learned so much and I'm only into the 2nd module. This is the stuff we need to know in everyday practice! I could listen to you all day long!        ~ Dr. Katie Gelesko Stull