Postpartum recovery is often overlooked, with so much focus placed on the baby’s needs while mothers navigate physical recovery, hormonal shifts, and sleep deprivation—often with little support.
Chiropractic care is a really wondeful way to help restore balance, ease discomfort, and support the nervous system during this transition. But many mothers don’t realise just how beneficial it can be through both pregnancy and postpartum (for mama and babe!).
Hi, I’m Dr. Lucy Harvey, a Chiropractor, mum of two boys, and a passionate advocate for women’s health—especially during pregnancy and postpartum.
My husband and I own Total Health Chiropractic, and I practice at our Buderim location, where I focus on supporting women and children to thrive through every stage of life.
With a Master’s in Chiropractic and years of hands-on experience, I see firsthand how transformative chiropractic care can be for mothers. However, it wasn’t until I had my first baby that I truly understood the depth of support that postpartum women need.
Despite already being a chiropractor and knowing so much about the body, I was still shocked by how different I felt postpartum. I felt lost in myself and in my body. I felt so different physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I was lucky to have the support of some beautiful chiropractic friends during this time, and it made a profound difference in my recovery and confidence as a mother.
That experience ignited a deep passion in me to ensure other mothers don’t feel alone in their postpartum journey.
Now, my mission is to help women feel at home in their bodies again after birth, to support their nervous system, and to empower them with the care they truly deserve.
I believe that when mothers are supported, families thrive. I love being able to combine my professional work with my firsthand mama experience to help other mothers feel strong, balanced, and nurtured—so they can show up for themselves and their little ones with confidence and ease.
Postpartum is a time of incredible change—physically, hormonally, and emotionally. With the demands of caring for a newborn, it’s easy for mums to put their own recovery on the back burner. Chiropractic care offers a way to check in with your body and support movement, posture, and overall well-being during this transition.
My goal as a postpartum chiropractor is to help mums feel more balanced and supported in their recovery. Chiropractic care takes a whole-body approach to movement and function, which may support women as they regain strength postpartum. So often, mums put themselves last. Prioritising bodywork postpartum is an opportunity to check in with the body, receive support, and invest in long-term well-being—not just for themselves but for their whole family.
One of the biggest is the idea that Chiropractic care isn’t safe during pregnancy. In my experience, this isn’t true. Chiropractors trained in prenatal care use gentle techniques that are specifically adapted for pregnancy. Care is tailored to each stage, ensuring comfort and safety while supporting movement, posture, and overall well-being. We use pregnancy pillows to support the growing belly on the table, allowing women to lay face down for part of the appointment – something many pregnant women find incredibly relieving.
Another common misconception is that chiropractors just “crack your back”. I completely understand why people think this, Chiropractic is often misrepresented in movies and online. In reality, chiropractic care is so much more than that. Chiropractors study for five years at university, gaining a deep understanding of the spine and nervous system. When working with pregnant and postpartum women, care is highly individualised and often involves gentle, precise techniques suited to their needs.
Some women also believe they should wait until after birth to see a chiropractor, but pregnancy is actually a great time to seek care. During pregnancy, chiropractic care may help support posture, movement, and overall function as the body adapts to carrying a growing baby. After birth, it may assist with the physical transition into postpartum, which includes adjusting to new movement patterns, feeding postures and the physical demands of caring for a newborn.
Every postpartum mama has a unique story and I always start by getting to know her. With new patients, I spend time chatting about their health history, pregnancy, birth experience, breastfeeding journey, recovery, and any current concerns. This helps me understand what’s going on in their body and how I can best support them.
Next, I do a thorough assessment. I focus particularly on the pelvis and lower back, checking for stability and balance. The pelvis opens significantly for birth and gradually comes back together postpartum, so I assess how it’s adapting and whether any imbalances may be contributing to discomfort.
I always check the whole body at every appointment because everything is connected. Many new mums come in with multiple concerns – lower back discomfort, neck tension, or headaches – which are often linked to postural changes from feeding, carrying, and caring for a baby. Posture is a big focus, especially for mums spending long hours breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, often in a hunched or unsupported position.
After the assessment, I perform a chiropractic adjustment, which looks different for each mum depending on how she’s feeling that day. We usually start with gentle adjustments, using a combination of techniques such as blocks, the activator, and Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) to ensure the care is comfortable and suited to her body’s needs. In saying that, some women who have had Chiropractic in the past prefer manual adjustments and we can do those if appropriate. My goal is always to help mums feel more balanced, comfortable and connected to their body.
In many cases, I also check and adjust the baby during the same session, particularly if there are any concerns with feeding, latch or tension from birth. Birth is a big event for both mum and baby, and gentle chiropractic care may help support movement and function in those early days.
Above all, my goal with every appointment is for mums to leave feeling heard, supported, and safe in their body as they navigate this transformative postpartum period.
I would love for every new mum to have access to chiropractic care. This season of life brings so many physical and hormonal changes, and while some women seek care when discomfort arises, many find that starting during pregnancy helps them feel more supported and prepared for postpartum recovery.
Some women plan for chiropractic care as part of their birth and postpartum support team, just like they would with a midwife, doula, or pelvic health physio. Others come in after birth, when they start noticing changes in their posture, stability, or movement – especially from feeding, baby-wearing, or adapting to life with a newborn. There’s no wrong time to start care, but early support can help the body adjust more smoothly and may help with overall recovery.
Invest in yourself – you only get to experience postpartum with each baby once. Every postpartum journey is unique and this time is just as important as birth itself. My best advice is to prepare for your recovery by surrounding yourself with support that aligns with you and feels truly beneficial.
Whether it’s chiropractic care, a lactation consultant, a pelvic health physio, or simply allowing yourself time to rest and heal, prioritising your own well-being is not a luxury – it’s essential. You deserve to feel supported, nurtured, and cared for, just like your baby.
This time won’t come again, so make sure you’re looking after yourself as much as you are your little one.
We acknowledge the maternal wisdom passed down through matrilineal lines across all cultures, embracing the knowledge and traditions shared between women for millennia. From Crone to Maga, Mother to Maiden.
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