Nadia Fakhoury
Los Angeles Guide
Pronouns
she/her
Location
Los Angeles, CA (currently mobile visits only)
Education/Certification
BS in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
Doctor of Chiropractic
CACCP: Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractic
Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner
Certified Doula
Prenatal Yoga Instructor
Vaginal Steam Facilitator
BIRTHFIT Leader
Chiropractic adjustments for pregnant and postpartum people, newborns and children.
Words you live by
“To give, to love, to serve in abundance without expecting anything in return.”
Specific Expertise
I specialize in chiropractic care for pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatric populations. I have additional training in Spinning Babies body-balancing techniques which I incorporate into my prenatal sessions, especially if the baby is breech! I am also a certified doula, vaginal steam facilitator, pre/postnatal yoga instructor, and Birthfit leader.
During the pandemic, you shifted your clinic practice to a mobile set up. Can you tell us more about what this looks like? Do you plan to continue practicing in this way post pandemic?
My mobile practice allows me to come directly to the homes of my patients. I bring a portable chiropractic table and all of my tools with me. I often work in living rooms, bedrooms, nurseries, and backyards.
Although being a mobile chiropractor was not my original intention, I have been absolutely loving it. I find that it allows me to establish a connection with my patients in a more intimate way. If a pregnant patient mentions that they are having trouble sleeping, we can go right into their room and find the right pillow placement for them. If a baby is having a hard time being soothed, we have access to all of their favorite things. If a mom is having pain while breastfeeding, we can look at what chairs and pillows may be the best suited to supporting their posture. I believe that I will one day have a physical location, but for now I continue to practice this way even post-pandemic.
How can chiropractic care benefit those who have babies in breech position? What does that look like?
If you imagine the uterus as a hot air balloon, it is anchored to the pelvis in the front by two round ligaments. If the pelvis is misaligned, it can create stress on these ligaments which can result in tension in the uterus. Uterine tension may reduce the amount of space in the womb for the baby and make it difficult for them to get in the head-down position. This is where chiropractic comes in! By gently adjusting the pelvis and doing any necessary releases to the uterine and pelvic ligaments we can create more balance and more space. Once the space is available, many babies will naturally move head-down because gravity will draw the heaviest part of their body (their head) downwards.
It is important to note that chiropractors do not directly change the baby’s position or flip babies. We instead remove any restriction that may be hindering them from getting into the proper position and allow the body to do the rest. As a note, it is recommended that babies who are breech for long periods of time in the womb or who are born by cesarean get checked by a pediatric chiropractor to assess how their cranial bones, spine, and nerve system are functioning.
You also offer vaginal steaming. Can you share more about what this is and how it informs/influences your chiropractic work?
Although vaginal steaming is becoming more popular in western culture, it is an ancient practice that has been used all over the world for generations. Many cultures use vaginal steaming during the early postpartum time to assist their womb with healing and recovery, and this is how I was first introduced to the practice. I have found it to be a powerful form of self-care and self-healing for myself so I dedicated time studying and received my certification through Steamy Chick.
I create steam plans and teach my clients how to safely have their own steaming practice in the comfort of their homes. Steaming can be done towards the end of pregnancy as a helpful tool to “warm up” and prepare the cervix for the upcoming birth. Once postpartum, it can be used to assist the uterus in having a quicker cessation of bleeding, tissue repair, hemorrhoid reduction, as well as lifting and tightening the vaginal canal. I have found that my postpartum patients who steam soon after birth overall have a faster recovery.
What inspires your work?
I feel as if I have a duty to share what I know. There are too many individuals and families who have no idea about the benefits and the safety of chiropractic for pregnancy, postpartum and babies. Whether they decide to work with a chiropractor is entirely their choice- I just want more people to know they have choices. Because I am so passionate about working with this population I try to share as often as possible- through conversations, consultations, social media, group presentations, etc. I wake up excited and grateful to get to work with my patients, and I am inspired every day by the healing I witness.
What is your self-care ritual?
Living in a big city I find that little moments outdoors can be so rejuvenating, and one of my favorite forms of self-care is going on long walks. It helps me to clear my mind and feel more grounded. I live near a hiking trail that I frequent, and when I have some extra time I love to go walking along the beach. Also, rest. I have been trying to prioritize rest more, so sometimes my daily self-care looks like hitting snooze for an hour or not overbooking myself for the weekend.
What are you watching/listening to/reading right now?
I am currently watching Working Moms on Netflix. I love that the episodes are around 20 minutes and find the humor on point! I just started reading Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts. I have been interested in reading this book for some time and it happens to also be on the book list for the full-spectrum doula training I am enrolled in. When I’m on the road between house-calls I oscillate between listening to podcasts and music depending on the day.
