A natural ability to inspire mums-to-be
Chiropractor Kathryn Volker, with husband Anton and baby Olivia, and hypnobirth teacher Helen Yates (standing) at Leighton Buzzard Chiropractic Cllinic. Kathryn is encouraging women to try different birthing techniques.
A chiropractor has been inspired by her own experiences to help other women achieve natural childbirth through the teaching of non-medical treatments which she says gives confidence to apprehensive mums-to-be.
Owner of Leighton Buzzard Chiropractic Clinic, Kathryn Volker, 43, researched the benefits of alternative therapy to relax the body during pregnancy, while expecting her first child.
She said: “I spent time researching how to achieve the above, not only for my health and comfort, but for the health and comfort of my growing baby.”
After a combination of chiropractic, reflexology and hypnobirthing care during preganancy, Kathryn is now a proud mother to two-year-old toddler, Lara, and four-week-old baby, Olivia, who were both born at home.
Kathryn tried out hypnobirthing, a relaxation technique, with teacher Helen Yates, 46, of Deans Meadow, Dagnall, which inspired her to combine their skills in order to provide women with an alternative option to using medicine during childbirth.
Helen said: “Hypnobirthing is about instilling confidence in women to give birth naturally.
“My part in a woman’s pregnancy is to teach them breathing techniques, relaxation and visualisation.
“In the 1950s, 30 per cent or more women gave birth at home, but by the 1970s there was a move to get women into hospitals. It is like going back 50 years ago, before medical advancement disempowered women they became dependent on medication, doctors and nurses.”
In 2003, Kathryn bought over the clinic based in Hockliffe Street, but soon began bursting at the seams and decided to move to a bigger building that could be expanded in Grovebury Road in 2005 and now has six treatment rooms and four chiropractors.
Kathryn said: “I found that hypnobirthing gave me the confidence to trust the natural ability of my body to do what nature intended. My pregnancy was very straightforward, and I was able to cope with the physical demand of chiropractic work until four weeks before Lara was born. I had never felt better.”
Kathryn started her chiropractic training in South Africa where she met her husband, but when they moved to England she transferred her studies to Bournemouth to continue studying a full-time five-year course at the AECC Chiropractic Clinic.
Kathryn said: “On television, birth is portrayed as a painful, sweaty experience. There is nothing local here to give women that experience and coaching while going through their pregnancy so they can physically and mentally prepare.
“I want to set something up so women don’t think of childbirth as a scary experience. It is the most wonderful experience of your whole life. I would like to inspire other women to try chiropractic care because childbirth is about confidence and belief.
“I was determined to have my children at home because for many years women have been able to have babies naturally, without much intervention.”
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
