Colette Chavez Walker graduated from East/West College of Massage in Portland, Oregon. She was trained by some of the best massage therapist and instructors in Portland namely John Hart, TJ Ford and Allison Longstretg Lurie. Always striving for more knowledge, Colette has taken extensive continuing education courses. She traveled to Hawaii to immerse herself in the Aloha essence and learned Mana Lomi from a Native Hawaiian, Kamaile Puaoi. Colette has also studied under Dr. Randine Lewis, author of The Infertility Cure and founder of the Fertile Soul. She is also certified in Orthopedic Massage by founder James Waslaski.
Her other areas of interest include working with muscular conditions related to the jaw as well as caring for clients going through cancer therapies. She has been using Reiki for over ten years and she has passion for belly dance.
Colette is a practitioner that listens to her client’s body, working on a myofascial, neuromuscular and energetic level to help release blocks and tension, easing the client back to their ideal alignment. She is dedicated to guiding rather than leading her clients to a path of balance within mind, body and spirit. Each of her sessions is customized to the client’s individual needs, desires and comfort.

“Prebirth acupuncture refers to a series of treatments in the final weeks of pregnancy to prepare women for childbirth.  Research has demonstrated that the mean duration of labor in a group of women giving birth for  the first time was reduced from eight hours and two minutes in the control group (7o women) to six hours and 36 minutes in the group of 70 women who have received prebirth acupuncture.   In clinical practice acupuncture is an ideal method to help women prepare themselves to have the most efficient labor possible.  Feedback suggests that prebirth acupuncture offers a range of positive effects that goes beyond reducing the time spent in labor, with midwives reporting a reduced rate of medical intervention.”

Since ancient times, Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, has been used to help women during pregnancy, labor and postpartum period.  Modern research is validating its efficacy especially in the period leading up to labor and during labor.  Expectant mothers may be experiencing symptoms which include heart burn, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, bleeding gums, back ache (to name a few) which are considered normal.  Western medical approach during last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy includes weakly visits to a gynecologist in order to monitor fetal position and heart beat but unfortunately has very little to offer for relief of these  bothersome symptoms.  Acupuncture on the other hand, is not only able to prepare a woman’s body for more efficient and shorter labor but it is also able to relieve pregnancy induced symptoms including increased worry and anxiety.

Whether you are expecting your first child or third child, if you are interested in increasing your chances of natural birth and delivery, acupuncture is definitely a gentle and  safe treatment method for you to consider.

Source:  The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth by Debra Betts