Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Brittney Christian of Well Prepared Nest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Brittney Christian.

Hi Dr. Brittney, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I told everyone I was going to be a “baby doctor”. What I meant was I was going to be an obstetrician and gynecologist. There was a show called “Birth Day” that showed different childbirth stories, and I have very vivid memories of watching this show with my mom when I was little. I was so fascinated with the process of birthing a child and bringing life into this world from a very young age. I went to college and majored in chemistry, with a concentration in pre-med. In my junior year of college, I had a realization that I actually did not want to go to medical school. My core values and thoughts about health and healing did not align with that of western medicine.

As I was searching for my new path, the field of chiropractic was presented to me and I felt drawn to this type of healing. Chiropractic teaches that the body is self-healing and self-regulating as long as there is no interference. I loved this concept of natural healing, and when I realized I could still serve pregnant women and children, I knew this was the right field for me. I am now a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor and loving every second of it. Every day as a prenatal chiropractor I get to help women prepare their bodies for the beauty and labor of childbirth. And when those babies are born, I get the privilege of helping make sure they are thriving as a pediatric chiropractor.

Outside of the office setting, I have a passion for education and I consider myself a lifelong learner. That is how Well Prepared Nest was born. Because my passion for childbirth runs so deep, I knew there was even more, I wanted to do in the childbirth community. I found myself wanting to know more and more about the process. And as I learned more and more, I shared that with my pregnant patients. Eventually, I became certified as a Childbirth Educator and a Labor Doula because it just made sense for what I was already providing to women who were seeing me for chiropractic care. My overall mission is to serve pregnant women and their families and make sure they have the support they need on their birthing journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, everything that I am working towards has seemed to fall into place in the right timing. It has not been a straightforward road, and I may have even taken the scenic route sometimes, but that has worked well for me and I have learned a lot along the way. I think the hardest thing for me has always been figuring out exactly what I want to do and how I want to do it, and some days I still ask myself “what exactly am I doing?”. I have always known I wanted to work with pregnant women and children and there are plenty of ways to do that. There was always other options running through my mind such as becoming a medical doctor, labor and delivery nurse, or a midwife, or to work in public health or research. But whatever I chose to do, I wanted it to be meaningful and impactful, so I have been very intentional about what degrees, careers, and certifications that I have obtained. Although I don’t always know what my next move is, I try to keep my eye on the prize, and for me that is serving expecting women and children.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Well Prepared Nest is currently offerings childbirth education classes to expecting families in person and online, as well as home visit chiropractic care for moms and babies. I want families to know what procedures and what events they can expect before, during, and after labor, and I want to make it as convenient as possible! There is so much that can happen during labor and many times, families have no idea what is going to happen until they show up to the hospital. Each class includes in-depth explanations of each step of labor and also includes hands-on portions that allow families to practice different birthing positions as well as different techniques that can help with labor pains. Some courses also include things to expect after giving birth, such as expectations for caring for a newborn and breastfeeding.

Also in a childbirth class, you can learn about different options and choices that may have to be made before, during, or after labor. Preparation is my biggest goal. I have heard many families say things like “I wish I would have known about certain things before giving birth,” and that makes me push even harder to spread as much education as possible. The health of women, especially black women depends on it. The maternal mortality rate for black women is nearly double the rate for white women. And if I can help prevent that through education, preparation, and advocating for the fair healthcare of black women, I will do whatever I can.

The thing that sets me apart is that I can also help prepare your body physically. As a Webster Certified prenatal chiropractor, my care is all about making sure your pelvic bones are aligned and surrounding ligaments and muscles are functioning at their best to lead you to a better birth. In my opinion, the best part is that I come to you! I’m completely mobile and can provide chiropractic care in your home. I am also a certified Labor Doula, so I can attend births and help support families physically and emotionally. By taking a childbirth class with Well Prepared Nest, you have all of my resources and services available to you. Well Prepared Nest wants families to absorb as much information as they can and prepare their bodies physically so that they can be confident and ready for whatever their childbirth journey looks like.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is having an indoor camping night with my family. I remember a time when I was in elementary school and our power went out because of a storm. My mom and dad have always been great at turning a poor situation around. My brother and I got to build a blanket fort over the dining room table and our parents lit lanterns throughout the house and we pretended we were on a camping trip. All of my childhood memories are centered around doing special activities as a family and embracing quality time with each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: wellpreparednest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellpreparednest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellpreparednest

Image Credits
Patrick Daniels