Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Holistically Pregnant: What the World of Alternative Medicine has to Offer “Moms-To-Be”
Pregnancy,
though well documented and medically “understood”, is still largely a
subjective and unique experience. Ask one woman for her experience, and her
face will light up as she breathily reports, eyes glazed with starry wonder,
how mystical and wonderful the experience was. And yet her neighbor will pipe
up, the memory still alive in her every inch of her battle-scarred loins, that
labor was the most horrific and life-threatening ordeal she has ever experienced.
Variance of personal experience aside, there are some concrete ways the
holistic health can benefit your pregnancy.
Massage
Massage,
whether from your partner or from a professional, has been found to lower
stress hormones in pregnant mothers, and thereby positively affecting birth
weights. Massage, specifically in the second trimester, was also found to
reduce pain and swelling, reduce depression, and encourage sleep for the
expectant mothers. Beyond massage’s
proven ability to help both mother and baby, it simply feels good and allows
the opportunity for relaxation.
Some precautions and information
for a wonderful pregnancy massage experience:
·
Elevate
right hip 10-12cm when lying on your back to take weight off of major
cardiovascular vessels (it is also typically comfortable to elevate knees as
well)
·
Make
sure the therapist has had additional training in prenatal massage
·
There
should only be superficial, if any, massage of the stomach, unless under the
supervision of your primary care practitioner
·
If
pregnancy cushions are not available to provide for face-down massage, the
practitioner should put you in a comfortable side-lying position, supported by
cushions and pillows.
Acupuncture
Pregnancy,
by its very nature, should be a joyous and life-affirming event. However, for
some expectant mothers, the extreme hormone fluctuations, pre-existing
conditions or other health concerns can lead to depression and depressive
symptoms. Acupuncture has been found to significantly reduce the symptoms of depression
in expectant mothers. Reducing depression symptoms in the mother not only makes
for a more enjoyable pregnancy, but a healthier environment for a sensitive
young baby. Depressed mothers have higher levels of cortisol and norepinephrine
and lower levels of dopamine, and the babies’ hormone levels are
correspondingly affected. These stress hormones are related to reduced
neurological development in the baby, which may lead to learning problems,
psychiatric issues and developmental delays as the child ages. Acupuncture
helps reduce these hormones in both the mothers’, and consequently, the babies’
systems.
Herbology
As
nature’s incubators, pregnant women have to realize that what they eat, to a
large extent, “Junior” eats. Every mother wants to make the best possible choices
for their offspring possible, but imagine if your diet were to be restricted to
what you can keep down? Nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as “morning
sickness” (despite its frequent ubiquitous nature), is especially common in the
first trimester of pregnancy. The use of herbs has been found to significantly
reduce nausea and vomiting in clients without any unwanted side effects. Ginger
has been found particularly helpful and is safe to take while pregnant. It can
be easily administered as a tea to help curb nausea.
There
are many modalities of alternative medicine that help promote a healthy
pregnancy and a healthy child; these are but a few. An exploration into the
world of holistic health, especially during such an important transitional
time, is very rewarding, and well worth the efforts.
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