Pregnancy and birth begin before conception. With conscious conception, you have the opportunity to increase the vitality of each parent beforehand. Both parents can take the time to prepare their mindset and nourish the new life from the very start. This method increases fertility, as hormones are largely nourished by secretions fired by the brain—if the mind is happy and clear these secretions will increase. Even without conscious conception, you can still embrace healthy lifestyle changes as soon as you find out you are expecting.
One of the first ways you begin caring for your child is through your own nutrition. It is vital to be adequately nourished during pregnancy. Most importantly, you must have good absorption: if you are not processing the nutrients efficiently, then it doesn’t matter how many calories you consume. Many women experience morning sickness, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Often morning sickness is a way for the body to cleanse out an excess of toxins and acids in the body. If we eat cleansing foods that are still nutritionally adequate, there will be no need for the “sickness.”
Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy. A daily Yoga practice is essential to adapting to these changes. Yoga asana (movements and postures) will strengthen your body, help maintain balance, give adequate blood flow to your limbs and to baby, increase the space for baby, keep your digestion flowing, stretch your pelvic floor, and reduce anxiety and depression.
Pranayama (breathing exercises) can assist in keeping a peak mental state throughout pregnancy. They helps to increase oxygenation, especially when your lung capacity grows limited in later term. Certain Pranayamas are recommended during labor itself and can be practiced regularly before the big day to familiarize both Mom and Dad.
Prenatal massage is highly beneficial to help increase circulation, relieve muscle aches, reassure the nervous system, and help the expectant mother to relax. Massage should be administrated by a qualified practitioner, as “rubbing” the wrong way can be damaging. It is great if the father can learn how to massage the mother as well for labor preparation and bonding with baby.
Human beings are the only species that seek assistance during delivery. This natural instinct has been taken advantage of and turned into what we see now as a medical procedure. Many indigenous women deliver alone or with little help. How much support you need should be your decision. A doula can provide the support you need at the level you need it.
After baby is here, the often overlooked fourth term arrives. How we approach the three months following the birth is imperative. The oversight of this “postpartum” time, when the body goes through another immense transition while adjusting to nursing, is the leading cause of depression in new mothers. After birth, there are many ways to recuperate with Yogic practices. As the pelvic floor repairs from the big transition, postnatal massage and specific yoga asanas should be applied and a highly nourishing, easy-to-digest diet is essential.
At the Center for Natural Healing, Dr. Shyam offers her vast knowledge and firsthand experience in all things related to natural childbirth.
Fertility Counseling - Natural Birth Control - Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Postpartum Care - Prenatal Massage - Prenatal Yoga - Astrological Birth Consulting - Natural Birth Education.
