This series was originally published in Yummy Bubby - all articles are written by Lucinda Curran (c) 2011-2012
Part 1 – Preconception
Deciding to have a child is a mammoth and exciting step in your life. Children bring so much joy, and they are phenomenal teachers for us as their parents. Being the best parent you can be starts from this point – you will, no doubt, want to “get it right” every step of the way.
The first step is about ensuring the health of both parents. The health of both mother and father determines the quality of the egg and sperm and lays the foundation for the duration of the pregnancy and the life of your little bundle of joy. So, what do you do?
Seek the help of a qualified and registered Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist for this preparatory stage.
Chinese medicine is a complete system of health that has been around for two thousand years. In Chinese medicine, we view the body somewhat differently to “modern” medicine. There is much that can be done to assist in becoming pregnant, supporting the pregnancy and taking care of the health of all the members of the family.
Chinese herbal medicine is particularly important in the pre-conception stage.
In Chinese medicine, menses is often referred to as “Tian Gui” (heavenly waters). An ideal period should occur around every 28 days, last for 5-7 days, be of good colour, contain no clots and not be accompanied by any pain or premenstrual symptoms. If you are already there, well done! Most women have a gamut of premenstrual symptoms that they consider “normal” because they have experienced them for so long. For the majority of women, there is some work to be done to regulate the menses.
The next step is ensuring that ovulation is taking place regularly.
The uterus is going to be the first home of your little one. It needs to be like a perfect house – everything just right. It needs to be warm, but not too hot, as too much heat disturbs the growing baby. It needs to be well-nourished so that the little one has everything it needs.
The uterus (and the rest of the body) is very much affected by excessive emotions, especially stress; poor diet; unbalanced lifestyle and poor sleep. It is important to begin working on all of these factors as much in advance as possible.
There needs to be enough Qi (energy) and blood to nourish the uterus – correcting your diet and supplementing this with herbs in the lead-up, will make the pregnancy a whole lot better. Both mother and foetus need to be able to draw on the resources stored within the mother’s body throughout the pregnancy, as well as in childbirth.
A skilled herbalist will be working towards restoring balance and harmony at every level of the body.
This is also the case for the dad-to-be.
“When a man’s essence is robust and the woman’s menses are regular, then a child will appear” (Orthodox Gynaecology).
Men also need to address harmony within their bodies. Their healthy contribution is vital.
Sperm are numerous – approximately 500 million are released on ejaculation – of the 50% that survive the pH level of the vagina, very few actually reach the fallopian tubes.
Thus, the number the sperm that potentially may fertilise the egg are low, so it is imperative the health of these sperm is high.
Sperm count, morphology and motility are adversely affected by drinking alcohol and smoking. Clearly, then, men, too, need to avoid both of these activities in order to ensure the best opportunity for their bub-to-be.
Part 2 will look at some dietary and lifestyle factors that are important in preconception…
Part 2 – Preconception
We have previously acknowledged the role that Chinese medicine, especially herbalism, can play in preconception for both mum- and dad-to-be. Here we will also look at some steps that you can take that address lifestyle and diet.
In Chinese medicine, there is not one treatment for every case with a similar problem. This is because we are looking at the person as a whole – what is going on internally for them (qi, blood, emotions, diet) as well as externally (their homes, workplaces and environments.
Every person has unique nuances that are addressed in their specific herbal or acupuncture formulation. We are looking at the “branches” (the symptoms or manifestations) as well as the “root” (the cause). As such, I am unable to give individually specific advice here, but am able to give more general advice.
One of the core principles of Chinese medicine is about balance. There should be variety without extremes. It means a little often, not binging – be it food, emotions, experiences, whatever.
With regards to food, eat a wide range of foods – making sure you have balance. I recommend protein, grains and vegetables/fruit at every meal. Home-cooked foods are always preferable, as you can ensure the safety of all the ingredients.
Eat seasonal and locally produced food. This is not only beneficial for the environment, but it means that you are consuming foods that are suited to the climate where you are at the time.
Now and throughout the pregnancy, the quality of your foods becomes even more important – mums and dads.
Ideally eat organic foods – if the budget is tight, make sure that your animal products are organic. Eat low-mercury fish: blue mackerel, snapper, ocean trout, small oily fish, Atlantic salmon, mullet, john dory, flathead. Store your foods in glass, ceramic or stainless steel (avoid plastics, plastic wraps, aluminium). Cooking pots and pans should be stainless steel – not teflon
Two non-negotiable rules for both men and women are:
- Stop smoking
- Stop drinking alcohol
Another area that is going to take some thinking and planning is to reduce your exposure to chemicals – both in the workplace and in the home.
If you are planning on “doing up baby’s room” – this is probably a good time. You will need to do it well in advance so that bub, and parents, are not breathing in the toxic fumes emitted from paints, floor coverings, varnishes, new furniture, and so on. Many of these items release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are detrimental to your health.
Ideally, tradespeople can do the work for you so that you minimise your exposures. You will then need to ventilate the room well.
Other steps that you can take are:
- Take a look at your personal care, skin care and cosmetics – avoid chemicals wherever possible
- Avoid artificial fragrances – air fresheners, perfumes, aftershaves, fabric softeners, fragrant candles, fragrant oils. Use fresh flowers, essential oils and natural alternatives instead
- Invest in a water filter – reverse osmosis are the best
- Avoid using pesticides and herbicides… Fly swats, screens and weeding are all safe alternatives
There is a lot to think about here and possibly a lot of changes to put into place. Next time we will look at conception.
Part 3: Conception
Conception is not going to happen easily if one or both of you are really stressed and anxious about conceiving, work, study, life, that annoying neighbour over the back, or whatever else.
Your mental wellbeing is also important. Being relaxed about it all makes a big difference.
Conceiving can take time – it does not necessarily happen overnight.
Instead of seeing each month that you haven’t conceived as a wasted month, enjoy the time you get to “make the baby” (you know what I mean).
Babies are the result of making love, so do so lovingly and joyously. Do not treat love-making as a means to an end – it is purely to make a baby. Ultimately, the baby is the end result of a loving union.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be useful if you are getting anxious or stressed. They are both extremely useful in balancing moods and emotional states.
Ensure that neither of you are intoxicated (see previous non-negotiable rule), or are affected by any other substance, as this will have some affect on your bub-to-be.
If you are using IVF or other forms of assisted conception, then arrange acupuncture treatments directly before and afterwards. Acupuncture (and moxibustion) beforehand can help to prepare mum to receive. After the transfer, it can help with “holding.”
It may be necessary to continue on with a course of herbs in the early stages, this is more likely if you have had difficulty maintaining a pregnancy in the past.
Keep up with the dietary recommendations and the avoidance of chemicals.
Pay more attention to your toiletries – remembering that what you place on your skin is also absorbed by it, entering your bloodstream and that of little-bubby.
Become a label detective – arm yourself with resources such as Statham’s Chemical Maze (as a book or an app), become familiar with Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org).
This is a massive topic (I will write on it another time), but in a nutshell: there are over 10,000 ingredients commonly used in personal care products. Very few are tested for the safety for human use. Even fewer are tested in the combinations which they are used in (synergistically, their effects are even greater when in combination). Just because they are used does not mean they are safe. We (wrongly) assume that they are, because we trust the authorities and powers-that-be to ensure our safety. The cosmetics and personal care industry is largely unregulated. Have a look at The Story of Stuff at www.storyofstuff.com for a user-friendly introduction to these concepts.
I will leave you here to ponder all of this… but remember to relax and enjoy the process.
Part 4: The Early Stages of Pregnancy
Being happy is important. Try to free yourself from worries and troubling thoughts and activities. Focus on your wellbeing and that of your bub.
A quaint Chinese tradition is for pregnant women to be surrounded by beauty – beautiful places, beautiful items, and so on. This is because it is thought that this beauty which she is surrounded by will be transmitted through to the baby.
Living a tranquil and peaceful life have obvious benefits on health – for everybody. Aim for harmony and beauty in your life.
You and your partner should also be following a regime of good self care.
My non-negotiable rules still apply – no alcohol or smoking.
Make sure you are getting good quality sleep. Explore sleep hygiene if you are having problems. If you have already addressed these ideas, then acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may be a really good option for you.
Some foods to avoid during pregnancy are foods that are spicy or hot, greasy or rich. Opt for foods that are moist, nourishing and easy to digest. Soups, stews and casseroles are great foods.
Steer clear of fish high in mercury (swordfish, marlin, flake, deep sea perch and catfish).
Try to avoid the “dirty dozen” (as identified by the Environmental Working Group): celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, grapes (and broccoli – in Australia) – unless they are organic. These foods all contain high amounts of pesticides, which are retained despite washing and peeling.
Also, avoid plastics – for foods, PET bottles, storage of personal care products, drink bottles… Plastics leach pthalates into their contents, which mimics female hormones (xenoestrogens). This is not a good thing as they are “endocrine disruptors.” BPA (bispenol-A) is also a danger. It is often used to line cans of soups, fish, canned fruit; to make plastic babies bottles and also reusable plastic drinking bottles. Avoid drinking water from plastic bottles, or filters where the water is stored in plastic bottles.
Take care to protect yourselves from pathogens and contaminants – pregnant women can be more susceptible to colds, flus, infections and the like. Prevention is always better than cure.
Many women experience morning sickness during the first trimester. It may be mild (occasional nausea) to severe (vomiting 10 or more times a day). Hospitalisation is required for severe morning sickness. Acupuncture is very helpful. Sometimes, herbs will also be prescribed, depending upon the circumstances.
Generally, if the mother is well there is little need to maintain treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbs during the pregnancy. But of course, if things change, seek the advice of a registered Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist.
During the next section, we will look at how Chinese medicine can help later on in the pregnancy.
