Baby On Board – Holistic Support For a Healthy Pregnancy

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture has long been used to help infertility, and now women are continuing treatment after conception. Njemile Carol Jones, a licensed acupuncturist specializing in fertility says this modality helps women in their first trimester who are experiencing morning sickness and vomiting. It can also boost energy to assist with the growth and development of the baby. “Women who have taken progesterone or been though IVF and conceived may experience lingering side effects,” she says. “Acupuncture can help with bloating, constipation and headaches.” With repeat miscarriage, Jones has seen acupuncture make a difference in carrying a baby to term. During childbirth itself, she’s used acupuncture in early stages of labor when the cervix isn’t dilating or the labor isn’t progressing. “You can’t force a baby to come until he or she is ready,” says Jones, “but acupuncture can help harmonize the body’s chi and relax a first time mom who’s fearful of delivery.”

• Herbs: Ginger by itself is useful to quell nausea, but Chinese herbs can be used for more serious pregnancy ailments, such as strengthening the mother’s ability to hold a child inside. Some mothers-to-be simply want to forego over the counter meds and use herbs instead. But proceed with caution. The best course of action is to see a Chinese herbal practitioner with experience in this area. “Ask about their background,” advises Jones. The practitioner will prepare a prescribed formula for a woman’s particular condition. “Two women might come to me with so much nausea neither one can eat, but I’ll create two different formulas depending on their history and health.”

• Hypnobirthing: Maggie Heyn Richardson, freelance writer and mother of three, was looking for a better strategy to natural childbirth than just “toughing it out.” Hypnobirthing — a method of self-hypnosis — seemed promising. It can’t be picked up at the last minute, though — it requires practicing deep breathing, imagery and verbal affirmations for five months leading up to the due date. Richardson used a CD that included visualizations with each color of the rainbow working as a natural anesthesia for different parts of the body. “It seemed goofy at first, but I threw myself into it, because I think you have to believe it's going to work in order for it to actually work,” she said. On delivery day she practiced further visualizations (blooming flowers, loosening silk ribbons) to help her body open naturally instead of using forced “pushing.” The birthing process was still long — 21 hours — and not exactly pain-free, but she believes hypnobirthing made the experience more manageable.