What we in the United States accept as the safest, most acceptable way to give birth is a historical anomaly—something that has existed for some hundred years and is not practiced in the rest of the world. Suzanne Arms, an independent researcher and activist who has published seven books on pregnancy and women’s health, including Immaculate Deception, Breast Feeding, and Seasons of Change, explains.
“In other parts of the world,” she says, “childbirth is seen as a natural process. The only exceptions are areas where American obstetrics and neonatal approaches have been aggressively promoted and marketed. Many European countries and a growing number of third world countries are gradually adopting these practices as they buy our wares, such as neonatal monitoring devices.”
In the US, the vast preponderance of women give birth in hospitals. They are led to believe, Arms explains, that the larger the hospital, the better the care. They are told that the more narrow the subspecialization training of their doctors, the safer the birth will be. So women don’t want to go to a general practitioner (GP), but instead go to a perinatologist with a subspecialty in obstetrics. Says Arms, “Although we do have midwives in hospitals and birthing centers outside hospitals, and we do legally permit home births, fewer than 5 percent of births are done with these resources, even if we count births done with midwives in hospitals.”
Most of the world—the US being a large exception—sees the natural way of giving birth as the sanest and healthiest way to bring a child into the world. After examining the issue of natural childbirth and American attitudes toward it, this chapter will turn to the stages of pregnancy, certain things you must avoid to have a safe pregnancy, and the many things you can do to make pregnancy as healthy and uncomplicated as possible.
One reason for the greater American preference for hospital births as compared to the rest of the world is that Americans have been led to believe you are risking the baby and the mother if you choose not to have a hospital birth. But, Arms points out, “If we look at the facts, we see this is not true.” In the United States, there has been very little comparative study of the benefits of home delivery versus hospital births. “Therefore, to actually compare the safety of hospital and home births,” she says, “we have to go to a place like England, where they have very good national statistics on births and they have commissioned studies to see which are the safer methods.”
Back in the 1970s, a controversial study appeared called the Peel Report. It was used to support a belief among politicians that home birth should be outlawed. At the time, Marjorie Tew, a statistician who was not involved in the controversy but happened to be analyzing statistics in a number of epidemiological areas, noted flaws in the report. She restudied the statistics on home births and found these births were as safe as hospital births. This was true not only for low-risk women—those who enter the process in a healthy state—but even for those with problems.
As a result of these findings, England has reversed its policy, which had been focused on eliminating home births and getting rid of midwifery. The country has gone back to supporting midwives, birthing centers, and local home births. They are finding that hospitals are not the best place to give birth. “In fact,” Arms concludes, “there is no study that shows a hospital is a safer place than alternative venues for giving birth.”
One aspect of women’s fear of birth is that they think it will be unendurably painful. So, in many cases, they fill themselves with painkillers before the process even begins.
Arms recognizes this tendency. She says, “Those who advocate natural childbirth are often asked, ‘Why should modern women experience painful childbirth rather than benefit from the painkillers modern medicine provides?’”
The issue of pain is a complex one, in her view. “Our media tell us that we should be free of any pain and discomfort in our lives. If you look at TV advertising, billboards, and so on, you see there are a tremendous number of products geared to the elimination of the pain that occurs in pathological conditions. We are taught we shouldn’t have to experience pain. Since we are used to taking drugs for everything else, why not for labor? But childbirth is not a pathology and the cause of pain during birth is not a disease.”
In addition, the potential problems caused by drugs and anesthesia need to be addressed. Drugs and anesthesia can distort and warp the birth process and make it harder for the baby to do the work he or she is supposed to do. They can complicate labor and make birth a pathological problem, something that we do, in fact, need to treat in the hospital.
The most important difference between midwifery and traditional medicine is that medicine treats disease, whereas midwifery is about preventing complications while going through a natural process. Obstetrics, a subspecialty of medicine, seems to consider birth “too unwieldy.” Doctors need to get in and out of the hospital quickly, so they want to control the length of time a woman is in labor and how long it takes to give birth. However, the natural variability of giving birth does not conform to their standard. Each human body is unique, as is each human psyche. A four-hour labor may be normal. A thirty-six-hour labor may also be normal. But under a physician’s management, a day and a half is too long.
Medicine focuses on giving drugs and doing surgery. Midwifery concentrates on following through the process normally, spotting problems as they arise and treating them as simply as possible before they become complications, while teaching people how to handle contingencies.
Midwife Jeanette Breen is a great enthusiast of using water during labor. “It has a wonderful analgesic quality, which is much better than an epidural. Being immersed in water provides tremendous relaxation. It does not take the pain away, but women do report feeling less pain in the water. They feel less effect from the pull of gravity. Their movements are very easy, and there is much better tissue relaxation, which means there is almost no tearing in a water birth. It is also easier for the baby because the mother is more relaxed and moving freely. She is not stuck in one position. It is easier for the baby to negotiate the pelvis and to slip out into a warm, moist environment that is quite familiar.
“Two keys to a normal healthy pregnancy and birth are a healthy diet and good social support,” says Breen. “Those seem to be overlooked, especially in traditional maternity care in this country. The focus is on diagnostic testing, but not a lot of emphasis is placed on healthy diets, other than prescribing prenatal vitamins and iron. There is no question that a high-quality diet rich in all the nutrients can make a woman’s whole body work more efficiently and effectively.
“Social support creates an environment of love that is all-important, but too often overlooked in hospital birthing environments, which focus solely on technology. No one can have the baby for the pregnant woman; she has to do it herself. But if she is surrounded by love and support rather than fear and technology, she is able to give birth in a very intuitive, instinctual way which is satisfying and safe.”
A woman’s body undergoes numerous changes during each stage of pregnancy. These physiological changes are described by nurse practitioner and massage therapist Susan Lacina.
“The fetus grows rapidly, and the mother’s body changes to support this swift development. Hormonal balance changes. Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG) is needed for development. As it is released, it causes many discomforts, such as breast tenderness, digestive problems, nausea, and vomiting. Progesterone levels increase and may cause mild hyperventilation, heartburn, indigestion, and constipation. Increased blood flow and its change in composition contribute to fatigue, overheating, and sinus congestion.”
In the second trimester, the placenta becomes responsible for hormone production, and the levels of HCG drop. “Along with that, the discomforts of nausea and vomiting ease up,” Lacina says. “Physical growth of the fetus crowds the abdomen, and a woman’s body expands to accommodate the growth. Fetal production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) begins in the fourteenth week and causes the mother’s thyroid level to increase. This can lead to irritability, mood swings, mild depression, increased pulse rate, and hot flashes. Adrenal hormones become elevated and remain that way until delivery. This may cause impaired glucose tolerance and swelling.
“Skeletal structure becomes softer and more flexible to allow for expansion. If a woman doesn’t have enough muscle flexibility, she will have some pain, for tight muscles do not allow for these adjustments. She may experience sciatic nerve pain from the lower back down the back of her legs due to the extension of the pelvis, especially at the joint of the sacrum and the pelvic bone. The growing baby puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which can cause light-headedness, nausea, drowsiness, and clamminess. Prolonged reduction of blood flow can cause backaches and hemorrhoids. Lying on the side decreases this problem.”
Starting at week twenty, abdominal muscles and ligaments stretch to support the uterus. “There may be abdominal pain,” Lacine says. “There is an increase in melanin production, causing darkening of the nipples and a line called the linea nigra down the abdomen. If the lymph drainage system is not functioning well, an excess of melanin in the skin can cause brown spots. A well-functioning lymph drainage system is believed to keep melanin levels down so that brown spots do not occur. Increased progesterone causes sinus congestion, postnasal drip, and bleeding gums. Increased capillary permeability may cause the hands and feet to swell.”
During the third trimester the expectant mother changes posture to shift her center of gravity. “Heavier breasts can cause shoulders to slump forward,” Lacine says. “The spine is pulled out of alignment, and this commonly causes backaches. The growing fetus also compresses the veins and the lymphatic system. That can cause ankle edema and varicose veins. There is increased pressure on the intestines and bladder, causing frequent urination and constipation. Pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause more lower back and leg pain. As the diaphragm starts to rise, breathing becomes more difficult. Insomnia is common.”
Surprisingly, two-thirds of all pregnancies end up as miscarriages. One reason is that many women miscarry before they even know they are pregnant. Most commonly, genetic abnormalities precipitate the problem. The embryo develops wrongly, and the woman’s body naturally aborts the fetus. Endocrine system imbalances are also associated with miscarriages. Women in their late forties have an especially difficult time carrying to term because of hormonal changes that accompany aging. Poor thyroid gland functioning can also interfere with pregnancy, as can intercourse during pregnancy.
Another cause of miscarriages is low-grade infections, which are often the result of sexually transmitted diseases. The woman is not conscious that a problem exists, but the body knows, and rejects the fetus. Bladder infections are also common; as the uterus enlarges, it places great pressure on this organ. Miscarriages may also occur when women are too hard on their bodies. Women who push themselves to the limit by overexercising and undereating to the point of anorexia are risking miscarriage. They are not getting enough nutrition for their own bodies, much less for the fetus.
When a miscarriage occurs more than once, a woman needs to have a thorough medical workup. Once the problem is understood, it is often correctable. If a woman is having intercourse during pregnancy, for example, she may simply need to take precautions. Using a condom during intercourse can prevent a miscarriage because it keeps male prostaglandins out of the female system, which, in turn, prevents premature uterine contractions. Low-grade infections must be cleared up, and increasing the intake of liquids and vitamin C can sometimes do the trick. Mixing 4 ounces of strawberry juice with 4 ounces of water is an especially good source of vitamin C, which acidifies the urine and helps prevent bladder infections. More serious infections should be cultured and treated appropriately. Sometimes, this means taking antibiotics. Older women who are having a difficult time holding on to a pregnancy due to hormonal changes may need low doses of progesterone, about 25 milligrams, in suppository form.
Some herbs seem to prevent miscarriage. Midwife Jeanine Parvati Baker uses the following formula. She mixes together 1 ounce wild yam root, 1 ounce Mitchella repens (also called partridgeberry, twinberry, squawvine, or partridge root). Baker also adds 1/2 ounce false unicorn root and 1/2 ounce cramp bark. She puts them together in a half-gallon jar, fills it to the top with boiling water, and lets it sit for about four hours. You can sip this brew slowly until you are over the symptoms of miscarriage or, if you are just worried about your pregnancy, drink a half cup each day.
Before describing the positive steps you can take to make your pregnancy, labor, and time after delivery as healthy as possible, I want to note some things, a few of which are normally benign, that you should avoid.
According to natural childbirth educators, it is well known that the health of a baby’s parents affects the health of the baby. If the mother has an overgrowth of candida, so may the child. If the father is a heavy drinker, this may cause liver problems for the child. During the first two months after conception, women and their fetuses are the most sensitive to toxins, hair dyes, aspirin, and so on. Thus it is of paramount importance that a woman be aware of what things can have a detrimental effect on her growing fetus.
Women must also be careful about taking vitamin supplements. Women who take 10, 000 units of vitamin A during the first six weeks of pregnancy are five times more likely to have a child with birth defects than women who don’t take the vitamin. “I believe that during her fertile years a woman should be quite cautious about taking supplements,” Weed says. “Of course, we want to get those good vitamins, but we want to try to get them from our fruits, our vegetables, our beans, and so on.”
It is not only vitamin A that can lead to birth defects; vitamins D and E are also potentially dangerous. “Those three are oil-soluble vitamins,” says Weed, “and they tend to be quite detrimental to fetal development when taken in pill form.”
Avoid aspirin and certainly antihistamines. This last is a hard one, especially for women who are dealing with hay fever. Antihistamines have a fairly tarnished record when it comes to causing birth defects, Weed says. “I don’t just mean drug antihistamines but herbal ones as well, such as ma huang or ephedra.”
Laxatives are not the way to go. Unfortunately many people use them and, even worse, many misguided herbalists even suggest women use them to clean out. Of course, there’s nothing to clean out. All laxatives, Weed believes, should be avoided by all people, but especially by women during their fertile years, or at least if they are having a baby or trying to get pregnant. This includes herbal laxatives like senna, aloe, castor oil, rhubarb root, buckthorn, and cascara sagrada. Even a bulk-producing laxative like flaxseed should be taken with some caution. To use it, buy the whole flaxseed, grind it up, and sprinkle a small amount into foods.
Generally, you should stay away from diuretics. A woman in her fertile years usually doesn’t take them anyway, but anyone inclined to take diuretics should be aware that they could cause problems. Herbal diuretics such as juniper berries and buchu can also cause problems. Avoid hair dyes, all kinds of chemical stimulants and depressants, antinausea drugs, sulfa drugs, vaccines, and anesthetics, especially at the dentist’s office.
Weed notes, “There is some question about what happens if we take steroidlike herbs. The more we look into steroids, the more widely we find them spread across the herbal kingdom. As a matter of fact, carrots, the regular carrots you find in the supermarket, contain so many phytohormones that generous use of carrots may prevent conception. We know that wild carrot seed, in fact all parts of the carrot plant, act to prevent contact between the egg and the sperm and prevent that egg from attaching to the uterine wall. So we often advise pregnant women to avoid drinking any carrot juice at all and to cut back on the amount of carrots they are eating.”
There are a few other herbs that you need to avoid only if you have miscarried frequently. They include many herbs in the mint family, such as basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram, savory, and peppermint itself.
It won’t surprise you to learn that smoking and drinking are not good for your fetus. Radiation is not good, so even a mammogram should be avoided during pregnancy or if you think you are going to get pregnant. Caffeine in any form should be avoided. Coffee and lattes, tea, and many soft drinks contain generous amounts of caffeine, and all can cause birth defects. Nutritionist Gracia Perlstein also says to avoid chemical exposure to toxic household cleansers, as well as fumes from paints, thinners, solvents, wood preservatives, varnishes, glues, spray adhesives, benzene, dry cleaning fluid, anything chemically based and questionable. A 2014 study found high levels of the commonly used herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) in the breast milk of 30 percent of women tested. It had already been found in urine and drinking water.
Perlstein also counsels women to avoid a toxic psychological environment. “As much as possible, avoid stress, negative people, and aggravating situations. Instead, try to spend quality time alone and with loved ones, people who are supportive. Spend time in nature. Read inspiring literature. Listen to beautiful music. This has a beneficial effect on your mental and emotional state. That, in turn, affects your baby’s biochemistry.”
The best insurance for a well baby is to follow a highly nutritious whole-foods diet. What you eat now will impact the health of your child later, according to nutritionist Gracia Perlstein. “When a woman is considering pregnancy, it is important that she address her diet to see how healthful it is, as many difficulties have their root in prenatal deficiencies. Scientific studies reveal that birth defects, and even problems that develop much later in life, can be prevented when the mother has excellent nutrition. I would like to include the father there too, because the quality of the sperm is also very important.” Since the most crucial stage of embryonic development occurs in the first few weeks, before a woman realizes that she is pregnant, good-quality foods should be eaten all the time.
Eating properly means selecting unprocessed or minimally processed foods. A wide assortment of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds supplies multiple nutrients. “So many people eat the same ten or twenty foods over and over again,” Perlstein says. “In traditional cultures, people have much more variety. I would like to emphasize that supplements should only enhance an excellent diet. Make the effort to eat high-quality, nutrient-dense foods. That means whole foods, the way nature produced them.”
The body intuitively knows what it needs to support new life, and paying attention to its messages can be a helpful guide. “A woman’s body is very wise when she is pregnant. Many women can’t stand the look or smell of coffee or cigarettes, even when they used to smoke or drink coffee several times a day,” states Perlstein. She adds that worrying about eating the right foods all the time is stressful and can produce more harm than good. But nutrition education can benefit women with highly processed diets, who need to learn about better food choices. “Vegetarian women may crave animal foods or be drawn to dairy when they are pregnant. Usually it is good to pay attention to these cravings, but to respond in the most wholesome way possible.”
Wholesome means organically grown. Pesticide-free fare is better for everyone, of course, but vitally important for young children and developing fetuses, according to recent research. Dairy and other animal products should be from creatures naturally raised. One reason for this is that pesticides and other contaminants tend to concentrate in an animal’s tissues. The higher up the food chain, the higher the concentration of toxins. Fortunately, many health food stores, and more and more supermarkets, sell the healthful varieties.
Animal products, when a part of the diet, should be eaten in moderation.Although protein needs increase during pregnancy, they can be easily met from vegetarian sources, which are less toxic than their animal counterparts. Excellent vegetarian protein sources include fortified soy milk, tofu, tempeh, beans, nuts, and seeds, for example.
The increased need for calcium is similarly fulfilled in such a diet. “Many women do not realize that there are excellent sources of calcium other than milk and dairy. There are green leafy vegetables, fortified soy milk, tofu, almonds, and many other calcium-containing foods. If you eat a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, you tend to get quite a bit of calcium. If you want a supplement, calcium citrate is easiest on the stomach. Other forms sometimes cause digestive upsets or constipation. Definitely avoid calcium-depleting foods: coffee, chocolate, and sodium.”
Perlstein adds that eating several small meals throughout the day offsets common complications: “Hunger, not calorie counting, is the most reliable guide to eating during pregnancy. Five to six small, nutrient-dense meals per day is a sensible ideal. This is a good habit to develop in the last trimester of pregnancy, when the organs in your stomach are somewhat constricted, and good in the early stages to prevent nausea. It keeps the blood sugar from falling, and nausea has a lot to do with low blood sugar.”
Water should be pure and taken in adequate amounts. Eight to twelve glasses are recommended to help flush out toxins from the liver and kidneys: “Many people do not drink enough fluids,” notes Perlstein. “This is especially important during pregnancy because the woman is filtering the waste for two bodies.”
Perlstein recommends the following daily nutrients for pregnant women: multiple vitamin and mineral supplement, vitamin C,B12, zinc, and folic acid. Folic acid, which is also contained in green leafy vegetables and whole grains, is especially important in pregnancy because science has shown it to prevent neural tube defects. Even when included in the diet, extra folic acid should be taken in supplement form, since it is fragile and easily damaged by heat. Additionally, acidophilus helps prevent constipation and other types of colon problems.
Extra iron may be needed, but a woman should have her hemoglobin tested first, just to be sure it is really needed. Research shows that excess iron in the system can have damaging effects.
There are a number of herbal recommendations for pregnant women.
RED RASPBERRY TONIC—Tonics are herbal preparations that keep your body in good trim, up and running for optimum performance and healthy living.
This tonic increases fertility in both men and women. It helps prevent miscarriage and hemorrhaging during the birth. It’s one of the best herbs to ease morning sickness, and it helps provide a safe, fast birth, reducing pain during labor. It reduces afterbirth pains, helps bring down undelivered placenta, and increases the amount and quality of breast milk. The rich concentration of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenes, vitamin A, calcium, iron, the B-complex vitamins, and the large amounts of phosphorus and potassium make taking red raspberry well worth it.
STINGING NETTLE TONIC—Another tonic for early pregnancy is stinging nettle, which is one of the most nutrient-rich substances available. It is loaded with carotenes, from which we make vitamin A; vitamins C, E, and D; the B vitamins; vitamin K; and calcium, potassium, phosphorous, and immune-strengthening sulfur.
Make a tonic the same way as for raspberry. Weigh out 1 ounce of the dried herb, put it in a jar, fill the jar with boiling water, then tightly lid it and steep overnight. You can drink it warm, cold, or in between, up to four cups a day. The chlorophyll in this brew is so high that the infusion will actually look black rather than green.
Nettle is tremendously nourishing. It eases leg cramps and any other muscle spasms during pregnancy. Because of nettle’s high calcium content, it diminishes labor pains and birth pains. It is such a superb source of vitamin C that it is one of the world’s most highly favored herbs for preventing hemorrhaging after birth. It’s a wonderful way to reduce hemorrhoids. It can increase the amount and richness of your breast milk. Stinging nettle tonic can also help pregnant women who have fatigue, moodiness, and preeclampsia.
DANDELION AND OTHER HERBS—Dandelion is also good for mood swings. You can take it in any form. You’ll probably find dandelion root tincture in any health food store. The usual dosage is 5 to 15 drops, taken before meals.
Dandelion leaves, especially when eaten as a cooked green, provide potassium, calcium, and sodium. They can even be used as a remedy for a woman who already has preeclampsia.
Here are a few more suggestions about herbs: Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for nausea. Ginger works best when the person taking it eats small, frequent meals and gets plenty of fresh air and rest. Ginger can be taken as a capsule or tea. A washcloth soaked in ginger or comfrey tea and applied to the area where an episiotomy has been performed promotes healing. Rosemary added to bath water relieves tension and back pain. Finally, adding jasmine and clary sage to a bath has an uplifting effect and prevents postpartum depression.
Susan Lacina tells why a pregnant woman and her unborn child benefit greatly from massage. “We tend to think of a baby in utero as being cut off from the world,” she says. “In reality, the child within is a conscious being who responds to sounds, emotions, and the inner environment that its mother creates, either through her sense of well-being or through her lack of it.” Here Lacina describes how maternity massage promotes a comfortable and healthy pregnancy:
“Research shows that prolonged stress builds up abnormal levels of toxins and chemicals in the bloodstream. These are passed through the placenta to the baby. Minimizing the buildup of toxins can be achieved by periodic deep relaxation. Relaxation increases the absorption of oxygen and nutrients by the cells of the muscles. When oxygen and nutrition increase, the woman has more energy. Some doctors also believe morning sickness and nausea are eliminated by lowering stress levels.
“Massage assists the lymphatic system in eliminating excessive toxins and hormones. Unlike the heart, the lymphatic system has no pump. It moves freely until muscles tighten up, but when muscles become too tense, either from the fetus or from stress, lymph movement decreases and the concentration of toxins rises. In the lower extremities, the growing uterus can inhibit lymph drainage, leading to swelling, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and fluid retention. By relaxing the muscles, massage helps stimulate lymphatic drainage of toxins. It decreases the development of varicose veins by its draining effect and helps reduce swelling in the legs.”
Massage also helps with overall muscle tone and elasticity. “A woman’s body must expand to accommodate the growing fetus,” Lacina says. “Hips widen and abdominal, lower back, and shoulder muscles stretch. Legs must accommodate increased weight. Massage promotes flexible muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. It also helps decrease muscle spasms and leg cramps by getting rid of lactic acid buildup, and can alleviate the pain caused by sciatic nerve pressure. Added flexibility helps the muscles that are needed for labor.”
In addition, massage assists in hormonal balance. “Massage balances the entire glandular system. An overactive thyroid gland becomes less active, thereby decreasing irritability, mood swings, and hot flashes. An underactive thymus gland is stimulated, which increases its ability to fight infection. The alternating relaxation and stimulation that massage provides helps a woman’s body function in a more balanced manner.”
Lacina describes the benefits of a peroneal massage. “This is a gentle stretch of tissues in the area between the vagina and rectum. Learning peroneal massage increases the mother’s awareness of the muscles she needs to relax during the actual delivery and decreases her chances of having an episiotomy, an incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening at the time of birth.
“The actual procedure is as follows: Using warm vitamin E or vegetable oil, the mother places clean, oiled thumbs or index fingers an inch to an inch and a half inside the vagina and applies firm, gentle pressure downward and outward. Stretching continues until a burning sensation is felt. This is held for a few minutes. Performing this once or twice a day, up until the time of delivery, can result in an easier birth.”
What about during labor and the postpartum period? “Massage during labor helps to reduce pain and anxiety by offering relief from muscle contractions.” Lacina says. “The stimulation of certain acupressure points can speed up labor.
“Postpartum is the name given to the six-week recovery period after birth. During this time, hormones readjust and the uterus involutes (returns to its prepregnancy size). Massaging the abdomen in a circular motion helps the uterus to contract and helps to expel blood. Massage also helps to stimulate milk flow. The following techniques can be applied for this purpose: The pressure point at the base of the sacrum can be held for about fifteen seconds, and then released. Breast massage is another technique that can be used. Using some light oil, a woman circles her breasts with her fingertips. She places the hands flat on the breasts, starting at the nipple, and moves outward and up. That helps the glands to release milk. Additionally, there is an acupressure point at the top and middle of the shoulder. Holding it for fifteen seconds helps milk production. Pressing the point between the sixth and seventh ribs at the nipple level on the breast bone helps to release milk.”
Thumbs can be applied to the sacrum, at the bottom of the spine, and walked up the spine to the waist. Each point is held for about five seconds.
The point in the center of the buttocks is pressed in as the mother exhales and released as she inhales.
Thumbs can be pressed along the shoulder blades between the spine and the scapula.
On the legs, pressure can be applied to Spleen 6, an acupressure point located approximately three inches above the ankle, on the inside of the leg right below the tibia bone. Holding this spot for ten seconds and then releasing it helps to stimulate uterine contractions and speeds up labor.
The uterus point is on the inside of the foot, just under the ankle bone. The ovary point is on the outside of the foot, under the ankles, near the heel. Squeezing these points at the same time for about ten seconds and then releasing them helps to speed up labor.
Breast and nipple stimulation helps create oxytocin, the hormone that helps the uterus to contract.
The Alexander technique differs from massage in that the pregnant woman is actively engaged. Kim Jessor, an Alexander teacher, makes an analogy to a piano lesson: “We talk about being Alexander teachers, the people who come to us are students, and the context is a lesson. So while the results are very therapeutic, I don’t think of the work as a therapy but rather as a learning process. This is significant in that it empowers students to take charge in changing their movement habits.”
The Alexander technique is based on the concept that all of us know how to move comfortably as children, but lose that natural flexibility over time. The method teaches people how to move freely again, which is especially valuable for women undergoing the stresses of pregnancy.
Jessor describes some of the ways the Alexander technique helps women during and after pregnancy: Lower back pressure is relieved, breathing improves, rest is enhanced, labor is eased, stamina increases after delivery, and breastfeeding is easier. In addition, there are less tangible, but equally valuable, benefits from working with the Alexander technique during pregnancy. “Women begin to realize that they can make different kinds of choices about the kind of birth they want to have, where they want to have it, and who they want to use for labor support. In the same way that they begin to find freedom in movement, they find greater options in terms of the choices they make about their pregnancy.”
The benefits of exercise during pregnancy are many, and extend to the baby as well as the mother. For the mother, it helps with weight gain, strength and stamina, moodiness, back pain, and sleep. A 2015 review published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed that exercise reduced the risk of gestational diabetes. Two studies presented at the Society for Neuroscience found a link between exercise during pregnancy and the baby’s neurological development. The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (ACOG) endorses physical activity during pregnancy and has created specific guidelines for the dos and don’ts of exercise:
Pregnant women derive health benefits from a mild to moderate exercise routine. Exercising sixty minutes, three times per week, is preferable to intermittent activity, but some benefit can be derived from shorter durations as well. Sometimes little oxygen is available for aerobic exercise due to the body’s increased oxygen demands. Therefore, a woman should begin an aerobic activity slowly, and gradually build to capacity. She should not push too hard, and certainly not to the point of breathlessness. Pregnant women should not exercise in the faceup position after the first trimester. This position limits blood supply to the baby.
Avoid standing for prolonged periods of time, doing heavy work in the standing position, and exercising at high intensities. These activities are associated with diminished birthweight in newborns. It’s better for women to engage in non–weight-bearing activities such as cycling and swimming, rather than exercises like running. Non–weight-bearing exercise minimizes the risk of injury and allows activity levels to remain closer to prepregnancy levels, right up to delivery. A woman should be aware that her center of gravity is different, and that she might lose her balance when exercising. Anything that could involve falling over, or even mild abdominal trauma, should be avoided.
Pregnant women require an extra 300 calories per day in order to maintain their normal metabolic rate. Exercise increases the need for more calories.
A pregnant woman must be careful not to raise her body temperature with vigorous workouts, especially in the first trimester. Excessive body heat in the mother can adversely affect the development of brain tissue in the baby. The threshold for this is a body temperature of about 39.2 degrees Celsius, which is 100 or 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
When should a pregnant woman not exercise? “Basically, every pregnant woman can benefit from starting an exercise program at any point in pregnancy. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. When any one of the following conditions is present, a pregnant woman should limit or avoid exercise: pregnancy-induced hypertension, premature rupture of membranes, incompetent cervix, persistent secondor third-trimester bleeding, premature labor during the prior or current pregnancy, and intrauterine growth retardation.”
Other medical contraindications include thyroid, heart, vascular, or pulmonary conditions. Women with medical problems need a physician’s evaluation to determine whether an exercise program is appropriate.
Ann Berwick reports that in Europe, where aromatherapy is scientifically studied and widely prescribed, hospital maternity wings utilize essential oils for their soothing and uplifting mind-body effects: “There is a report of one woman who had severe anxiety throughout her pregnancy. They gave her neroli oil, which helped to keep her blood pressure down and allowed her to go into delivery in a more relaxed state. During delivery, she was given lavender and clary sage to relax her uterus. Clary sage is also slightly euphoric, so it helped her to cope mentally with the birth.” Here are some formulas to try before, during, and after birth:
Homeopathic physician Stephanie Odinov Pukit lists a variety of remedies for all stages of pregnancy. She begins with treatments for morning sickness.
SEPIA—Ambivalence is the key word here. There is a conflict between selfpreservation and the urge to procreate, which makes wanting a child questionable. The woman becomes angry and irritable and feels as if a black cloud hovers over her. Although her appetite is insatiable, heavy pains worsen with smells or thoughts of food.
PULSATILLA—This is the opposite scenario. Pulsatilla is an excellent remedy for the woman who is cheerful, sweet, and somewhat helpless. The person is warm and may throw the covers off at night. She becomes worse with emotional excitement. Nausea comes and goes and is characteristically worse in early evening.
NUX VOMICA—This is a wonderful remedy for soothing the nerves after a woman has abused her body with alcohol, drugs, or coffee. She tends to be con-stipated. She tends to wake up at night to think about business because she is ambitious and driven.
ARSENICUM—The picture here is a person constantly anxious about her state of health. She always runs to the doctor fearing that something is wrong. The woman tends to have burning pains. She has great thirst and takes little sips. Symptoms are usually exacerbated at midnight.
COCCULUS INDICUS—This remedy specifically helps motion sickness. The woman tends to lose sleep and to be constantly exhausted. She may be nursing children or caring for someone. The woman feels dizzy standing and better when lying down. She feels worse in fresh air.
PETROLEUM—Petroleum may be indicated if there is a voracious appetite followed by persistent vomiting.
BRYONIA—The person has strong sensitivity to smells and may have connective tissue and arthritic problems. Nausea becomes worse with motion.
Dr. Odinov Pukit suggests the following remedies for problems that occur in the latter stages of pregnancy:
SEPIA OR PULSATILLA—In the third to sixth month, the fetus presses high up in the abdomen, causing heartburn, shortness of breath, and indigestion. These remedies also help hemorrhoid problems. The one chosen depends on the other symptoms manifested. Sepia is for a gloomy disposition, while pulsatilla is for a sweet nature.
CARBO VEGETABILIS (CARBO VEG)—The woman is slightly heavy and tends to have indigestion and shortness of breath due to poor oxygenation. Although she tends to be chilly, she prefers open windows with the air directly on her.
BELLIS PERENNIS—As the baby drops into the pelvis, pressure is felt on the organs in the lower part of the bladder. Pain and arthritis may occur as a result. Bellis perennis is specific for pain in the uterine area or groin. The woman might be walking when all of a sudden her legs weaken from a sharp nerve pain. After childbirth, once arnica has done its job (see below) and there are still some lumps remaining in the tissues, bellis perennis is also excellent.
KALI CARBONICUM—Kali carbonicum is for women with back pain, especially those who tend to wake up between two and four o’clock in the morning. This individual’s personality is somewhat crabby and closed. She is vague and evasive about answering questions. Pains are better with pressure and rubbing. The person tends to be anxious and chilly.
ACONITE—High-potency aconite is wonderful to use at any point in pregnancy when there has been shock or fright. Arnica and calendula may be useful for this purpose as well.
Midwife Jeanette Breen finds homeopathy useful during labor and after birth:
ARNICA—Starting a month before delivery, regular application of arnica cream directly to the nipples prevents later tearing and cracking with breast-feeding. After birth, arnica quickens recuperation. Calendula can be used in the same way.
CALIFILUM—Califilum may help a stalled labor. This is specific for a weak uterus or a uterus running out of steam. The woman often experiences weakness, exhaustion, trembling, and shivering. Sharp, brief, unstable, and painful lower uterine contractions fail to completely dilate the cervix and push the baby out.
GELSEMIUM—Gelsemium may be indicated as a follow-up to califilum. It is also good for neuralgia, rheumatic discomfort, and pains in the bladder and vaginal area. The person tends to be thirsty and chilly.
CIMICIFUGA—Cimicifuga is good for stalled labor, especially when the woman is becoming fearful, hysterical, and exhausted, and the pains are becoming erratic. This tones the uterus, calms it down, and helps it to become more coordinated.
For many of today’s working mothers, breast-feeding is difficult because they can’t be at home enough to be with their infants. However, women are further encouraged to neglect breast-feeding by the growth of fallacies about it, as well as a lack of full knowledge of its benefits.
The first major benefit of breast-feeding is the mother’s milk itself: It gives the baby the appropriate nutrients. For the first nine months, Arms notes, the baby doesn’t need any other food at all other than breast milk, which helps establish and nourish the baby’s immune system. Feeding the baby from the breast creates in the mother a feeling of calm, relaxation, and deepening love for her child. For the baby, just being there, skin to skin, with the mother, affords immune protection.
The components of breast milk actually change from feed to feed, and, for a mother who has more than one child, the milk changes from child to child. This is why formula can never mimic breast milk. Nor can the container that breast milk comes in ever be duplicated. There’s a real difference between providing pumping stations at work and giving working mothers access on their job time to day care where mother and baby can be together when the baby wakes up— not to mention allowing mothers to be home with their babies until the babies are old enough to be without milk for more than four hours at a time.
Breast-feeding does many things for the baby and the mother. It causes the mother’s gut to secrete twenty-three hormones (that we know of), which bottle feeding does not do. These hormones cause a woman to lose weight as well as help her sleep better and feel calmer. If a mother is malnourished and underweight, breast-feeding helps her to get as much nutrient value out of her food as possible. More nutrient value is absorbed in her gut than would be if she were not breast-feeding.
Arms tells us, “All babies need to be breast-fed and almost all mothers, even those who have had breast surgery, can breast-feed, if we give them three months to get settled before we even think of having them go back to work. And then we need to create work situations where they can breast-feed during the day.
In the United States, about 80 percent of women who give birth have an epi-siotomy performed. This is an incision that is made during birth when the vaginal opening does not stretch adequately. Of those operations, most are improperly performed. “Doctors are just not instructed in how to do this surgery,” says Dr. Vicki Hufnagel. “All you have to do is go to your local medical school, get out the textbook on obstetrics, and look at what an episiotomy is. It will have a drawing and a discussion that says to put one or two sutures here, and one or two there. They are teaching physicians to close an entire organ system in just one or two layers. If you were to close a laceration on your face in one or two layers, your muscles wouldn’t work, your face wouldn’t work. You’d be a real mess. We are teaching students how to close the vaginal vault area in a manner that is not allowable in other places. That is the standard of care that we have, and it is completely unacceptable.”
Incorrectly performed episiotomies result in problems down the road. Without the support of the vaginal muscles, the cervix pushes through the vagina. It appears that the uterus is being forced out, when really it is not. Doctors mistakenly diagnose a prolapsed uterus and commonly recommend a hysterectomy. Tragically, 100, 000 to 200, 000 women with this misdiagnosis receive this operation each year.
Corrective surgery easily ameliorates the problem. Repairing the vagina is a simple procedure that can be performed in a doctor’s office. It takes all of fortyfive minutes, and patients can go home the same day.
Depression after childbirth affects thousands of women each year. Although the exact cause is unknown, hormonal shifts after birth, particularly drops in progesterone, may play a large role. Research also links the condition to low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Emotionally, it is often connected to difficult labor and disappointments after birth.
Symptoms range in degree, but are generally worse than a temporary feeling of the blues immediately following childbirth. Dr. Marjorie Ordene, a complementary gynecologist from New York, explains: “Postpartum depression is defined as a gradually increasingly sullen mood and a loss of interest and enthusiasm starting around the third postpartum week. This is different from the ‘baby blues, ’ which is a common occurrence in the normal population. The blues happens the first week postpartum, and basically goes away by itself. We are talking about something much more severe.” In the worst-case scenario, women can become sick for years and lose touch with reality.
Homeopathic physician Dr. Jane Cicchetti recommends that women try the 30c potency of the remedy that best addresses their symptoms. If this does not help, a visit to a homeopathic physician can provide more individual support.
SEPIA—Sepia may be needed after an exhausting delivery, after giving birth to two or more children at once, or after having several children. The woman feels completely worn out and depressed. Physically, she feels as if her uterus might fall out, and finds herself crossing her legs a lot. Often there is an actual prolapse of the uterus. Emotionally, a woman who loves her husband and children suddenly has an aversion to them. In fact, she has an aversion to everyone and wants to be alone. She becomes irritable and angry if anyone bothers her, and has an aversion to sex. The woman cries often but cannot understand what is wrong; in fact this problem is caused by a hormonal disturbance rather than an emotional one.
NATMUR (NATRUM MURIATICUM)—Natmur is for chronic grief. The woman is introverted and dwells on past, unpleasant memories but keeps them to herself. She tries to put on the appearance that everything is fine, and becomes aggravated if someone tries to comfort her.
IGNATIA—Ignatia is for postpartum depression brought on by emotions. It is needed when disappointment follows childbirth. A woman imagines an ideal pregnancy and birthing situation. When that does not work out, she feels extremely let down and depressed. These feelings may occur after a stillbirth or a miscarriage. There is uncontrollable sobbing and sighing, and a rapid change of emotions, which are often contradictory.
ARNICA—This commonly needed remedy is useful for depression, upset, and malaise brought on by bruising, soreness, and pain that lasts a long time. Arnica helps heal the physical trauma and improves the mother’s energy and emotional state.
PULSATILLA—Pulsatilla is given when a woman cries a lot and wants to be taken care of. She needs to attend to her newborn baby, but feels as if someone should be attending to her. This individual will eat sweets and other goodies to alleviate overwhelming feelings of sadness and loneliness. The woman is often warm-blooded and enjoys the fresh air. She is happier walking around outside, and much happier if she can be with people.
CIMICIFUGA—This remedy is used less often, but is very important for those who need it. Cimicifuga is derived from black cohosh, a powerful herb for treating hysteria and female complaints. It is needed when a woman feels as if a dark cloud of gloom has settled over her. She fears losing her mind. Often this stems from a very difficult delivery. She may have had a mini-nervous breakdown, feeling at one point as if she was going insane. This leaves her with a great fear of ever having a baby again. Often she alternates between different emotional states. When she is not under this dark cloud of gloom, she becomes excitable and talkative, jumping from one subject to another in an almost hysterical fashion. Cimicifuga heals the nervous system.
KALI CARBONICUM—This deep mineral remedy is indicated for women who become anxious and irritable after a delivery that leaves them feeling weak. Easily startled, they want to be left alone, and have an aversion to being touched. They tend to be chilly and to have insomnia from two to four a.m. Further, they are regimented and have trouble going with the flow of caring for a new baby. Often these symptoms follow a delivery that primarily consists of back labor. Sciatica develops to some degree, which can lead to an emotional state like this.
PHOSPHORIC ACID—Homeopathic phosphoric acid is helpful when a woman is extremely disappointed from physical or emotional shock. She may have lost the baby, or something might be wrong with the baby. A loved one may have died at the time of birth, or she may be affected from the loss of much bodily fluid during delivery. Indifferent to everything, the woman lies in bed with her face to the wall. It is as if her emotions have completely disappeared. She doesn’t want to talk, think, or answer questions.
COCCULUS—This is a remedy for fatigue and emotional depression brought on by loss of sleep. The woman feels drunk and may go through the day feeling dizzy and staggering. These feelings are brought on by sleep deprivation.
AURUM METALLICUM—Aurum metallicum is for profound depression characterized by total hopelessness, self-destructive behavior, and a longing for death.
“Studies show that postpartum depression can be prevented by treating women with progesterone,” reports Dr. Ordene. “Companies that make natural progesterone cream recommend using a half teaspoon twice daily, starting a month after delivery. Since postpartum depression is supposed to start three weeks after giving birth, it makes sense to begin using natural progesterone at that time.”
According to research, this vitamin raises serotonin levels. Patients given B6 for twenty-eight days after delivery did not have a recurrence of postpartum depression.
Although most women who have abortions do not have any serious medical complications from the procedure, the period after an abortion is a time for a woman to focus on herself; she may have a variety of physical and emotional needs that require attention.
It’s particularly important to remember that after an abortion your body’s hor-mone levels have to readjust to the sudden change from a pregnant to a nonpregnant state. Dr. Susanna Reid, a naturopathic physician, describes the physical changes in a woman’s body after an abortion.
“Hormone levels are elevated dramatically during pregnancy, so the body has to readjust itself to its prepregnancy state,” Dr. Reid explains. “One way to help the body to do that is by focusing on dietary factors that would be beneficial in regulating hormone levels. As well, you want to increase the circulation in the lower abdomen so that the body can heal itself. The more circulation in an area and the more nutrients that are in that area, the easier it is for the body to remove the toxic waste products. You’d also want to strengthen liver function, since the liver is essential to the balancing of hormones in the body; it functions to promote excretion of hormones. So if the liver isn’t functioning correctly, you can have an imbalance of hormones.”
To strengthen liver function, she suggests eating foods that contain fiber, particularly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The gut needs fiber to prevent the reabsorption of hormones. “If there isn’t enough fiber in the diet, the hormones are reabsorbed through the intrahepatic circulation. So fiber is very important. In the springtime, one can strengthen liver function by eating large amounts of fresh dandelions and other greens such as cleavers. In other seasons, use yellow dock, nettle, dandelion, and cleavers with some red raspberry to make a tea. Red raspberry is a uterine tonic, so it helps to heal the uterus. You can put some peppermint in the tea to make it taste better and aid in digestion.”
About two weeks after the abortion, she suggests using cold friction on the lower abdomen for ten minutes at a time before going to bed or first thing in the morning.
One of the more common complications from an abortion is infection. It’s important not to put anything into the vagina for several weeks after the abortion and to refrain from intercourse. Dr. Reid suggests several natural remedies to help prevent infections.
“If we enhance the immune function, we prevent infection. You can use an immune-enhancing diet that focuses a lot on fruits and vegetables. Fruits in particular are immune-enhancing.” She also recommends echinacea, goldenseal, astragalus, and ligustrum to help immune function.
Dr. Allan Warshowsky, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who practices holistic gynecology, recommends taking vitamins C, A, and E and other antioxidants to enhance immune function.
Dr. Reid also emphasizes fluid intake. She explains that an abortion creates many by-products, and one way the body can help eliminate them is through the exchange of fluids, so you should drink a lot of fluids. Although each woman experiences abortion in her own way, it can sometimes create a strong emotional response, either positive or negative. “If it is a desired pregnancy and it’s a spontaneous abortion,” Dr. Reid says, “then people are dealing with grief. Even if it is a therapeutic abortion, there can be many reasons for the abortion. It may be because the pregnancy isn’t viable or wouldn’t be viable, or maybe it isn’t the right time. So there are just a lot of grief issues for some women around abortion.”
Dr. Warshowsky believes it is very important to deal with any negative feelings. He suggests that women who experience grief and other emotional and psychological consequences after an abortion may be helped by using meditation or visualization techniques.
Sixty percent of babies born in hospitals in the United States are circumcised. Suzanne Arms, an independent researcher and activist who has published books on pregnancy and women’s health, including Immaculate Deception, Breast Feeding, and Seasons of Change, sees this as a wasteful and counterproductive practice. “The difficulty with circumcision,” she believes, “is that it touches some of the most sen-sitive tissue on the human male body and takes a large amount of material from the penis. You are taking away all the natural protection of the penis, the tissue that keeps it from getting infected and getting diseases and that makes sexuality more exquisite.”
She also says that in Europe, circumcision has never been routinely performed on infants, as it is in the United States. She believes that the US practice of routine circumcision is one aspect of a cultural attitude that grew, in part, out of seventeenth-century Puritanism, which viewed sexual pleasure, including masturbation, as sinful, and advocated tying babies’ hands to their cribs to keep them from touching their genitals, which might provide pleasure. In the 1920s and 1930s, for the same purpose, clitoridectomies were performed on little girls in some parts of the country. She regards circumcision as an outgrowth of such attitudes: it was done to prevent male babies from using their penises as organs of pleasure.
Arms says, “We can contrast this with the reason for circumcision under Judaic law. In that tradition, circumcision was done on the eighth day as part of a convenant with God. Many Jews now believe that circumcision can be done without cutting the boy.”
She also argues that the medical reasons once given for this operation—for example that it prevents cancer—have turned out to be false. Circumcision has no medical value at all and has a lot of risks associated with it, including bleeding and other effects of surgery. “It exposes newborn babies to what is for them excruciating pain,” Arms says. “Some babies feel it less than others, but, by and large, it puts the baby into shock and trauma.”
Many advocates of circumcision apparently feel it is a way to harden the boy. In the past, children to be circumcised were tied down on boards, six in a row. A baby would lie there unable to move, listening to the screams of the little boys next to him. This was considered a way of preparing boys to be ready as adults to give up their bodies in war.
“I think it’s very important that we begin to understand the shock and trauma from this process that we have called normal in the United States,” Arms concludes. “And we don’t even acknowledge this trauma, so how can we heal it? People are running around with the long-term effects in their nervous system of an unresolved trauma. Believe me, that is what we are seeing in this culture.”