A Natural Holistic Approach to Pregnancy

I grew up a typical southern child eating fried foods, foods lathered in butter and bacon grease, processed foods, fast food and occasionally something from Grandma's garden...that was either fried, buttered or somehow cooked to death - but tasted so yummy.

I played outside much as a young child but once the teenage years hit, my friends and I became less and less active outdoors - well, we'd still make our way out to sit by the pool or to watch ball games. 

I was "healthy" but as Grandpa used to say, I was a "Healthy Southern Girl"...meaning I was pleasantly thick.  As I grew into a woman I constantly fought with loosing weight.  By the time I was 30 my weight would fluctuate as much as 15 pounds numerous times throughout a single year.  I was still eating nothing but processed foods and occasionally an Iceberg salad [sometimes Romaine] drowning in dressing.  I tried diet after diet and nothing worked for I knew nothing about the real nutrition value of food.  I hated exercise, but loved being outdoors; hiking, walking, bike riding, playing with my dogs, doing yard work.  I was addicted to coffee but suffered greatly from insomnia for many, many years.  And although I have never been sickly - usually one small cold a year - I never felt "good". 

It was later in my 30th year that I went through some major life changes and decided to turn things around.  I was tired of being tired, I wanted to feel good and look good - naturally.  No "diets", no magic pills, no special equipment that would fix my life.  I also knew that after my divorce that year I may wish to have children in the future but I'd be much older when doing so than I had originally "planned".  Who knows how long it would take for me to meet the "right" guy, settle down, get married and begin having children.  I had friends in their late 30's and early 40's having children - but it was not easy for most of them.  I admit, there was some concern in the back of my mind. 

So, with the help of some friends of mine that were into the organic lifestyle; a nutritionist, a Chiropractor, a trainer, a masseuse and a lifelong farmer, to their great joy - I began to turn my health and my life around.

My friends introduced me to not only proper earth friendly eating, but made me aware of the toxins in our lives, the mental negativity of the average lifestyle, and the great benefits of exercise that I actually enjoy.  I noticed a difference with in two weeks in how I felt physically and mentally and how I was sleeping.  Their approaches to things began to really make a lot of sense.  I began reading various books on the subjects, tried so many alternative approaches to dealing with life and stress and dragged my friends to numerous exercise classes and events.  It took a little over a year but by that time I felt I had the knowledge and resources to say I had truly changed my life and lifestyle.  I proudly found myself living a holistic, natural life. 

Not much longer I fell in love again with a dear friend and by 34 was married and by 35 I was pregnant with my first child.  It only took 3 months of trying and I had the easiest pregnancy of anyone I knew, had met or had heard of.  I only gained 27 pounds in the 9 months and was back to pre-baby weight within a few weeks and thanks to breastfeeding, I am now leaner and thinner than I've ever been in my life.  Everyone was amazed and admitted to being quite envious with it all.  I firmly believe my beautiful pregnancy and quick recovery is all due to the changes in my lifestyle and heating habits. 

While pregnant I found that many women wanted to start making positive changes in their life to ensure the delivery of a happy, healthy baby.  [And there's neither better time nor reason to start] But some women were given misinformation or found things to be too confusing - or that the changes were too much of a hassle.  The initial desire was there but they lacked follow through.  So with this article I hope to persuade you to follow through and live a natural, holistic life throughout your pregnancy and hopefully the rest of your life.

Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman's life [and for first timers, a bit scary].  We all have different expectations about childbirth and what to do while pregnant.  Everyone has their own hopes and beliefs.  There is so much to discuss, but to not drown you in material, I will keep it as brief as I can.  In doing so I hope to provide useful information and to be respectful of your values, whatever your background or previous experiences may be. 


Let's examine just what is a "holistic" approach to pregnancy and childbirth?

The fundamental principle of the term holistic is that of good health coming from physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In holistic health, each of these elements body, mind, and spirit need to be accounted for in any medical treatment. Holistic medicine embraces prevention and self-care, using noninvasive treatments that support a person's natural abilities to heal.

When most us think of the term health, they most often think of how exercise, nutrition, and other care impact the physical person. But the mind and emotions also play a role, shaping our values and beliefs, our responses to events such as stress, and our relationships and support networks.


Finally there is the spiritual component.

We all have a spiritual aspect of our lives, even if we do not practice a specific religious tradition. If considering spirituality is new to you, start by considering times, places, or things that make you feel peaceful.

Simply put, a woman's body is naturally designed to conceive, nourish, and give birth to a baby. It trusts the natural progression of pregnancy and labor.

The term "natural childbirth" holds many different meanings to women and healthcare providers. To some, it means a complete avoidance of medication or interventions. To others, it simply means that a woman gave birth vaginally as opposed to having a cesarean section. A holistic approach to childbearing includes both low-intervention approaches and the appropriate use of technology in a thoughtful and well-considered manner. Each situation is unique, requiring individual choices and care. A holistic approach respects the normal processes of pregnancy and birth, but recognizes the need for assistance if appropriate.

Embodying the idea of complementary therapies:
Finally, a holistic approach to pregnancy and childbirth includes using alternative and complementary therapies to prevent or treat common discomforts and complications of pregnancy, in a way that is consistent with the belief system of the patient.  Feeling intense morning sickness?  There are natural remedies that can help with that.  Feeling unusual soreness or physical discomfort?  Again, there are therapies such as prenatal massage, chiropractic care and acupuncture that are available for pregnant women.  Our society today is so quick to take a pill to cure even the slightest of discomforts.  Research all your options before turning to toxic medicines. 

You are not a helpless woman who's reliant on what your doctor tells you.  No one knows your body, your needs, wants or desires like you do.  A natural, holistic approach to pregnancy allows you to deliberately make choices that have the healthiest pregnancy and the most natural progression of labor possible.

A holistic approach can help maximize physical health and minimize the common discomforts of pregnancy. A healthy diet and exercise, yes exercise, build a firm foundation.  Additionally, many complementary therapies and practices as those mentioned earlier offer comfort with a lower risk of undesirable side effects than many medications.

Most families welcome the birth of a baby, and you may find that those around you expect you to be happy at this time. However, most women experience a roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy; periods of ambivalence, anxiety and total bliss are all quite common. Having a baby represents a great change, and this can be stressful. It is important to acknowledge your emotions and find strategies that help you reduce your stress and cope with it in a healthy way. When you cope well with stress, you experience better peace of mind, and you also reduce the harmful effects that stress can have on your physical health. Reducing stress decreases your heart rate and blood pressure, helps your digestion, reduces muscular tension, and enhances your immune system and your ability to deal with pain and discomfort. All of these are especially important during pregnancy.

Some ways to cope with stress include exploring stress-reduction techniques such as breath work, guided imagery, meditation, self-hypnosis, or gentle movement. Increasing your knowledge on pregnancy and childbirth will also reduce your stress. The more you know about how your body works during pregnancy and childbirth and your care options, the more confident you will be in making big decisions and understanding why your body or baby are doing what they are.

Pregnancy and birth can be great opportunities for tremendous spiritual growth. As you reflect on your role in bringing the baby into the world and the wonder of the entire experience, your core spiritual beliefs and values shape your expectations and experiences. You may find that pregnancy, birth, and parenting reinforce your beliefs or cause you to make great changes. In the busy times while preparing for your baby and after the birth of your baby, it is often difficult to set aside time to reflect. However, if you do make time, either in structured ways, such as meditation, journaling, or prayer, or in an unstructured ways, such as walks in nature, you may find great rewards and growth await you.

a. First and foremost, it prepares you to be an informed participant. By learning what enhances the process of labor and childbirth. You and your support team will be confident in giving informed consent to the plan of care that your midwife or doctor proposes. Throughout, you will gain confidence in your decision making and feel empowered to do what is best for your family. The fist steps of taking that motherly authority for the safety and well being of your child. Choosing a holistic approach also means learning about the benefits and risks of all childbirth options so you can make good decisions if labor unfolds in an unexpected manner.

b. Helps avoid the unnecessary use of technology. Planning for a holistic childbirth may also mean choosing a healthcare provider who does not routinely use common labor interventions, such as electronic fetal monitoring, forceps, or vacuum extractors. Of course when needed, these can be beneficial. But when unnecessary, these same interventions can cause problems in labor, problems for the baby, a delay in initiating family contact, or long-term health problems for the mother.

Much evidence suggests that interventions are used far more often than needed during birth in the United States. Learning about these options can help you avoid some of the risks associated with the unnecessary use of technology. We have much to learn from other cultures when it comes to holism and safety in childbirth. Despite its advanced healthcare system, the United States does not have the best statistics for healthy births; in fact, in 2006, it ranked 33rd in the world for infant mortality by the United Nations for the third year in a row and in a report by the CIA dated April 2009, the United States is estimated to rank 180 for the year 2010! In other developed countries, midwives attend the majority of births for healthy women. In some countries, such as the Netherlands, about one-third of all women plan to give birth at home. Interestingly, these countries have outcomes that are as good as, or better than, outcomes in the United States.

c. What about pain management in a holistic approach? With a holistic approach to childbirth, you may choose to use techniques such as guided imagery, breathing, movement, hydrotherapy, herbal muscle relaxants or self-hypnosis in place of, or as a complement to, common options in labor, such as an epidural. But why, with easy access to technology that you are told makes labor more comfortable, might you choose an alternative?

Pain medication and epidurals may help you be more comfortable during labor. However, like all medical interventions, they do carry a degree of risk. For example:

Narcotic-type pain medications, such as nubain, morphine, demerol, or fentanyl, are often used to alleviate labor pain. These medications are associated with longer labors and might also make you groggy, lightheaded, and nauseated, potentially interfering with your ability to move about freely and to bond with your baby during those first few crucial hours.

Like many medications, narcotic-type pain medications pass through the placenta and might also cause a baby to be born sleepy and in need of breathing stimulation. Conversely, they might make a baby irritable. Either excessive sleepiness or irritability may interfere with the successful initiation of breastfeeding and bonding.

There is conflicting evidence about whether the use of epidurals or other spinal anesthesia adversely affects the length of labor or increases the chances that you will have a cesarean section. The use of an epidural might lead to a baby who settles into an unfavorable position for birth, which might result in a cesarean section, forceps, or a vacuum extractor-assisted birth.

Women with epidurals or other spinal anesthesia might experience a drop in blood pressure, which could affect the amount of oxygen that gets to the baby. After an epidural, women are generally restricted to bed and might require a urinary catheter to drain urine from the bladder. Some women also have difficulty passing urine even after the epidural wears off. The epidural procedure itself has a few risks and side effects, including itching, infection, the improper placement of the medication into a blood vessel instead of the appropriate epidural space, backache, a "spinal" headache after the procedure, or, rarely, permanent nerve damage.

On the other hand, using holistic measures to manage pain allows you to avoid the side effects of medication or epidurals. These measures help to promote the natural progress of labor, which brings many benefits: your recovery is likely to be quicker, you and your baby are less likely to be exposed to the side effects of medical interventions, and your baby is more likely to breastfeed readily.

d. And finally, what about cesarean sections? When necessary, a cesarean section benefits both the baby and the mother. But it is not without risks. These include:

infection to the mother,

risk of injury to the mother or baby,

a period of prolonged pain and healing after childbirth,

the risks associated with the surgical anesthesia,

and even a small risk of death.

The best rate of cesarean sections is the rate at which the health benefits for the baby and the mother are maximized, and women are not unnecessarily exposed to the risks involved in cesarean sections. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an optimal cesarean section rate is between 10% and 15%. The United States Department of Health and Human Services agrees and set a goal in the Healthy People 2010 initiative to reduce the cesarean section rate among women having their first baby to 15%. Despite that goal, the cesarean section rate in the United States has continued to grow and is now approaching 30%. In the city where I currently live, the local rate is an astounding 60%! This means that some women and their babies are unnecessarily exposed to the risks of cesarean sections without benefit to their babies or themselves. There is even a growing trend in the United States toward an "elective" cesarean section, which means that there is no current medical reason, just a theory that it might help avoid problems such as pelvic floor relaxation later in life. I have a family member that elected for a cesarean for all four of her children so that she could set each babies birth date to all be the same day of what ever month the child was born in so she wouldn't have to worry about remember the date-just the month.

Taking a holistic approach to childbirth enables you to become educated, make informed choices, and to understand how to reduce the chances of having an unnecessary cesarean section.
Let me introduce you to Laura and Michelle.

Laura Flynn, RD, will be your nutritional coach during this critical time. As a wife, mom, and full time registered dietician, Laura knows how to do it all and make it look easy. She has over 10 years of experience as a nutritional counselor, and an incredible passion to empower moms and moms-to-be to embrace the demands of motherhood (men have no idea!) AND achieve their best body ever while giving their babies a healthy head start on life. Handling the pre-natal exercise coaching will be Michelle Ladd - As an Exercise Physiologist, Pre-Post Natal Personal Trainer and Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Michelle has been helping pregnant women stay fit and healthy during and after pregnancy for nearly twelve years.

Together they have created a pregnancy system for you to follow at home. No more searching the internet on various topics and not really knowing what to believe, calling your doctor or midwife weekly with questions nor buying an entire library of expensive books with conflicting information.  The Complete Fit and Healthy Pregnancy System is here to help you be as fit and healthy as you can be by taking a natural, holistic approach to your pregnancy.

Interested? Learn More Here!

With the Fit and Healthy Pregnancy System you will learn:

Easy exercises and stretches that anyone at any fitness level can do just about anywhere (with clear step-by-step illustrations).

The safe way to add cardio to your exercise routine and boost your energy.

Equipment-Free exercises that will keep weight gain minimal and keep you limber.

The secret to eliminating 90% of pregnancy aches, pains, and discomfort - it has to do with your spine and it's the foundation of the program.

How to keep your "bump in front" and fight gaining weight in the wrong places.

Develop a custom-designed strength training program that is simple, safe and guaranteed to keep your joints and ligaments pain free.

Key precautions you must take to keep you and baby safe.

Real-world advice on Fatigue, stretch marks, morning sickness, high-blood pressure, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, C-Section, and more.

Why some fats are essential for a healthy pregnancy (you won't hear this anywhere else).

The right nutrients for boosting your baby's brain development and SO MUCH MORE!

Everything is 100% Money Back - Guaranteed for 60 days. In that time, keep a close eye on your weight and overall health. If you are not thrilled with how you feel they will promptly refund your money.

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