The Top 3 Benefits of Meditation During Pregnancy

The Bradley method, Lamaze and are two of the most popular methods of natural labor. Both of them emphasized that medical intervention is limited and focus on childbirth becomes a natural process. MOM and dad-to-be bond during classes and learn breathing techniques and relaxation so that labor is one that is positive for everyone. Both of these methods calls with the good, and a good selection (and any mothers out there have an opinion if they feel their lucrative classes in personal experience they are born or not!) As first time parents, and as a team, it's up to the two of you to choose the right method for you. As additional help, many pregnant women meditating for their pregnancy and this practice helps greatly in several ways:

 

1. The Regular practice of meditation offers many health benefits, including lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and let go of stress and fatigue. In fact, meditate for half an hour, giving a break more than psychological full night's sleep. For pregnant women, this just has the extra relaxation is not only exciting, but it helps in overall health for himself and his son, who has not yet been born. Many pregnant women suffering from fatigue as the pregnancy progresses, so time to meditate carve can help relieve fatigue and bringing in much needed sleep. (We all know when the baby comes, sleep is precious).

 

2. In the old tradition of meditation, there are many ways to meditate through different techniques. Some use the power of the voice, the other using symbols visually and some using breathing. All these techniques have a common goal to focus one's mind spinning wheel to a point so that they can lead a person into a State of self realization. For pregnant women, can focus into and away from the discomfort she may experience is key in remaining relaxed and calm. This is especially true during labor while the pain at its peak. The breathing and relaxation techniques learned in Lamaze or Bradley class can sometimes fall to the sidelines when the pain is greatest. Women who have been meditating continuously and consistently throughout their pregnancy are more able to cope with the pain and focus into to understand the mental awareness and finally relax better. They could return their focus on breathing during labor.

3. After a newborn has arrived, new moms and dads find comfort in the continued practice of meditation. Meditation pregnancy tools for moving from a means to relax during a busy first month as they adjust to life with a newborn. Even families who have older brothers can find this same convenience and meditate together as a family. Brothers who welcomed new sister their own inner experience stress in the adjustment and crave attention. Parents can use the meditation with big brother as a time to reconnect and relax together.

So, three key points is all well and good, but what about a family busy realistically find a time and place to meditate and what techniques are best?

The best proven techniques for long-term exercise is repeated mantra-Japa (sounds, words or phrases). If you are new to meditation, you can try other techniques to see what feels right in addition to using spells to help discipline your mind. You can repeat your mantra aloud to say or sing, or whispers, or just mentally. Initially, Soham (so-hum) a great spell for beginners, because it helps keep the mind focused as it is voiced. The Mantra is repeated each time we take a breath-breathe "SO", and discard the "HAM" (it means "I AM THAT". Go beyond the limitations of the mind and body, at one with the Absolute) If your mind wanders to thoughts and things or other distractions, you're just a gentle guide back to Soham ... each practice helps move the mind towards a greater degree of relaxation-some might fall asleep.

Bye Bye Pregnancy Back Pain in 15 Minutes

Busy while waiting for an overdue baby #3.

I was pregnant and having discomfort going from sitting to standing. I had to support myself and scoot to the edge of the seat to get up especially from low things like the couch. Yep, I was pregnant. I had to do a little waddle just to go from sitting to standing. Some people would say that this is just part of being pregnant. I say, I am too busy to deal with pregnancy crap like this! I learned a trick that made the discomfort go away in 15 minutes.

My third pregnancy was really rough on my body. I was non-stop carrying a toddler everywhere. Our toilets are in the basement and on the second floor so I was always carrying a kid up or down a set of stairs. I had to bend all sorts of ways to snap two kids into carseats. I was walking or doing yoga almost daily to keep myself limber so my body could adapt to the changes that were happening. 

Then it happened. I started having to stand up like a pregnant lady! Not me! I had to do the wiggle to the edge of the seat, brace myself on something and do a side-slide to get up. It was uncomfortable. This was extremely annoying and I am not one to get annoyed so I took action.

For the first time during a pregnancy, I went to a chiropractor. I went to a doctor who I knew and was pregnant with her second baby so I knew that she would understand. The moment that I laid down, the chiropractor pointed out that my hips were 2 inches out of alignment! It caused one leg to physically be 2 inches longer than the other. Of course I was having issues standing up.  Since I was pregnant and she couldn't just pop me back into place, she used a special massaging tool that massaged the bones and joints back to where they belonged. Instantly I felt normal (not pregnant). I went home and could sit and stand perfectly without support or scooting to the edge of the seat.

That's how I got sold on chiropractors and ditched my pregnancy pain!

The Anti-Flu Recipe: Elderberry Syrup

Do you wonder why my family doesn’t get the flu? Here’s my secret recipe.

Mainstream medical professionals all agree that the flu shot is safe for pregnancy women. While I was pregnant with my second baby in 2009-2010, it was during the swine flu scare and I had chosen not to get the flu shot. My caregiver tried all sorts of things: “You won the giveaway, it is free!” “No thank you”. It is always questionable as to how much the flu shot works and I personally didn't feel right about injecting mercury (Thimerosal, found in some flu vaccines) and formaldehyde into my bloodstream that would then go to my baby.

So how is it that I have three germ carrying kids and have not had the flu in 9 years? Well 9 years ago, I was going through a transitional time and I was eating so much processed foods. This was just a year after I had been living in Africa, eating mostly unprocessed foods, and was exposed to plenty of Vitamin D daily. Now my body for the first time in several years found itself with an unhealthy diet, lack of vitamin D, and exposure to new germs. I got the flu. It lasted a week and I did not yet have sick time accumulated from my new job so I was working.

Nowadays this is what my family does to increase our immune system. 

1. We eat whole unprocessed foods including dark leafy greens (we love broccoli and kale!) and healthy fats (raw olive oil, coconut oil, butter) daily.
2. During the winter months we all take lemon-flavored cod liver oil (ideally fermented) to ensure that we have enough vitamin D. My husband and I both have tested low for vitamin D in the winter and this is a major immune system supporting vitamin so we give it to everyone even the one year old.
3. This year I discovered astragalus root for colds and we are anxious to really try it when a cold comes our way. The Chinese have been using this root as an immune booster for centuries! I found it at an Asian market in the dried root form but it can also be bought in pills or liquid form. I am automatically adding it to our bone broths to boost our immune systems.
4. Also during the winter months (or when the kids go to summer camp and are exposed to all sorts of viruses) we take a little elderberry syrup (also known as Sambucus nigra) daily. It has been used for centuries in Europe to treat the cold and flu. Elderberries have proven to have preventative properties for the flu, can short-circuit the duration if taken at the first signs of the flu, and is more effective than Tamiflu. I make it since it is so easy and inexpensive. I buy the ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs, Vitacost ($10 off if you click here first), Frontier. You can also buy it at any natural store and some drug stores. Here’s my recipe:

credit: Mountain Rose Herbs

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs

1/2 cup dried elderberries (or 1 c fresh berries)
1/4 C dried rosehips
2 1/2 cups water
1 T grated fresh ginger
5 cloves
1 whole cinnamon stick
1 cup raw honey

Put all ingredients but honey in a pot, cover and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered 20 to 30 minutes until liquid reduced by half. Strain into a bowl. Add honey, pour into a glass jar. Refrigerate, will keep 2-3 months. Take 1tsp daily as a preventative, or 1tsp per hour for flu or virus. Use half the amount for children 60-75 lbs and 1/4 the amount for children under 30lbs. 
***DO NOT eat elderberries that have not been cooked***

My herbalist friend learned from her teacher to use this recipe but with ¼ cup berries. After the liquid has reduced by half she lets it sit for 17 hours before moving on with the recipe. The dosage is the same.

Always check with your caregiver and/or research to find out what is best for you and your family. There is no one-size fits all to health!


12/28/2013- Edited the second paragraph to correct that Ethylene glycol is not contained in the flu vaccine but rather Formaldehyde is.