Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum

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What Is So Great About Fishoil?

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Nutritional Therapy, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Summer, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies, Topics in Muscles Bones and Joints, Topics in Pediatrics, Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum | No comments

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The main reason that fish and fish oils are so important is because they contain two fatty acids that do not occur naturally in any foods other than fish.

These fatty acids are called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Together with ALA (alpha linolenic acid), they are known as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are highest in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine, tuna and salmon.

The average intake of EPA/DHA in the US diet is only 11-20% of the recommended amount.

These two fatty acids from fish oil have been shown in hundreds of studies to be beneficial in a wide spectrum of human health including:

Heart Health

including all types of cardiovascular disease by reducing triglycerides (fat levels) in the blood, reducing VLDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, Reducing inflammatory markers, which are now known to be very important in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, and by regulating (smoothing out) the rhythmic beat of the heart.

Arthritis, inflammation and allergy

including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, seasonal and food allergies, and eczema.

Child Development

both before and after birth. DHA and another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) are essential for the correct development of the fetal brain and mental ability. Neural development and eye function may be adversely affected by inadequate supply. 11% of the weight of the brain is the fatty acid DHA. Supplementing DHA in breast fed or formula fed infants has been shown to increase cognitive function including vocabulary and comprehension in 18 month olds.

Mental alertness, cognitive function and mood

due to the fact that EPA and DHA are the building blocks of neural cells. Those suffering from depression have significantly lower levels of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. Populations with higher consumption of fish have lower rates of depression than those with lower consumption. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly is more common in people with low blood levels of DHA.

So eat your wild caught fish!! Wild caught fish have a significantly lower levels of metals and other contaminants than farm raised fish. If wild fish is unavailable, or unappealing to you, take a fish oil supplement daily. Be sure you get your oil from a reputable source to ensure purity and high potency. High quality oils are tested for mercury, other heavy metals and PCBs. Consider a fish oil with the addition of the fat soluable vitamins A, D and E.

Since Copper River Salmon is in season right now, I highly recommend splurging and treating yourself to a delicious meal. I made this recipe last night from www.westcoastcooking.com and found it to be outstanding!!

What Can Acupuncture Treat During Pregnancy?

July 15, 2009 in Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum | 1 comment

It is fairly well known that acupuncture can help women who are struggling to acheive pregnancy. Many of the women I have seen for fertility ask me what they can come in for once they are pregnant. What can acupuncture do for them? There is a long history of obstetrics in Chinese Medicine.

Commonly treated pregnancy symptoms:

Morning sickness

Headaches

Threatened miscarriage

Edema, or swelling

Leg Cramps

Insomnia

Fatigue

Colds and Flus

Diarrhea or Constipation

Urinary Tract Infections

Depression and Anxiety

Gestational Diabetes

Hypertension

Malposition of the fetus (breech)

Back Pain and Sciatica

Labor Induction

Why Seek Acupuncture Treatment for Pregnancy Related Symptoms?

Many of these issues are difficult to address with western medicine, since so many of the drugs and treatments for them are dangerous to the developing embryo or fetus. Acupuncture is a safe alternative to cold medicines, migraine medications, pain medications, and other western treatments.

Post-partum problems can also be addressed with acupuncture

Excessive bleeding

Urine retention

Depression and Anxiety

Dizziness

Fatigue

Uterine Prolapse

Back Pain, Hip Pain or Rib-side Pain

Headache

Edema, or swelling

Night Sweating

Diarrhea or Constiption

Insufficient Lactation

Mastitis, or breast infection

Acheiving pregnancy is no reason to stop visiting your favorite acupuncturist. Not only can he or she help you manage the often difficult, and sometimes debilitating symptoms of pregnancy and the post-partum period, it is always good for a pregnant woman or a new mom to have an hour to herself in a meditative, nurturing environment.

A woman who is taken care of will better be able to take care of herself and her children. Every woman, and mothers in particular, deserve some time alone to come back to center and heal.

Labor Induction

July 15, 2009 in Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum | No comments

I’ve seen a lot of women lately who have gone post-term in their pregnancies and are looking to acupuncture for induction. I have to admit, it is one of my secret joys to treat. Although acupuncture is not a sure-thing for bringing on labor, it works most of the time and can help prevent western medical intervention, which many women do not want. The use of Pitocin has been clinically proven to increase the risk for other medical intervention in labor, including cesarean sections, and many women today would like to avoid those interventions. Trying acupuncture before Pitocin is always worth a try.

During pregnancy, the woman’s body is primarly in a state of Yin. She is holding and containing the fetus which is a Yin function. In order for a woman to have contractions and give birth, it is necessary for her Yang to rise up to take action. Yin must transform into Yang.

Unless a pregnant woman is truly on the verge of going into labor, more than one session will typically be necessary. I find that three is the most common “magic” number of treatments. Ideally, these treatments will be spaced only days apart, three days in a row if possible. There is a specific handful of points which are used to induce contractions, but additional points to help balance an individual woman’s consititution may be chosen.

Aggressive stimulation of several points, including Hegu (LI-4) and Neiguan (P-6) and Taichong (Liv-3) will be necessary. Many practitioners, including myself, rely on the use of the electrical stimulation machine attached to the needles on these points. This allows the practitioner to provide continual stimulation to these points, while having his or her hands free to manually stimulate some of the other points, such as Yanglingquan (GB-34), Zusanli (St-36), Zhiyin (BL-67) also used to turn a baby in the breech position earlier in the pregnancy, Jianjing (GB-21), and any of the Bladder points situated on the sacral area, particularly BLs-30-34.

I have seen women start having regular contractions during the acupuncture session, and I have had women receive all three treatments with no success. Of course, no acupuncture treatment is a guarantee of success, but considering the minimal risks involved, I feel that it is always a worthwhile course to try.