Saturday, August 14, 2010
Interesting reading
I have just finished reading Chapter 14 of 'After The Birth: A Woman's Guide to Wellness' by Robin Lim and I heartily reccommend it. Excellent detailed instructions for beneficial post-partum Qigong exercises.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Change the baby's position
One of my students asked me a question this week about ho to change the position of the baby in the weeks before labour and I realised i haven't written about it in detail so here we go.
1. Just because you're thinking the birth is really soon in only a few weeks, don't worry, the baby thinks that's ages and may just be leaving it to the last minute.
2. If like me, your ankles are swollen and you're sitting down with your feet up a lot (or you're just knackered and doing it to chill out!) this can encourage the baby to end up in a less ideal position. My midwife suggested that I stop putting my feet up but I found that lying on my side with my feet on a cushin sorted both things.
3. One midwife suggested lying on my left side at night and I did this during the day when having rest too and I always found Ehan had moved more into the right position afterwards.
4. Pelvic tilts are great too. On all fours shift the weight onto your elbows on the floor. This can help the baby find space to turn.
5. If you are a tai chi practitioner, stop turning the waste mechanically at about 8 months as this works the womb laterally. Instead, work on settling into the hip crease and lung point on that side so that the lymph is being pumped but leave the rib cage static.
Obviously I'm no expert, and you should always check with your midwife, mine were really helpful with this and everything else.
1. Just because you're thinking the birth is really soon in only a few weeks, don't worry, the baby thinks that's ages and may just be leaving it to the last minute.
2. If like me, your ankles are swollen and you're sitting down with your feet up a lot (or you're just knackered and doing it to chill out!) this can encourage the baby to end up in a less ideal position. My midwife suggested that I stop putting my feet up but I found that lying on my side with my feet on a cushin sorted both things.
3. One midwife suggested lying on my left side at night and I did this during the day when having rest too and I always found Ehan had moved more into the right position afterwards.
4. Pelvic tilts are great too. On all fours shift the weight onto your elbows on the floor. This can help the baby find space to turn.
5. If you are a tai chi practitioner, stop turning the waste mechanically at about 8 months as this works the womb laterally. Instead, work on settling into the hip crease and lung point on that side so that the lymph is being pumped but leave the rib cage static.
Obviously I'm no expert, and you should always check with your midwife, mine were really helpful with this and everything else.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tai Chi and Sleep
Like all new parents, I am obsessed with sleep. Although Ethan is generally a very happy, calm and contented 9 week old, he is one long growth spurt (he's already wearing 3-6 month clothing and occassionally 6-9) and so his sleep pattern is a cycle anywhere from 2-5hrs. I remind myself that sleep deprivation is a form of torture and I haven't cracked yet - step aside James Bond.
Thankfully, Tai Chi is fantastic for sleep. Studies in older adults and heart patients show that Tai Chi players fall asleep quicker and stay asleep for longer. Tai Chi has long been understood to help regulate hormone levels and this is utilised in Chinese hospitals and TCM as a method of treating a variety of hormone related issues including insomnia.
As well as helping with sleep during the tricky 'fourth trimester' Tai Chi boosts serotonin which aids with relaxation and appetite, helping parents recharge their batteries without reaching for the cookie jar or coffee pot (at least, not every time!) This in itself aids better sleep and more stable hormone levels.
So, although I feel like I'm not sleeping enough, I feel proud of how surprised people are at how energised Simon and I seem compared to their picture of a new parent.
Research studies/articles:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15161452
http://www.aarp.org/aarp/live_and_learn/Learning/articles/tai_chi_helps_sleep.html
http://www.taichiresearch.com/1124/study-finds-tai-chi-improved-sleep-stability-in-individuals-with-chronic-heart-failure/
Thankfully, Tai Chi is fantastic for sleep. Studies in older adults and heart patients show that Tai Chi players fall asleep quicker and stay asleep for longer. Tai Chi has long been understood to help regulate hormone levels and this is utilised in Chinese hospitals and TCM as a method of treating a variety of hormone related issues including insomnia.
As well as helping with sleep during the tricky 'fourth trimester' Tai Chi boosts serotonin which aids with relaxation and appetite, helping parents recharge their batteries without reaching for the cookie jar or coffee pot (at least, not every time!) This in itself aids better sleep and more stable hormone levels.
So, although I feel like I'm not sleeping enough, I feel proud of how surprised people are at how energised Simon and I seem compared to their picture of a new parent.
Research studies/articles:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15161452
http://www.aarp.org/aarp/live_and_learn/Learning/articles/tai_chi_helps_sleep.html
http://www.taichiresearch.com/1124/study-finds-tai-chi-improved-sleep-stability-in-individuals-with-chronic-heart-failure/
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