Maternity Dept: Baby Food

In its January 19th issue, the New Yorker ran this article by Jill Lepore, who asks, If breast milk is best, why are women bottling their milk? Lepore offers a comprehensive look at breastfeeding through the years.

Pregnancy Sciatica

During the last few months of pregnancy, as the baby grows more rapidly and the pelvic joints begin to relax to accommodate birth, expectant mothers may experience back pain and sciatica that can range from a minor discomfort to an exhausting, crippling condition.

Sciatica may be causes by the weight of the pregnant uterus, altered posture to compensate for altered shape, fatigue leading to poor posture or other factors such as softened, relaxed pelvic ligaments due to the presence of progesterone and relaxin in the body.

The pain is often worse at night and there is little western medicine can offer for relief aside from back exercises and advice about proper posture.

From the Chinese medicine standpoint, pregnancy sciatica is due to stopping of Blood and Qi (energy). Strain can weaken the back muscles, and exposure to cold can wear on the immune system, making the mother more susceptible to ailment and injury.

Acupuncture is one of the few safe and effective treatments for pregnancy sciatica. First, the acupuncturist determines whether the pain is acute or chronic. Severe pain that gets worse with rest but improves with light exercise and tender to the touch is connected to the stagnation of Blood and Qi. A large area of pain could indicate an invasion of Cold or Dampness or a constitutional deficiency. By identifying the blocked meridian, or energy channel, acupuncture can help to Qi flow and resolve the condition.

Breech Presentation and Moxabustion

In one out of every six pregnancies, the baby turns into the breech, or upright, position. There are several different variations of breech. The baby may have its feet flexed or its legs extended and raised up towards its face, or its knees may be folded up near its chest. In some cases, a foot may be extended downwards.

While in most cases, there is no obvious causes for for a breech, but it may be due to a low-lying placenta, premature birth, a multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, hydrocephalus, fibroids or an unusually shaped uterus.

If a breech presentation is diagnoses around thirty-two weeks, there is still a chance that the baby will turn spontaneously during the next two weeks. After thirty-two weeks, however, there are ways to correct the position so that a mother may avoid delivering via cesaerean section.

Acupuncture and moxibustion can successfully turn the baby back into cephalad (head-down) position. In some cases, as little as a single treatment can turn the baby.

Moxa is a plant used as a heat source to stimulate acupuncture points, and in addition to its use in the office, you may be sent home with a moxa stick and instructions on how to continue treatment. The greatest success rates are for 32-35 weeks, but the treatment can be effective as late as 38 weeks in some cases. Still, a mother should always check with her midwife or doctor to insure that the baby should be turned. In some instances, such as twin pregnancies or a history of previous breech births or cesaerean section deliveries, the baby should not be turned.

The Morning Elixir

Most people wake up thirsty in the morning. This is because during sleep, an internal process, dehydration occurs, and upon waking, one requires fluids to satisfy their thirst and bring their energy up to begin the day. While even healthy individuals may be a little thirsty after sleep, if the body is stiff and the mind is groggy, it indicates that the liver has not finished its blood purification process. This may be due to overeating, late eating, consumption of too many animal products, intoxicants such as alcohol or other such factors.

If one arises clear-headed and full of energy, then a small amount of water or herbal tea will do the trick. However, more cleansing fluids should be taken in to purify the system. In Healing With Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford provides a list of such "elixirs" or typical beverages. These are best served slightly warm to add an expansive quality. They should never be served cooler than room temperature.

From Less Cleansing to More Cleansing:

Warming Teas (examples: ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, star anise, fennel, spearmint)
Vegetable Broth (examples: cabbage, parsley)
Micro-Alga Drink (examples: spirulina, chlorella)
Water (examples: plain or squeezed with lemon)
Vegetable Juice (examples: carrot, celery)
Fruit Juice (examples: apple, prune, grape, orange)
Barley/Wheat-Grass Juice (examples: freshly extracted, or from commercial wheat-or-barley-grass powders)
Wild Micro-Alga Drink (examples: freeze-dried wild blue-green microalga/ Aphanizomenon)
Root Teas (examples: burdock, dandelion, chicory)
Flower Teas (examples: chamomile, red clover blossoms, orange blossoms)

Rethinking Our New Year's Resolutions

At the beginning of a new year, many of us ambitiously vow to improve ourselves. If only just wanting something could make it so...While some people do stick to their New Years Resolutions, many more lose steam or get bogged down with other responsibilities that take precedent over these goals. This article shows how some of the Buddha's most basic messages can be applied to overcome these challenges.

Happy New Year!

In 2009, make space in your life for health and wellness.

Begin your new year with Awakening the Heart, an introductory meditation course at New York's Chakarasambara Buddhist Center.

In this class, you will learn meditation and the Buddhist approach to training the mind. Applying these methods in your everyday life will lead to happiness, a sense of purpose and harmony in your relationships. This is a beginner course open to everyone. Dress comfortably. Cushions and chairs are available.

Classes for January are on:

Saturday, Jan 10, 1 - 2:30pm
($12 / free for cardholders)

Saturday, Jan 31, 1 - 3pm
($12 / free for cardholders)

For more information, visit the Chakarasambara Buddhist Center online at http://www.meditationinnewyork.org/index.php