Pregnancy

 

Not every pregnancy goes smoothly and according to expectations. The ubiquitous morning sickness can deprive the woman of the anticipatory joy of becoming a mother. It is important to understand that the energetic balance of the mother-to-be is almost reversed – while Yin Energy (Blood) accumulates in the lower body part to nourish the new life, most Yang Energy is collected in the upper body, creating heat, and causing nausea.

Depending on the symptoms, I give dietary advice, adjusting to the body’s changed needs, re-creating balance. Additionally, specific points will be stimulated to calm down the constant unwellness.

During the later phase of pregnancy and especially during and after childbirth, the new mother needs a great deal of support, which I am privileged to provide as long as requested. Even fathers experience among the joy and anticipation some uncertainty, and benefit from active listening by a neutral person.

As much as motherhood was desired, the reality of being under a 24-hour demand, the responsibility, and the struggle to find balance in this new phase can be truly overwhelming. How will the relationship as a couple be affected? What about my work, how will I feel afterwards? Having been there myself allows me to sympathise with most issues and respond accordingly.When staying in a foreign country, this situation is often aggravated by living in an unfamiliar place without family support.

Despite the happy occasion, a few mothers struggle emotionally after giving birth, feeling lost, even depressed, unable to bond with their newborn, which causes feelings of guilt and disappointment. In TCM this is considered quite normal as, due to the loss of blood, the ‘spirit is not anchored in the heart’, causing unhappiness and confusion as the brain is not nourished either.

Explaining to the mother the way the body attempts to adjust itself, combined with a modified diet which will replenish the necessary nutrients, makes a huge difference to recovery time. This is the reason for the Asian ‘Confinement nanny’, a trained professional who provides specialised care to new mothers and their babies during the confinement period, assisting with newborn care, household chores, and offering emotional support.

About six weeks before EDD, the mother-to-be can be prepared physically and psychologically by weekly sessions of acupuncture/acupressure as well as counselling, appeasing any particular concern before this new life phase.

Finally, if the EDD is approaching or even has passed, and no medical reason can be found, induction is often advised not to endanger mother or baby by a delayed birth. Nevertheless, most women prefer a ‘natural induction’ by acupuncture as it has proven to be quite effective despite being extremely gentle.

 

Infertility

Societal changes over the past few decades have led to a change in the profile of first-time parents. Contraception has allowed couples to delay trying for a baby until they are comfortably situated, which, in turn, has led to a later average age of first-time mothers.

However, if conception becomes difficult, it leads to a perception of time running out faster, eventually causing immense emotional upheaval. Disappointment, frustration, and anxiety have often been the result, especially when no obvious medical problem has been detected.

At such times, I offer would-be parents a more holistic approach, naturally, all in resonance with the doctor’s advice. A substantial part of this approach is formed by questions referring to the woman’s diet as well as her lifestyle, stress level, exercise and any mood fluctuation.

To confirm the findings, I would feel her pulse, which may reveal any imbalance within her organ system and look at her tongue, which shows the condition of all major organs – liver, stomach, large intestine, lung and heart. This is particularly important when I accompany a woman through her IVF journey, constantly checking her nutrition.

According to TCM, the lower part of the body (the womb and kidney area) must be warm to nourish new life. The kidneys are considered responsible for nourishing the seed of life – just like a plant that needs sunshine to grow. Furthermore, Chi (our Energy) is formed in our lower body before it travels up to be dispersed throughout the body.

The ubiquitous smoothies, raw food, sushi, cold salads, and sandwiches, especially early in the morning, are detrimental to a balanced Chi circulation. As healthy as they might be (by other standards) they cool down the body’s Energy, which subsequently fails to support conception, just as we don’t place a sapling into the fridge to grow instead of putting it out into the sunshine.

If, after a thorough assessment, inner coldness is detected, the first line of defence is a dietary change: Warm, cooked food, coupled with moxibustion to warm the important acupuncture points on the Kidney Meridian, has a tremendous effect on the Energy of the body. Additionally, I teach about the different food properties – apart from the mode of preparation, all food items hold a particular warm or cold Energy, e.g. most vegetables are considered cold. Stir frying them would turn them into neutral, even warming – eating them raw is considered extremely cold. Apart from causing bloating and possible indigestion, they will fail to provide heat to the lower body, so crucial for conception.

Dairy products, like milk, soft cheese, and cream, are not favourites in TCM but should particularly be avoided as milk produces phlegm blocking the meridians. Interestingly, the aspect of dairy not being healthy is also known to several Western doctors, especially when preparing for conception.

 

Psychological

My experience showed me the occasional necessity to investigate a bit further, As complicated feelings relating to the wish to have a child can lead to underlying blockages that cannot be solved by talking alone. Open conversations about background and life situation, accompanied, if necessary, by CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) are effective mind/body tools that can gently turn up underlying thoughts and emotions.

Perhaps the parents-to-be are fearful of being alone in their old age, or they are trying for a second child to give their first child a playmate, or they hope, a child will save an estranged relationship.

A more serious cause for not conceiving might be a conflicting motivation: despite the fervent wish for a baby, the mother-to-be has a hidden fear of passing on a personal trauma.

Anxiety is a fertility antagonist; failing to conceive can easily cause a vicious cycle that is hard to break. As mentioned, there are effective mind-body techniques as well as BACH Flower Remedies which can soothe the disappointment and negativity, restoring a sense of inner peace and balance.

Often, talking already provides a certain kind of release and relief. As the above aspects often cause a feeling of loneliness, being listened to without judgment but with a lot of empathy and understanding is extremely important and often helps to regain one’s inner balance.

 

Menopause - a period of decline or a new beginning?

 

One of the last biological challenges in a woman’s life happens between the age of 45 and 55. Seemingly unescapable, it expresses itself through physical changes first – irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, night sweats. Soon, this is followed by emotional symptoms, like irritability, mood swings, even bouts of depression and feeling lost.

If there are children, the timing often coincides with the start of their puberty making coping even more difficult. It is only after some time of the emotional rollercoaster women realize that they are undergoing a very natural change in their physical and psychological Energies.

Decades ago, the topic of menopause was tabu, something women might only discuss among themselves; even medical doctors harboured the perception that it was all in the mind (of the women), ignoring the fundamental changes within the body. Women were just left without any explanation, without any help, rendering them feeling isolated and lonely.

Fortunately, these attitudes have changed a great deal, giving rise to the acknowledgement of the hormonal imbalance which may often be alleviated by HRT and similar means of adjustment.

But still, only few know what is energetically going on in the body which would enable women to be more accepting, understanding and more compassionate towards themselves – and others. Being aware of the change in their female Energy and its deeper meaning can put them in touch with other women to avoid loneliness.

In TCM, menopause is not just viewed as hormonal imbalance, but a natural phase, the end of childbearing and the start of something new and liberating. The gradual decline of the Kidney Energy, which is the motivating force for all other organ functions is leading to a change on several levels – physiological and especially psychological.

Taking a more holistic view, the main syndromes are differentiated. These express themselves mainly through their symptoms - insomnia, restlessness, irritability or lassitude, abdominal distension, melancholy or even weight gain, despite poor appetite. After a thorough diagnosis, all these will be addressed by acupuncture, nutritional advice and counselling to support the woman entering this new and exciting life phase, putting her back in control of her life.

Consultations can be done in Person or Online, in English or German.