Читать книгу The Gentle Birth Method: The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme - Karen MacLeod Swan - Страница 13

As well as following the dietary guidelines outlined above I also recommend that mothers take nutritional supplements to maximize nutritional status and aid digestion. This is especially important during pregnancy as the digestive system is under a lot of strain during pregnancy and this can result in problems like constipation, heartburn, reflux and so on.

I recommend that every pregnant mother should take the following supplements:

 A general vitamin, mineral and trace element supplement. These are widely available and called ‘Pre-natal’ or ‘Pregnancy’ vitamins. Solgar and Biocare are the brands that I recommend.

 Probiotics are the helpful bacteria in the gut that break down the cell walls of vegetable matter and make the goodness within more accessible for digestion and absorption. They are available as capsules or tablets (Biocare and Dr Udo brands are good) and should be taken twice a day, half an hour before meals. Alternatively probiotic drinks and yoghurts from supermarkets can be taken if they are sugar-free and well within their sell-by date.

 Herbs are also an important part of this programme and I recommend my mothers have two different sets of herbs. These help prepare your body for a gentle birth and should be taken daily throughout pregnancy from week 13. These come in the following forms:Herbal TeaIngredients: false unicorn root, squaw vine leaves, cramp cut bark, raspberry leaf. This tea detoxifies and tones the uterus. Place one teaspoon of the above mixture in a teapot then add one pint of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain and drink slowly. You can drink it all in one go or half in the morning and half later (just warm it up). It can look an alarmingly large volume to drink but many of my mothers come to really enjoy it.Baladi Choornam drinkVarious Ayurvedic herbs are included in this powder (for stockist details see Appendix C, page 312). The powder is mixed with 1/2 a cup of warm milk (goat’s milk or rice milk is preferable to cow’s milk as it’s more digestible). It should be taken after your evening meal. This is started at week 13 of pregnancy. The herb Bala, the main ingredient of Baladi choornam, has the following properties:

– It reduces the undesirable effects of nervous excitability within the pregnant mother

– Has a calming effect on the central nervous system

– Regulates blood pressure

– Regulates the hormones of pregnancy

– Controls blood sugars thereby helping you to eat healthily (eating healthily can modulate your baby’s weight)

– Very mild diuretic

– Stimulates regular bowel movements

– Softens the cervix and pelvic tissues

In addition to these herbal drinks, you should also take a tiny pill of herbs called the Dhanwantaram pill – I call them ‘baby pills’. These contain potentized digestive herbs that are good for your digestion and absorption of nutrients and, as such, they help to nourish you and your baby. (See Appendix C, page 312 for stockist details.)

Dose: 1 a day along with your herbs.