Читать книгу The Gentle Birth Method: The Month-by-Month Jeyarani Way Programme - Karen MacLeod Swan - Страница 49

Abdominal Toning intends to realign the energy lines within the whole of the abdominal cavity and create a sense of harmony and balance between the digestive organs and the pregnant uterus with the baby within. In my experience this has a very beneficial effect on placental circulation. On our programme we routinely apply abdominal toning to all mothers from the time that they book onto our programme. (Note: On occasion a mother has been referred to me for intra-uterine growth retardation with reduced amount of amniotic fluid, and performing abdominal toning for 10 minutes followed by specific nutritional advice has often restored the foetal growth rate and amniotic fluid levels to normal.)

Benefits

 Oxygenates the baby

 Encourages lymphatic drainage of the contents of the whole abdomen

 Tones the uterine muscle and encourages placental circulation

 Decongests the veins

 Reduces swelling in the legs

 Helps with digestive function and grants the mother a sense of ‘lightness’ within the abdomen

Technique

The mother lies on her back on a bed, or couch, propped up on pillows at a comfortable 45-degree angle. Olive oil is used as a lubricant. The outer borders of the abdominal area are identified by the rib cage on the top and the bikini line on the bottom.

Sit or stand comfortably on the right-hand side of the mother. Start with a cupped right hand with an open palm with the thumb out at right angles to the rest of the fingers. Place this hand on the left hand side of the abdomen at the bikini line and sweep upwards in a straight line towards the ribs. Follow the curve of the bump. Once the thumb crosses the margin of the rib cage allow the thumb to close against the other fingers.

Then break contact and start again at the bikini line having moved a bit towards the midline of the body. Continue with these movements in close parallel lines until the right hand side of the abdomen is reached.

Repeat this sequence from right to left and so on for 10 minutes. Cool the skin as you go along (taking the heat off with your cupped hands).