holistic pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Greetings!

 

Congrats!!!!

 

Please call Birthcare in Alexandria. I have referred all of

my female patients to them over the past few years (I am a physician specializing

in Alternative Med). Birthcare is the BEST for gynecological (pap smears, check

ups, etc) and obstetric care. The midwives there really know their business. At

least 20 women in my practice or Bellydance classes have had their babies with

them – and also go there for regular gyn care. Everyone LOVES them! Take

a tour on their site at www.birthcare.org

.. They have been helping to deliver babies for 20 years now – but the

certified nurse midwives have been all working for much more time in the field as

OB/GYN nurses. Fabulous folks! You will not be disappointed by choosing them.

You can have your baby at home or at their birthing center (which feel very

homey).

 

I am in LA right now having just finished

teaching several Womb Yoga workshops and Bellydance for Womb Healing. These movements

and dances are traditional for women during every stage of life including

pregnancy to assist in growing the child and delivery the child – and to

get the muscles (internal and external) back into shape afterward. Also for shortening

the menstrual cycle, reducing fibroids, endometriosis, etc.

I saw Jinee and Storm and their children here

in LA at Au Lac, a live restaurant last night (WONDERFUL FOOD and GROOVY VIBES!!!!!) and

our families had a chance to talk as well.

 

My husband, Khepere has been an exclusively

live foodist for the past 6 years. I eat about 80% or so live food (strange to quantify

these things!). I was raised as a vegan and have raised my older daughter,

Aminah as a vegan (she is 21 this year). During our pregnancy with Samaya, I

also ate 80% live. She is 2 ½  now. I see a definite difference in my 2

daughters. Aminah grew up with veggie meat pita sandwiches, salads, tofu and is

as a result and a tofu addict. She is getting out of eating it more and more –

but her eyes light up when she sees it like a long lost love. Although Aminah has

only had a cold 2 or 3 times in her life and no other ailments – Samaya is

much more energetic (I am always running behind her). Samaya prefers fruits of

all kinds (avocado, cucumber tomato - she was eating sundried tomato on the

airplane as a snack – people were baffled that she didn’t want the

crackers & snacks offered by the steward), olive, mango, orange, jackfruit,

etc. Anything with seeds inside is a fruit – not all fruit is sweet so

not to worry about too much sugar. If I am eating something cooked she will

want to taste sometimes. So it keeps me from eating too much of these things –

I also grew up vegan but with cooked and live foods so it can be challenging.

But the Samaya makes me tow the line alot. J I have also found over

the past 20 years that the vast majority of children DO NOT like cooked vegetables

(like carrots, green beans, spinach, etc.) but when these things are live they

enjoy them greatly. And this is as it should be considering that the nutrition

is depleted completely when these things are steamed, baked, boiled, etc. So

these foods cooked when you are pregnant wouldn’t give you anything –

but when they are live you reap the vitamins, minerals, etc. I am not sure how

your iron level is (but when you go to Birthcare they will check it for you).

If you are low as most women in this culture are from excessive menstruation (the

Bellydance and Womb Yoga exercises I mentioned before decrease the bleeding)

you can take a great supplement called Floradix Iron plus Herbs during your

pregnancy and beyond.

 

Samaya is also still breastfeeding and we

will continue until she no longer needs it (as is the traditional way of things

– the average age for weaning in non-European countries is 5 years). Weaning

children early can have seriously adverse psychological and health effects. The

child won’t nurse for one moment longer than they need to. So if you

decide to feed the baby until she weans herself, your fortification now and

later is very important so you don’t get depleted, brunt out… or

edgy. Trust me on this! J

 

On another note, neither of my children is

vaccinated – no vit. K at birth, etc.  But you have some month to get

this other info and make your choices when you are ready, on your time. J

 

Please let me know if I can help any

further. You have a standing invitation to come and dance with us at our

studio. Other pregnant ladies also rock and roll their babies in there. I

danced and taught very vigorously until 2 weeks before I had Samaya. It really

helped with morning sickness (which was all day!) and with the labor. I also

did very energetic yoga everyday with Khepere while carrying Samaya and it felt

great (I always took a sweet cat nap afterwards). J

 

Enjoy your pregnancy!

 

~Dr. Sunyatta Amen

www.GoMamaSita.com

– dance/yoga studio

www.VegSoul.com

– live food health retreats