Struggling To Carry a Healthy Pregnancy?

There are thousands of women going through the heartache of trying desperately for a baby without success every day. It can be soul destroying when you have done all you can to change your diet, increase your health through regular exercise and destress your body and mind through regulating sleep and meditation. But there maybe something you have not thought of so far and that is the effect that external environmental pollutants may have on your hormones.

This article was kindly written for The 9 Month Club by Iva Keene, who is a leading fertility expert.

Endocrine Disruptors (*endocrine means hormones)

A lot of environmental pollutants act as endocrine disruptors (EDs).They are outside agents which interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, activation or elimination of natural hormones in the body, responsible for reproduction.

These substances qualify as EDs: pesticides, heavy metals, plasticizers, organic solvents, drugs, gamma and X-rays.

Exposure to EDs during pregnancy can lead to disrupted development of the baby, in particular the baby’s reproductive system. Exposure to EDs in-utero has been associated with testicular cancer in men and vaginal cancer in women later in life.

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals used as lubricants, solvents, stabilizers and plasticizers. They give plastic it’s flexibility. They are predominantly found in children’s toys, blood storage bags, cosmetics, perfumes, food packaging and medications. Phthalates can be inhaled in polluted air, absorbed through the skin, ingested with food and water. Phthalate knows as DEHP is one of the most abundantly used phthalates. It has been shown to create a havoc with your hormones. It decreases lutenizing hormone (LH), increases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), delays ovulation and impairs steroid hormone production (testosterone, estrogen and progesterone).

Bisphenol A

Another ED to worry about is Bisphenol A. It’s found in the interior coating of tins (tuna tins, baked beans and other tinned fruit and vegetables, tin tomatoes etc…), milk containers (tetra-pac), baby formula bottles, re-usable water bottles and dental materials. Bisphenol A leaches into the food and water during heating (bottle sterilization) and after prolonged storage – which most of the tinned products and bottle water are. Bisphenol binds to your estrogen receptors and exerts stronger effect on the body than your natural estrogen.

A study found that out of 2,517 people 93% tested positive for bisphenol A in the urine. Women had significantly higher levels than men, followed by children who had the highest levels.

Another study found that women who underwent IVF and tested positive for bisphenol A, had much lower IVF success rates than women who tested negative.

Women with quantifiable levels of bisphenol A are also more likely to suffer from recurrent miscarriages and have an abnormal immune reaction to the developing embryo.

Organochloride Compounds

Are another nasty ED people get in touch with through consumption of contaminated animal products (eggs, meat, fish and dairy), water and breast milk. They are found in pesticides, and can be transported through the air to the nearest lake, sea, creek, ocean etc… If you eat non organically grown fruit and vegetables, eggs, dairy and milk, than your primary source of corganochloride compounds will be your diet. Studies have found that animal products contain more pesticides that non-organically grown fruit and vegetables. Organochloride compounds, in particular DDT and DDE have been associated with:

• Miscarriages

• Male and female infertility

• Birth defects

• Poor sperm quality

• Decreased ovulation

• Impaired implantation

• Hormonal imbalances

Glycol Ether

Is used for surface coating, printing inks, cleaning solutions, cosmetics, water-based paint and agrochemicals. Glycol Ether can negatively impact sperm motility (sperm’s ability to swim).

Organic Solvents

Impact female fertility more than male fertility. At high risk of exposure to organic solvents are people who work with clothing, textile, paint, plastic, health care workers and laboratory workers. Organic solvents increase time to pregnancy, risk of miscarriage and pose a risk of major malformations in the baby.

Heavy Metals

Particularly toxic for men are lead, mercury, cadmium, cobalt, chromium and boron as they can lead to testicular damage, impaired sperm production, and hormonal imbalances. At high risk of exposure to heavy metals are people who work with metals, welders, ore smelters, ammunition manufacturers, artists, painters and industry workers.

In women exposure to lead can lead to spontaneous abortions, miscarriages, severe birth deformities and reduced fertility.

15 Strategies to Address Infertility Induced By Endocrine Disruptors

1. Stop buying food in tins and plastic containers.

2. Don’t store your food in plastic containers.

3. Don’t use aluminum and plastic foils.

4. Don’t drink unfiltered tap water. I personally use and recommend the Aquasana drinking water system .

5. Don’t shower in unfiltered tap water, use this shower filter.

6. Drink water out of glass bottles, not plastic bottles.

7. Never ever put hot contents into a plastic water bottle.

8. Buy organic food including meat, dairy, eggs, fruit and vegetables.

9. Stop using commercial cleaning products.

10. Stop using commercial body care products (use natural organic alternatives only).

11. Stop using commercial cosmetics, perfume and nail polish.

12. Increase your intake of garlic, zinc, selenium, magnesium, broccoli and vitamin C.

13. Do a detox and if necessary have a chelation therapy.

14. If you work in one of the above mentioned industries (plastics, metal, lab, dentistry, paint etc…) get yourself tested for heavy metals, bisphenol A, organic solvents and organochloride compounds. If the tests are positive speak to your employer and ask to be given a different role where you won’t be coming into contact with EDs during chelation therapy and preconception time (pregnancy and breast feeding for women). Your employer needs to protect the workers and it’s their OHS (occupational health and safety) duty to comply. Raise the issue with your HR and OHS department if your boss won’t help you. If your company won’t help you go higher up in the chain and raise the issue with worker’s unions and the press. It’s likely that you are not the only one affected by this problem and you will find support.

15. Tell others; share this information with your family, friends and colleagues at work.

This article introduced 15 of the ways you can remove endocrine disruptors from your environment and give yourself a fertility boost.

© 2009 Iva Keene and Natural Fertility Prescription

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this text with it: Prominent Fertility Naturopath Iva Keene publishes the ‘Ultimate Fertility’ ezine  with tips to get you pregnant ASAP. Get you FREE Fertility Tips now at www.Natural-Fertility-Prescription.com

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Pregnancy Exercise Video: Pelvic Floors The Right Way! Part 1

Hey Ladies,

Now I know that you all know that the most important pregnancy exercise ever is pelvic floor work, but at the risk of repeating what you’ve already been told a thousand times over, I’m going to say it again!

Strengthening your pelvic floor as part of your daily pregnancy exercise routine is vitally important to prevent prolapse and major surgery later on in life. You will also find that if you don’t do your pelvic floor exercises daily that you will have a much harder time in labour and your recovery will be longer slower and much less effective.

But I also know that no matter how many times I say these things it is inevitable that you will forget to do them – I did and I should know better, right?!

So I am hoping this pregnancy exercise video will help. You see I think one of the main reasons women forget/neglect their pelvic floor is because they just don’t understand it well enough. So here is an introduction that will help you visualise exactly what is going on down there and hopefully encourage you into doing your pelvic floors more regularly!

(Leave me your comments and let me know what you think!)

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Postnatal Exercise – When to Exercise After Birth – The 6-10 week Myth

If you have been dedicated to your pregnancy exercise routine and making every effort to look after your pregnancy health then the last thing you will want to do after giving birth is sit on your butt, doing nothing but breastfeeding, changing nappies and mopping up sick for the next 6-10 weeks.

Not only will your strength and fitness deteriorate rapidly you will also become much more prone to back injury, uterine incontinence and it will take you a lot longer to recover from the trauma of labour and get your pre-baby body back. Add to that the fact that a sluggish body will add to the extreme fatigue you will be suffering from sleep deprivation and I promise you, that 6-10 weeks will feel like a lifetime sentence!

Now I have to add in here, the 6-10 week probation period is there for a reason. This is the time it takes for the uterus to shrink back to normal, your C-section to heal, your milk to come in, and your hormones to balance out again. So any exercise you do within this cautionary period must be approved by a postnatal exercise professional.

One of the leading gurus in postnatal recovery is my good friend Kaisa Tuominen. She has studied with the leading physiotherapists in postnatal recovery and has incorporated a revolutionary method into her postnatal recovery program called FLAT (because it gives you flat postnatal abs quicker than you ever thought possible!)

The FLAT method is an underground method used by the leading physiotherapists and medical specialists in helping postnatal women recover from prolapse after birth. This one technique is so effective at recruiting the core muscles and activating the pelvic floor that it far surpasses the traditional Kegels.

In fact this postnatal exercise method recruits 95% more muscle fibres than a Kegel, so the potential to help postnatal women recover in rapid time after birth is something we have never seen before!

Now as always, I road test every program that I promote on here (and to be honest this only the second program other than my own that has got my seal of approval), and I can tell you from my own personal experience that this is da bomb! The program goes at a very gentle pace and starts with just a couple of minutes each day of some very simple rehabilitation exercises that you can do whilst breastfeeding.

Now whilst I can’t reveal the technique here, I can direct you to her program! You can get your 18 week postnatal recovery program at http://www.post-natalrecovery.com. It also comes with a full 60 day money back guarantee for your peace of mind and complete satisfaction, so if you don’t like it, you’ve got nothing to lose!

And personally, I wouldn’t wait till you’ve had your baby to get the program. The exercises start from the day you give birth, so to get the most out of it and have the fastes and easiest recovery possible get your copy now, so you know what to do in the recovery room to get yourself back on track!

Click here for your copy

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Pregnancy Nutrition and Group B Strep

There are many issues that can arise during pregnancy, but these issues do not always need to become a problem. Often times, when symptoms or other problems come up during pregnancy, it is our body’s way of communicating with us that something is out of balance and needs to be addressed. One very common issue that affects millions of mothers is Group B Strep infection, or GBS. It is so common that doctors routinely screen for this bacteria during pregnancy at around the 36th or 37th week of pregnancy.

What is Group B Strep?

GBS is a common, naturally occurring bacteria normally found in the intestinal tract. Approximately 40% of the population carry this bacterium and most are unaware because it is generally asymptomatic.
In normally healthy individuals who do have GBS, the good, beneficial bacteria in their intestines keeps the GBS at bay and prevent it from overgrowing and spreading. However, when a person lacks the high numbers of healthy bacteria in the gut, and the concentration of GBS in the intestinal tract is allowed to flourish, then GBS can colonize outside of the intestines and travel to and affect the vagina, bladder and occasionally the uterus. It is in this situation that a pregnant mother would test positive for GBS.

How do you Test for and Treat GBS?

Currently in the United States, the standard protocol is to test all pregnant women at 36 or 37 weeks for GBS by swabbing first the vaginal canal and then the anus using the same swab. If she tests positive she will receive IV antibiotic treatment every four hours during labor. The reason that testing and treating GBS is so important is because if the baby is exposed to and infected by GBS, the situation can become life threatening. About one in every 2000 babies born every year is infected with GBS, and a very small percentage of these babies develop a significant illness or die from it if left untreated. Babies that are at a higher risk of being infected and developing complications from GBS include pre-term and low birth-weight babies, and babies whose mothers experienced prolonged labor. Other risk factors for GBS infection include mothers who previously had a child infected with GBS, those whose bag of waters were ruptured for more than 12 hours before the birth of the baby, gestational diabetes, and an increased number of vaginal exams during labor.

There is concern regarding such widespread use of antibiotics for GBS in labor. According to one Cochrane Review study, “antibiotics can have harmful effects such as severe maternal allergic reactions, increase in drug-resistant organisms and exposure of newborn infants to resistant bacteria, and postnatal maternal and neonatal yeast infections.” The threat of drug-resistant organisms itself is of tremendous concern; if every mother who tests positive to GBS is given the same antibiotic treatment during labor, and this practice is carried on from generation to generation, the possibility of GBS developing a resistance to these antibiotics is very likely. We have seen this happen already with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), whose prevalence and deadly consequences has already made an impact on the overuse of antibiotics for every day colds and coughs. On top of all this, IV antibiotic treatment severely reduces the number of healthy bacteria in the body and gut which can be extremely difficult for mom and baby to re-colonize. This is the underlying reason why both mother and baby are then highly susceptible to developing yeast infections and thrush after undergoing the standard antibiotic treatment for GBS, which can lead to multiple problems with breastfeeding and overall immune health in the baby. The baby relies on the mother’s supply of healthy bacteria to seed its own healthy floral colonies, and if the mother’s has been wiped out, then the baby is left with little or no good bacteria to keep out the bad. For these reasons, supplementing both mother and baby with multiple strains of beneficial bacteria, or probiotics, after antibiotic use in labor is highly recommended.

What Can be Done Naturally?

There are other, more beneficial and natural ways to approach the treatment of Group B Strep in pregnancy. They are not currently accepted by the medical community and no testing of efficacy has been done.

1. Look for evidence of GBS earlier on in pregnancy.

Specific signs to look for earlier on in pregnancy can point to a possible overgrowth of GBS and lead to early diagnosis, which also creates the option of using more natural treatments. When found earlier, there is more time for a woman to incorporate changes to her lifestyle and pregnancy nutrition to promote an overabundance of healthy flora which will decrease or eliminate her concentrations of GBS and other harmful bacteria.

Extensive urinary screenings throughout pregnancy can be used to detect overgrowth of GBS and other harmful bacteria such as E Coli. It is important to keep in mind as well that if a woman experiences any urinary tract infections during her pregnancy, GBS could be the culprit. A urinalysis with culture and sensitivity can determine whether or not a woman has a GBS related UTI. If it is positive, that woman knows that she may have a problem with GBS come birth time, and she can begin to implement other methods to decrease her concentrations of GBS and create a healthier balance within her system.

2. Eat foods that increase the amounts of good bacteria in your body and gut (prebiotics) as well as foods high in good bacteria (probiotics) within your pregnancy diet

Prebiotics are foods that trigger the growth and increase the amount of good bacteria in the intestines. As mentioned before, the more beneficial bacteria a person has, the harder it is for the bad bacteria to flourish and take over. Dietary fibers found in most fruits and vegetables are great prebiotics; asparagus, garlic, leek, onion, artichoke are just a few with high prebiotic power. Fermented foods such as yogurt, miso, kefir, and sauerkraut are great sources of probiotics, and consuming them regularly can help replenish the healthy flora in the gut.
Also, an alkalinizing diet produces a better environment for healthy bacteria to grow, and inhibits the growth of invading bacteria. Therefore, eating foods that produce more acidity in the body, such as sugar, starchy carbs, and alcohol, should be avoided.

The pregnancy elimination diet is the best way to achieve healthy balance within your body and ensure that you are filling your baby’s nutritional needs.

3. Take a multi-strain probiotic supplement.

Be sure that the supplement you choose contains several different strains of healthy bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Natren is a well-known brand and a favorite among practitioners, and they also have probiotics specifically for babies, and some that are diary and soy free for those with allergies. Jarrow is a less expensive brand that can be found in most health food stores.

For women who have already been diagnosed with GBS, or who might be dealing with current or chronic yeast infections, a probiotic suppository for the vagina might also be a good idea. Feme Cleanse is one brand that is available in health food stores. Apple Cider Vinegar flushes or Tea Tree Oil can also be used in these cases.

3. Try Homeopathy, Herbs, and other natural therapies.

Certain Herbs and Homeopathic remedies can help in the treatment of GBS and other infections caused by an imbalance of the body’s natural flora. The homeopathic remedy Streptococcinium is used specifically for GBS.

4. Manage your stress.

Stress and other emotional factors can also create a more acidic and welcoming environment for the overgrowth of bad bacteria and GBS. Find the causes of your stress and other negative emotions, and make the time to properly address them. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can be a great way to get to the root cause of and to correct the patterns of a person’s stress. Other ways to cope or help with stress include a targeted holistic pregnancy fitness plan.

5. Treat your partner.

If you have done everything you can to manage your GBS, but nothing seems to help, consider treating your partner. There is a chance that he is also infected and can re-introduce the bacteria into your system.

6. Garlic kills the Strep Bacterium

This last point is my own addition to Jens article. A colleague of mine, (Kaisa Tuominen, author of Postnatal Body Fix has recently informed me of a method to kill the Strep bacterium that has been in use by her midwife for 25 years. In this time she has yet to have even one patient test positive for Strep.

Garlic is known to kill the bacterium in the vagina. Using a piece of sterile gauze, wrap a garlic bulb and insert it into the vagina and leave the tail of the gauze hanging down for easy removal. Leave in place for 3 days before the Strep test (changing for a fresh bulb each day). The garlic will kill the Strep bacterium.  Sounds strange but in 25 years it has never failed to work!

The information in this article was provided in an interview with Gerri Ryan, L.M., C.P.M., FACCE, Co-Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of the Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery. Gerri is a licensed and certified professional midwife, is certified as a doula, and is a nationally recognized doula trainer. She has co-chaired several national health conferences and was one of the first doulas for the Hearts and Hands program at the University of California at San Diego. Gerri currently teaches midwifery students, supervises academic faculty and clinical instructors, and has the primary responsibility for marketing, recruitment, and human resources management for the Nizhoni Institute.

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Two New Babies in the World!

Congratulations to my clients Anamena and Julena who both had their babies this week!

Anamena gave birth to Amir Antonio El-Arishy by C-Section (planned) on Thursday 21st Jan at 10:20am.

“The process was very smooth. I remembered just waiting in the operation table and everything was quiet, AH!!! BTW the doctor ask me when that she can tell that I was doing exercise and eating a heathy diet because she can see my abs muscle and everything so clean inside and I said NISHA!!!, she was what, and I said NISHA!!!, LOL. Well after that I heard the famous slapp and the cry of my little angel. I started crying at that moment and I am crying now. He is so peaceful and a happy baby , smile alot and do a lot of eye contact with mamy and papy. I guess that was all the talking during the pregnancy. He is 18 .11 inches and 5.4 lb”

Julena gave birth to Sofija Jelica Hooper at 1:48am on Wednesday 27th January. She was 3.5 kilos and that is all I know so far!

Both mums had a really great pregnancy and birth and I’m so pleased that The 9 Month Club pregnancy fitness training system has had such a great debut with these two fabulous new mums!

For more information on the Pregnancy Fitness Training System that gave Anamena her amazing abs and Julena oustanding pregnancy health click on this link.

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Pregnancy Fitness: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction in Pregnancy

I have had a couple of requests for more information on this recently. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) is a painful condition affecting the groin and pubic area during pregnancy and if you get a bad case it can be really debilitating.

What is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction in Pregnancy?

The pelvis is made up of 3 large bones – the sacrum (the flat bit of your pelvis at the back), and the two ossa coxae (hip bones). These bones are connected by tough ligamentous tissue that allow for some very minor flexibility. The ligament which connects the bones at the front is called the Symphysis Pubis.

No-one really knows what causes SPD, but the most likely probable cause is due to the pregnancy hormones. During pregnancy the hormones relaxin and progesterone soften up the pelvic ligaments allowing a lot more flexibility so that the pelvis can open accordingly as the pregnancy progresses.

Although this laxity is neccesary it does mean that the pelvis of a pregnant woman becomes unstable and is less able to provide postural support for the increasing load. The discomfort felt in the symphysis pubis is due to the pelvis not functioning as it should and most likely results from strain referred by one or both of the sacro-illiac joints.

Other contributing factors to SPD could be:

History of pelvic trauma

Misaligned pelvis

Sensitivity to pregnancy hormones / overproduction of pregnancy hormones

Previous multiple pregancies or large babies

How do you know if you have SPD?

Do you have pain and tenderness in the pubic area? If no then it could be Round Ligament Pain

If yes it could also be associated with pain through the hips, buttock and lower abdomen.

Does walking, getting in and out of a car, climbing stairs or any other one legged activity make the pain worse?

Are you shuffling/waddling to avoid the pain?

If all of the above are sounding very familiar then it’s probable that you have SPD.

What Can You Do About It?

1) Avoid all positions and activities that aggravate SPD. These are all one legged activities such as climbing the stairs and getting in and out of the car.

Try going up and down stairs on your bum.

To get in and out of the car, sit down in the seat sideways on facing out of the door. Then swing both legs in together to avoid splitting the legs and pulling on the ligament.

Keep the knees together when turning in bed

Avoid twisting the upper body – turn your whole body to face the direction you want to look

Avoid straddle positions (definitely NO lunging!)

Avoid breaststroke

Take weight off the pelvis wherever possible by sitting down to get dressed, prepare food, brush your teeth etc…

Treatment

There is no way of tightening up the affected ligaments but you can improve pelvic support through strength work.

Kegels and TA work should be a daily part of your Pregnancy Fitness program anyway but if you are suffering with SPD, make sure you are doing these 3 times daily.

A pelvic girdle can often help with the pain and you should be able to get one from your oseteopath or physiotherapist – but make sure it is fitted properly.

Try and keep mobile, doing nothing will make it worse. While the pelvic ligaments are overly mobile, they still need daily movement to keep them supple. Depending on how severe the pain is, you may still be able to do some gentle  pregnancyexercise like hip bridges, pelvic tilts to increase the stability of your pelvis and back or swimming which will take the load off of the Symphysis Pubis ligament.

If  you do choose to go swimming do not attempt to get in and out of the pool using the stairs or with one leg up and the other down – most pools have a wheelchair ramp which you can use easily.

Minimise leg movement and torsion of your body – Swim using your arms only – its a great upper body workout – or you can just float. The buoyancy of the water will provide immediate pain relief.

Drugs

If the pain is severe then you may want to visit your GP to discuss if there are any anti-inflammatory drugs you can take to reduce pain.

You can also take paracetamol during pregnancy but you should speak with your GP before taking ANY medication as what may be safe for one person is not neccesarily safe for you.

Homeopathy is also worth a try – I don’t personally know of any remedies for SPD in particular or if there is a homeopathic anti-inflammatory remedy which is suitable for pregnancy but definitely worth asking your local registered homeopath.

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Pregnancy Health: When Doctors Should Know Better!

Just this morning I read something in my pregnancy fitness community that got me so fired up I just had to write this blogpost today to make sure that all my pregnant readers are fully aware of the dangers of this practice which is becoming ever more common in modern pregnancy medicine.

This is an exciting time for me as the first two of my 9 Month Club Coaching mums are due to give birth in the next 7 – 10 days, so when I saw Julena’s post this morning I was shocked.

Julena has had the dream pregnancy from start to finish and I feel very lucky that I got to share her journey with her from the very beginning of her pregnancy. So when I saw that her doctor had offered her a premature induction to “get things moving” when there was absolutely no conceivable reason other than convenience I almost fell off my seat!

Why is it that (some) doctors/midwives/obstetricians feel it is necessary to ineterfere with the natural process of childbirth even though there is no emergency present? It’s like they have become so indoctrinated with all the drugs and tools  they have to play with that they have lost all faith in the female body to perform the most intrinsic function of them all – to give birth naturally!

Now I am not opposed to all intervention. There is a time and a place when it is necessary – in an emergency where either the health of the baby or the mother is at risk, but intervention in a perfectly healthy and normal pregnancy before the woman has even reached her due date is absolutely beyond me!

Even with an overdue baby, induction should not be handed out quite so readily. After all the EDD is essentially just an educated guess. Most EDD’s are out by 7-10 days and even the first ultrasound can be inaccurate by 5 days either side. Babies are designed to come out. That’s just the way mother nature intended it, so when they are ready, come they will. Full term is anywhere from 37 – 42 weeks and the due date is just a guess somewhere in the midlle of that.

Induction can be offered in different ways:

Stretch and Sweep – This is a sweeping of the cervical membrane and sometimes stretching is used as well.

ARM – artificial ruptre of membranes: Can be offered if your cervix is favourable and the baby is in your pelvis. But you are not given much time for contractions to start and artificial oxytocin is given within an hour or so of ARM. Often followed by Syntocinon drip, pain relief and instrumental delivery (called a cascade of intervention).

Artificial Oxytocin – ok here’s where it gets ugly. Artificial oxytocin is not the same as naturally produced oxytocin.

In a natural birth labour starts only when the hormones from baby and mother are realesed in complete harmony. Natural oxytocin levels rise and labour begins. Oxytocin repectors are switched on and oxytocin stimulates the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract.

In artificially induced labour the body is simply not ready for labour to begin. The receptors are switched off and as a result a huge amount of artificial oxytocin is needed to stimulate labour. Oxtyocin cannot cross the blood/brain barrier so you do not get the same effects as naturally produced oxytocin which creates feelings of bonding, maternal behaviour and most importantly prepares fetal nuerons for delivery preventing hypoxic delivery.

Artificial oxytocin can also damage your pelvic floor and leave you with urinary incontinence after birth.

Dr Marsden Wagner writes:

“What are these aggressive, invasive obstetric interventions that have been proven scientifically to cause permanent damage to the pelvic floor and urinary tract and also lead to more otherwise unnecessary caesarean section? One example is the use of powerful and dangerous drugs to start or accelerate labour, a practice that has doubled during the past 10 years. These drugs make labour abnormal with violent contractions that can damage the uterus and pelvic floor. The only reason women agree to such induction is because they are not told the truth about the drugs, for example that Pitocin (artificial oxytocin, known as Syntocinon in Australia), a drug used for decades to induce labour, doubles the chance the woman will have urinary incontinence in the future. By withholding such facts doctors seduce to induce.”

And you know the reason I find this very close to home was that I was given Syntocinon when my contractions stopped halfway through my labour (from too much gas and air!) and yes I did suffer from surprising urinary incontinence for a short period after the birth which took me by surprise as I was religious about doing my kegels every day both during pregnancy and after.

Other side effects of artificial oxytocin include:

Overstimulation of the uterus which can deprive the baby of supplies of blood and oxygen

Increased risk of major bleeding after birth due to the fact that synthetic oxytocin decreases the number of receptors in the uterus and so creates desensitivity to the post-partum oxytocin peak that prevents bleeding

There is a huge amount that I could write on this subject and I may even do a report on it when I get some time but for now, this covers the most important things I think you should know so that you can make informed choices when it comes to your birth.

One last thing I would say to you, is this – if it is not an emergency (ie. you are haing a relaxed conversation about induction with your care professional) then go away and do your homework before you decide what to do. There is a lot of information that is not mentioned when inductions are offered and without knowledge you have no choice.

For more information about preparing your body and baby for labour naturally please visit http://www.the9monthclub.com

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NEW: Pregnancy Fitness Video: Pelvic Mobility and Back Release

I’ve been dying to get out and film some new workout videos for you but with all the snow and ice I can’t take my video camera out in the garden!

So in the meantime here’s a great pregnancy exercise video I found for you by my good friend and colleague Kaisa who runs a pre and perinatal coaching studio in Spain. This is a really good one to do as soon as you wake up to relieve any stiffness in your back and mobilise your hips.

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Pregnancy Nutrition: Is it safe to detox during pregnancy?

When I first found out I was pregnant one of the first things I wanted to do was detox my pregnancy diet. I wanted to be certain that my baby was getting maximum nutritional support from me and that everything I ate was going to have a positive impact on River’s development.

I remember talking to a client of mine at the time who told me that it wasn’t safe to detox during pregnancy because all of the toxins are released into the bloodstream and hence cross the placenta, so I did some research and realised that what she and I were referring to were entirely different scenarios.

A traditional detox – like the kind you find stocking the shelves of every health food store on the planet at this time of year, involves a ton of diuretic and “cleansing” supplements or herbal remedies. What I call detox is simply removing harmful or nutritionally poor foods and substances from your pregnancy nutrition.

This includes all processed foods, additives, artificial chemicals, preservatives etc, as well as foods that have been denatured by processing and manufacturing methods.

The idea is that you want to “clean up” your diet so that you are only eating from nutrient dense foods that are going to have a positive impact on your baby’s development. Now surely removing all harmful and nutritionally poor foods from your pregnancy diet can’t be a bad thing right?

There is also another side to what I call detox and that is clearing your pregnant body of potentially harmful stressors to your pregnancy health, such as stress hormones, postural dysfunctions and mental blocks to optimal pregnancy health and this requires a bit more thought and planning than your traditional detox which generally only deals with what you put in your mouth.

The other key areas you need to think about to really boost your pregnancy energy, give you back your vitality and your pregnancy glow are these:

Sleep – are you getting enough of it and the right quality?

It matters what time you get to bed and how well you sleep at night. Late bedtimes and disturbed erractic sleep patterns will seriously affect your circadian rythym and that in turn will sned your pregnancy hormones crazy!

It is vital that your hormones are at optimal balance during pregnancy for your baby’s development and your own pregnancy health, so if you are suffering from pregnancy pain or pregnancy side effects check your sleep before you do anything else.

You need to be in bed in the pitch black by 1030pm at the latest on 6 nights of the week as a minimum to regulate your pregnancy sleep patterns

Pregnancy Posture – are you exercising to support your pregnancy properly?

Pregnancy wreaks havoc on the physical body. Everything from our biochemistry to our posture is thrown out of place and if you are not working with your body to strengthen and support your pregnancy and your baby you will suffer from a myriad of nasty pregnancy side effects.

In particular pregnancy puts tremendous strain on your back, hips and joints. The pregnancy hormones, relaxin and progesterone relax the support system in your body and without targeted pregnancy resistance workouts your body will become extremely unstable and prone to serious and long-term injury.

Relaxation – are you suffering adrenal fatigue?

It might sound like a condition you are bound to notice but it doesn’t take a lot to overstress your adrenals and wear them down.

When you wake up do you still feel tired – like you haven’t rally slept properly?

Is your diet high in sugar or do you crave sugar and carbs?

Do you feel like you need at least one cup of coffee or tea to get you through the day?

Are you moody or irritable alot of the time?

All of these things (and more) are signs that your adrenals are overworked and if you are suffering with any of these symptoms you need to do something about it TODAY!

Start by planning in some daily relaxation time – either for meditation or doing something that will help you destress like creative activity (painting, music, pottery, dancing), or reading, watching a film or getting out for a walk.

Hydration - one of the most important aspects of pregnancy health but often the most neglected.

You should be drinking 1litre of iodised or alkaline water per 50lbs of body weight. The quality of the water is extremely important. The mineral profile should be high in magnesium, calcium and sodium bicarbonate. Reverse osmosis filtration is best, but otherwise Evian or Volvic are quality sources of water.

For more information on how to detox safely and effectively during pregnancy, visit The 9 Month Club Pregnancy Community and download my Pregnancy Elimination Diet from the forum area

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Pregnancy Fitness: Less than 24 Hours To Go!

So you have one day left to get yourself feeling in tip-top pregnancy health before you don your pretty party dress and dazzle everyone with your radiant healthy pregnancy glow.

So here’s what you need to do for the next 24 hours.

1) Drink as much Evian/Volvic/Reverse Osmosis Filtered water as you can – you are aiming for a minimum of 1litre per 50lbs of bodyweight, but an extra litre if you are somewhere hot and humid, and another extra litre if you are exercising (which you should be – if you missed the 4 minute pregnancy workouts yesterday click here)

2) Get to bed by 10pm latest tonight  (by this I mean you should be in bed with the lights out and in a pitch black room by 10pm – not reading with the light on!)

3) When you wake up drink 500ml of water before breakfast and do your last workout of 2009!

4) Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all need to be high in veggies – lots of essential nutrients plus alkalising foods will give you tons of vibrant energy, plus they will make your skin glow! Make your pregnancy nutrition work for you all day long!

Here’s what I’m having:

Breakfast – Mango, Ginger, Broccoli and Spinach stir fry:

high in calcium, folic acid, vitamin C, iron, vitamin E, beta-carotene (anti-oxidants), magnesium (immune system) and fibre. I’ve already chopped everything up and I have the garlic, chilli and ginger (you can leave out chilli if its too much for you) steeping in olive oil so all I have to do is chuck it in the pan and it will be ready in about 4 minutes.

Lunch – Salmon, Asparagus and Dill Sweet Potato Cakes with a large salad:

High in omega 3, anti-oxidants – Vitamins C & E, fibre, iron, Vitamin B6, beta-carotene, calcium and complex carbs which release energy slowly to keep you energised for longer (now I sound like a duracell advert!)

Snacks – brazil nuts, walnuts, almonds and pecans; carrot & pepper sticks with hummus

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