Integrative Care for Pregnancy (ICP) at Pulling Down the Moon®
Oh my Gosh, you've made it!
You're finally pregnant or have a new baby and still feel a bit nervous? Well, we're not surprised. No matter how hard it was to get pregnant, the honest truth is that the really hard work has actually just begun. If you’ve taken a holistic approach this far you will not be surprised to learn that what you eat, what you do for exercise and how you handle stress during your pregnancy can have far-reaching consequences for both your health and the health of your baby. In addition, pregnancy is a process and the needs of both mom and the developing baby change over the course of a full-term pregnancy.
The ICP Model: Four Phases of Pregnancy
Our prenatal programming takes a four-phase approach to pregnancy that acknowledges that a woman and her growing baby have changing needs with each subsequent trimester. Pulling Down the Moon® practitioners are experts in the field of fertility and prenatal holistic care and will work with you to ensure both you and your baby receives what you need for a joyous pregnancy together.
First Trimester – “Laying the Foundation”
During the first trimester, acupuncture is recommended weekly to help secure implantation, prevent miscarriage and promote the development of a healthy placenta. Prenatal acupuncture can also help alleviate symptoms of morning sickness and the exhaustion of early pregnancy. Nutrition counseling during the first trimester focuses on the foundational nutritional needs of the developing fetus, strategic planning for appropriate weight gain, and effective supplementation and dietary choices to support a mom’s emotional and physical health. Any exercise or yoga during the first trimester should be gentle and restorative. Remember, during this time we want all our energy directed to making the baby comfy and ready for the long haul. During the first trimester, prenatal massage can be very helpful to calm jittery nerves and help with the exhaustion you may experience during these first critical weeks.
Second Trimester – “Blossoming Together”
Somewhere around 12-14 weeks, most women wake up to find they’re ravenously hungry and that the brutal fatigue of the first phase of pregnancy has passed. Welcome to the second trimester, gals! This is the time when energy runs high, the belly bump really starts to show and it’s time to go shopping for new threads. Nutrition counseling during the second trimester focuses mostly on mom – tweaking weight gain, managing constipation and other digestive issues, prevention of GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) and preeclampsia as well as supporting mom’s emotional health and energy levels. Exercise and prenatal yoga can begin in earnest now. Pregnancy is a state of health – so feel free to enjoy a prenatal yoga class, go for a brisk walk or hop in the pool (as long as you have your doctor’s clearance, of course!). As the belly begins to grow, prenatal massage on a weekly or monthly basis will help you stay comfortable as baby begins to weigh on you.
Third Trimester – “Nurturing and Preparing”
By the time the third trimester arrives, it’s time to turn our attention to the arrival of baby. Nutrition counseling during the third trimester helps you prepare for the hectic, sleepless days ahead by creating a plan for your post-partum/breast feeding nutritional needs. Exercise and prenatal yoga focus on optimal strength and mental preparedness for childbirth. Some women choose to add the additional practices of breathing, meditation and yoga nidra (yoga sleep) to their prenatal yoga regimen in preparation for the joys and stresses of baby’s first few weeks of life. Prenatal massage is heaven in the third trimester. By this time, our bodies are stretched beyond their limits and sleep may even become difficult. The nurturing touch of a skilled prenatal massage therapist is just what the doctor ordered.
Post-Partum – “Good Beginnings”
At Pulling Down the Moon®, we view the early post-partum period as a sort of “fourth trimester”. Even though baby is outside the tummy now, she is still very much tied to mommy physically and emotionally. During this time, it’s very important to nurture yourself. Acupuncture and yoga are both effective at relieving the stress and tension of a new mom. Both can help to alleviate post-partum depression as well (though you should always discuss any post-partum depression symptoms with your health care practitioner). Massage during the postpartum period can help your body get back to normal more quickly and improve the sleep that you manage to get! A post-partum nutrition consultation will help you get back to your pre-baby body in no time at all.
Pulling Down the Moon® prenatal and postpartum care is available at all of our locations.
What is Prenatal Yoga?
Pregnancy is in some ways the "calm before the storm." Prenatal Yoga classes at Pulling Down the Moon® are extra-gentle, nurturing and fun. This is because we feel that pregnancy is a time to build energy and stamina rather than burn calories. Also, since many of you had a difficult time getting to this wonderful place, we honor the fact that you may initially feel fragile or unable to believe that you are actually going to have a baby. Rest assured our instructors have the experience necessary to put you at ease in your body and this wonderful state called pregnancy.
How does Prenatal Yoga benefit pregnancy?
Prenatal yoga at Pulling Down the Moon® is beneficial for both mother and baby. Like all forms of yoga, it enhances the mind/body connection and calms the spirit. In addition, prenatal yoga:
• Reduces stress
• Relieves pregnancy-related discomfort
• Prepares expectant mothers for childbirth
• Promotes mother/child bonding
• Provides a community for moms-to-be
What is Prenatal Massage?
Your Massage Therapist should be certified to perform prenatal massage. During pregnancy there are specific points on the body that should be avoided for the safety of mom and baby. Prenatal massage is conducted either on a special massage table with a cut-out for the belly or by having a woman lay on her side, supported by bolsters and pillows.
How does prenatal massage benefit pregnancy?
Prenatal massage can help with many pregnancy related issues - swelling, carpal tunnel, sciatic pain and morning sickness to name a few.
What does the research say about holistic treatment during pregnancy?
Our Current Prenatal Yoga Class Schedule
| Location |
Prenatal Yoga |
| Chicago |
Mondays
Ongoing
6-7:30pm
|
| Arlington Heights |
Saturdays
1/10 - 2/21*
11am-12pm
*No class 1/24
|
| Naperville |
TBA
|
| Shady Grove |
Saturdays
1/31 - 3/7
2:45-3:45pm |