Complementary and alternative therapies became popular for the pregnancy journey because they include natural ingredients but are less invasive. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine combined with acupuncture treatment can be a pampering experience for women who are planning to have a baby and also for health restoration after having a baby. A healthy pregnancy journey can […]
Tag: pregnancy
Advice for optimal foetal positioning
This information is for mums and their partners to encourage baby to go into the ideal position for birth, BEFORE your labour begins. If bub is head down (and a single baby), then from 34weeks onwards this advice is given to encourage your baby to lie with its back to your left/front- LOA (Left Occiput […]
Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Birth – and Beyond – with Clare Donnelley
I have been helping women during pregnancy through acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbs for over 20 years. Even though we know pregnancy is a natural state of being, not an illness, we do know that many pregnant women experience some physical discomfort and emotional changes during this time. Because Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based […]
Women’s health and pregnancy: enrich the experience with acupuncture
This month is the women’s health month at Healthspace with a focus on fertility and pregnancy. With the lockdown, we have been spending more time at home with our partners and many of us are thinking more about starting our own families. Many others who are already pregnant are looking for ways to enrich and […]
Nutritional and nutrient considerations when trying to fall pregnant
Planning for pregnancy or ‘preconception care’ refers to the period where couples will actively engage in optimising their health before conceiving. Ideally, couples will start at least 3-4 months before conception as sperm and ova (a female’s eggs) take around 100 days to form and mature. Optimising our preconception nutrition not only increases our chances […]
Prepping for Pregnancy
Are you planning a pregnancy? Achieving a healthy pregnancy starts well before you fall pregnant. The time leading up to conception is an opportunity to make good choices and aim for optimal health for both parents, as the father’s health is equally important as the mother’s during this period. Research shows that nutritional deficiencies, stress, […]
How Present Periods affect Future Fertility
In TCM, when treating women, we always take and keep records of the menstrual cycle as a guide to their general health, as well as their reproductive health. This enables the practitioner to be aware of the possibility of different disorders occurring in the future. So, of course, observing these patterns – from adolescence – […]
Feed Mama First
Feed Mama First is a postpartum meal delivery service based on the South Coast created and curated by two mums, Courtney, a postpartum doula & Lauren, a qualified chef. After both becoming mums in 2019, and with no immediate family nearby for either of us, we quickly realised there was a gap in the “village” […]
Home Birth, finding your team
Are you pregnant or thinking about falling pregnant & wondering how you will find people to support you during your pregnancy and birth? For most western cultures there are primarily two choices for where to have your baby, in a hospital or at home. Whether you choose a hospital birth or a home birth, the […]
Post natal support for you and your baby
What are some post-natal support remedies for you and your baby? Most women preparing to birth these days have heard of placenta encapsulation, some are keen to jump on board whilst others hold some reservation. As a Doula and Placenta Specialist I always encourage women to make informed choices and to listen to what feels […]
Pregnancy support with Chinese Medicine
The strength of Chinese medicine is in preventative health and the most ideal scenario leading up to pregnancy is to bring the health of both the mother and father up to a good level before starting a family. But every couple that is starting a family has very different circumstances and situations surrounding this process. […]
Acupuncture & fertility
One of the first questions people have around Acupuncture is does it actually work for Fertility ? And the answer is yes! For both Females and Males. Research around the world has shown that Acupuncture in conjunction with other fertility treatments increase the success rates by 50%. Another question people have is can Chinese medicine […]
Reiki for Pregnancy
Enjoy a More Serene Pregnancy with Reiki Energy Healing Pregnancy is one of life’s most beautiful and transformational experiences. Changes arise on every level – physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically. Some of these changes are easy to warmly welcome and embrace. There may also be changes that cause discomfort such as infertility, morning sickness or fatigue. […]
Feelosophy of Birth
Health Space & Be Birth are offering all initial pregnancy clients a copy of the journal Feelosophy of Birth by Brooke Martin. Feelosophy of Birth is a journal for pregnancy and aims to be a pregnant woman’s best friend. I designed it to guide her with questions especially created to ignite the answers from within […]
Out of the Woods Pregnancy Month
Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation, where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body, a miracle of wisdom. – Harriette Hartigan Pre-conception and pregnancy is a time in a woman’s life where they often go above and beyond to improve and optimise the health of themselves […]
I’m Pregnant, Now What?
Congratulations! You’re growing a little person! A mini-me or mini-him or possibly mini-both! It’s a crazy wild ride and no one knows quite what to expect, but one thing is for sure, pregnancy can bring with it many different emotions including joy, shock, gratitude, relief, overwhelm or a mash-up of all these. No matter what […]
Omega-3s for healthy mother, healthy baby
You have probably heard of omega-3 fatty acids, or fish oils. They have received a lot of attention for their anti-inflammatory action, and are commonly recommended for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. But did you know these essential fatty acids are also vital for both a healthy pregnancy and to support the health of your […]
Reducing your exposure to toxins during pregnancy
It’s mind-boggling to think about the amount of toxins our bodies are exposed to these days. Researchers in the US found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from newborn babies: a mixture of pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage (1). A bit of […]
Exercise and Pregnancy
Exercise throughout pregnancy is important for keeping your body strong and healthy. As the hormone relaxin increases in the body, the result is an increase in laxity of your ligaments. Therefore, it is important to know how to modify exercise for these changes to reduce discomfort through your pregnancy. Exercise is also important for recovery […]
Returning to Exercise and Sport After Giving Birth
Kelly Jameson is a Physiotherapist on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and has written this informative guest article on how to know when it’s safe to return to exercise or sport after giving birth. Returning to exercise after giving birth is often a priority for women, and here on the Northern Beaches of Sydney that is no […]
